Great News! Grab Your Forks and Napkins Because Now Many of Your Favorite Comfort Foods Are Still On the Menu, Even If You’re Newly Diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes
October 13, 2009 by Anne
Filed under Anne Holmes, Blog, Diabetes, Food & Recipes, Health & Fitness, Wellness

Cool Weather and Comfort Food: You Know It’s Coming, Don’t You?
It’s hard to miss the signs here in the heart of the Midwestern United States. No doubt the same thing is happening all over the northern hemisphere. With the advent of cooler days, longer nights, football in the stadiums and autumnal color on the trees, it’s time to think about serving up a slew of your favorite cool weather comfort foods for dinner.
(Sorry for talking “fall weather” to you readers in the southern hemisphere, especially those of you in Australia and New Zealand. I know it’s springtime for you… But keep reading, you won’t want to miss the book I discuss at the end of the post…)
No Doubt You Have an All-time Favorite Hearty and Comforting Meal
When it comes to comfort foods, my favorite – hands down – is a fabulous beef pot roast, complete with potatoes, carrots, onions, and maybe some green beans. All slow-cooked or stewed in a delicious tomato-based beefy gravy. Served with homemade biscuits on the side… With perhaps a nice hot apple cobbler for dessert.
I’ve always loved preparing this meal for my husband and family, but lately I’ve discovered that it’s a meal your dinner dinner guests probably crave as well.
You wouldn’t believe how many friends and business associates give me major hints that they’d love to be invited over next time I’m serving this up. These days I’m not afraid to serve it up for company. Try it! You’ll be amazed at the compliments this homey meal will earn you!
But pot roast isn’t the only star when it comes to favorite comfort foods. Yours might be something else. Perhaps, as the Fall season comes upon us, you find yourself craving one of these other delicious treats:
- Scalloped Potatoes and Ham
- Chicken Pot Pie
- Tuna Noodle Casserole
- Macaroni and Cheese
- Spare Ribs and Sauerkraut
- Beef Stroganoff with Noodles
- Fried Chicken with Mashed Potatoes
- Lasagna (Just the one word makes you smile, right?)
These Are All Delicious Options
But did you know they they can be healthy choices, too? That’s really good news. Especially so if you’re newly diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes, right?
Healthy choices? Before you got to that last sentence, you were probably crossing your arms, shaking your finger, and giving me the hex sign, right? I know, I know. If you’re just learning how to live with diabetes, yo’ve probably taken a look at your newly imposed carbohydrate limitations and decided these delicious favorite dishes are history. Meals that are forever relegated to your “forbidden foods” list…
Good news! The fact is that with just a few — mostly minor — changes to your preparation techniques, you CAN still enjoy these favorite meals. This week’s issue of Diabetic Living Weekly Newsletter is chock full of articles complete with delicious recipes, including “14 Comfort Foods Made Healthy.”
The link takes you to a great slide show-style post, complete with photos, recipes and all the nutrition facts and diabetic exchanges you need.
(If you haven’t yet made acquaintance with this resource, I suggest you check it out right away!)
Just click the link and prepare to start enjoying two week’s worth of “legal” comfort foods, OK?
But Wait! Are You Looking For Even More Recipes That Are Both Delicious and Diabetic-friendly?
- Maybe you’d like to see some diabetic-friendly yet comforting desserts? Like a carrot cake? Or maybe cheese cake?
- Or perhaps you need recipes that are also gluten-free or low-glycemic?
- You’re in luck! Here’s an amazing recipe resource I’ve just discovered: Fun With Gluten-Free Low-Glycemic Food!
This amazing cookbook is by Debbie Johnson, the former owner and executive chef of The Golden Chalice Restaurant & Gallery, in Chanhassen, Minnesota.
Debbie’s mind-boggling claim to fame is that she offered her hungry Golden Chalice clientele delicious food — without telling them that everything on the menu was 100% gluten-free, sugar-free, low-glycemic, organic and allergy-friendly.
- Many of her guests ate the food and thoroughly enjoyed it – without realizing just how healthy it was.
- Those who came because they had challenges with their diets would look up at the servers and say things like, “You mean I can eat anything on this menu, anything?”
- The server would smile and say, “Yes, you can eat anything you like.”
- And why not? Debbie’s recipes are delicious and chock-full of healthy fruits and veggies, legumes and certain nuts and seeds, especially sprouted nuts and seeds.
As a Hungry Person with Special Food Needs, Can You Imagine How Amazing It Would Be to Be Able to East ANYTHING on the menu?
Debbie notes: “Our entire restaurant was geared to people with food and environmental sensitivities of all kinds, yet we didn’t advertise the fact on our signage. So locals came in and thought we were just a fine gourmet restaurant. Who wouldn’t? our menu offered only the freshest, organic, foods that were rich, flavorful, and delicious. Desserts were always a must at The Golden Chalice, they were just hard to resist.”
Now You Can Enjoy Debbie’s Amazing Golden Chalice Recipes at Home
The recipes in Debbie’s amazing ebook (yes, you can download it and start checking out the recipes instantly, no waiting for shipping!) are not only delicious but they are helpful for people with everything from allergies, celiac disease and diabetes to IBS (irritable bowel syndrome). And, every recipe contains “healing” food of some type. Not to mention that they are more alkaline.
Perhaps these recipes will become your new definition of Comfort Foods. After all, these recipes are:
- Delicious
- Easy to digest, and
- Leave you feeling both full and energized.
Isn’t that the very definition of comforting?
If you’d like to take a look at one of these great recipes, here’s a gluten-free favorite: Golden Chalice Carrot Cake.
One Last Thing: What’s The Deal With “Alkaline” Foods?
Debbie says her recipes are “more alkaline, ” which might not be a term you’re familiar with.
On the other hand, perhaps you’re aware that some nutritionists are now recommending we all enjoy a more alkaline diet in order to prevent cancer and other diseases? It’s a concept that’s controversial and perhaps still a bit “out-there,” but it’s been getting a lot of attention recently. To help explain what alkaline foods are all about, here’s a clip from CBS News that explains it for you:
In closing: Fun With Gluten-Free Low-Glycemic Food! is a cookbook for people who love delicious food but don’t want to get sick eating it!
Whether or not you decide to subscribe to an alkaline diet, you’re guaranteed to enjoy the recipes. And why wouldn’t you? After all, the book’s title says it all: Fun With Gluten-Free Low-Glycemic Food!
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Hmmmmmmm.. Beef pot roast with potatoes has been my favorite dish since I was a kid and started to realize my senses
But I had to cut down on meat later due to cholesterol
But I am looking for comfort foods like this so that I can have my favorite dishes once in a while.
Here’s more help if you’re looking for healthy desserts. I’ve just discovered this site and can’t wait to try their chocolate cake mix. Especially because they offer a handful of decadent-sounding recipes using their healthy cake mix. And if you sign up for their newsletter, they promise more recipes to come…
Check it out! This cake mix is made with almond flour, organic cocoa and other high fiber, high protein, and low glycemic ingredients. Not to mention that all Wellness Bakeries all-natural desserts are rich in omega-3 and antioxidants and contain NO trans fat, NO artificial sweeteners, and NO refined grains.
Find them here: http://www.wellnessbakeries.com/index.php?osCsid=73e5c6d3d76a3d840f407c7f8054c706
Here’s a book that will help you find even more diabetes-safe foods: [i]Tell Me What to Eat if I Have Diabetes[/i]. I found it in large print at http://www.readhowyouwant.com/catalog/book-detail.aspx?book-id=12864
There are a lot of different comfort foods that can be eaten as long as they are done in moderation. My father has type2 diabetes and he checks his blood level every mourning. He is 90 years old and has had it for the last 5 or 6 years but he reads and tries a lot of different foods and combinations that one would think would raise his levels way up, but don’t. He has been able to keep his levels under control and still seems satisfied with what he eats.
I love home made chili! If you follow some simple rules and don’t add certain ingredients you can make some great stuff that can be eaten time and time again. If you want to make it so others without diabetes can enjoy… have some cheese and hotdogs on the side and everyone will enjoy. Another one I love is the stroganoff!
Thanks Anne for the tips and the web link very helpful I have been putting on a lot of weight over the past few months ( too many burgers & ice cream ) but the info you have supplied is great, thanks again Anne.
Mike
Reading this post was getting me hungry. Normally I don’t care for diet food, but some of the suggestions here sound like something I would be in to eating. I just started back to the gym after about a 2 month lay off, so getting some of these recipes will be right in line with my new agenda. Thanks for the great info!
Yum, those dishes you mention do sound wonderful!- The thing is that they do bring concerns about further health problems.. I’m watching the video about these guys book now and it sure sounds interesting. Thanks for the recommendation, I might try to order it I think.
Lasagna has always been my favorite comfort food. Plus it’s easily available anywhere. Not being able to eat it anymore, I’m gonna die from that alone. Kidding aside, it’s good to know there are alternatives especially to those who have been diagnosed with diabetes. Just curious, these recipes would not end up like those vegan food that look yummy but tastes awful ( no offense to vegans out there), would it?
There are some great guilty pleasures on that list of nine. There actually is a new book series called “Eat this not that” and also “Cook this not that” which can also save calories. I am not sure if it’s diabetes friendly, but it is without a doubt calorie friendly.
Pot roast is one of my all time favorites, especially with cornbread on the side. Here in the deep south, we love pinto beans, fried potatoes and cornbread (of course with a healthy portion of onion on the side). I don’t know if that can be made healthy or not, but at my house we do fry the potatoes in extra virgin olive oil, which may be better than vegetable oil. Great information – thanks for sharing!
Just reading this makes me hungry. You mention alkaline foods. The theory behind making your body more alkaline is that cancer can’t grow and start in an alkaline environment so if you can eat certain foods that make your body more alkaline you can prevent cancer and other health problems.
I first got introduced to Dr. Young from a radio interview I heard him on. He is really really good and I think he’s onto something with the acid/alkaline balance of the tissues. If you haven’t read The PH Miracle or Sick And Tired, you should. Thanks for helping spread the word.
Anne, this is a great resource for Dietetics or people with special food needs. I also think that the food ideas promoted by “the PH miracle” and low glycemic food can be extremely healthy for anyone to consider.
Thanks again for the great information.
My sister’s family lives up in Minnesota, I’ve heard them raving about the Golden Chalice Restaurant. It’s one of their favorite places to go out to eat. They highly recommend it.
Just reading this makes me hungry. You mention alkaline foods. The theory behind making your body more alkaline is that cancer can’t grow and start in an alkaline environment so if you can eat certain foods that make your body more alkaline you can prevent cancer and other health problems.