Restaurants offer diabetes-friendly menus

Sinful cakes, a tantalising dish of pasta or a filling sandwich stuffed with cheese and meat- if you have been diagnosed with diabetes, you probably think you would have to bid farewell to these delicacies. But that is not entirely correct! A diabetes diet is simply a healthy eating plan that is high in nutrients, low in fat with little sugar and moderate calories. To drive home the message that ‘healthy food can be tasty as well’, city-based restaurants are going to be a part of The Diabetic Food Trail that will be launched across Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Chennai on November 14, celebrated as the World Diabetes Day.

Wellness expert and food blogger Dr. Wasim Mohideen shares, “Diabetes-friendly food is essentially healthy and balanced food. Diabetics have always received the shorter end of the stick with a bland, insipid diet prescribed to them. One can eat a full meal comprising a salad, soup, main course and even a dessert, if the right balance of carbohydrates, proteins and fibres is kept in mind.” He says one can use less sugar or jaggery in desserts, have cut fruit instead of concentrated fruit juices and shallow fried food.

Flying Elephant at Park Hyatt is one of the restaurants that will host a diabetes-friendly menu. Talking about the concept, Executive Chef Grzegorz Odolak says, “Our menu is all about balance. Each and every item has been under the scanner in terms of portioning of proteins, carbs and vegetables. Anything in lesser quantity or tipping the scale would be out of sync, so we have been very mindful about the balance.” The restaurant will offer options like quinoa and pomegranate salad with orange, spinach, zucchini, celery, passion fruit dressing; whole wheat pizza with ricotta, rocket, parsley, sumac, quinoa, apple salad and peanut butter frozen yoghurt cups along with oats granola, pomegranate. All dishes under the Diabetic Menu during the promotion will provide complete nutritional information, including carbs and calories, to make a diabetic’s choice easier.

Giving more details about planning a diabetes-friendly menu, Chef Aji Joseph of Oriental Cuisines Pvt. Ltd. says, “Eating right is vital if you’re trying to prevent or control diabetes. While exercise is important, what you eat has the biggest impact when it comes to managing diabetes. It may come as a surprise that the nutritional needs are virtually the same as any other person, no special foods or complicated diets are necessary. It is just about adapting the food towards making it healthier. We just have an interesting mix of food items across our restaurants like Benjarong, Ente Keralam and Teppan.” Shabin Sarvotham, Senior General Manager at GRT Grand, that is also offering a special menu, says one needs to manoeuvre around existing dishes. “But we ensure that these dishes have ingredients like papaya, pineapple, bitter gourd and lean meat. They are healthy options for diabetics and those practising a healthy lifestyle,” he says.

What to eat?

Good health depends on eating a variety of foods that contain the right amounts of carbohydrates, protein and healthy fats, as well as vitamins, minerals, fibre and water. If you have diabetes, a healthy daily eating plan includes: