7. Summer Tomato and Zucchini Quinoa Pizza
“Just because you have diabetes doesn’t mean you have to miss out on your favorites, including pizza,” Poulson says. Case in point: This recipe from Simply Quinoa. It starts with a crust made of quinoa and hummus, which provide fiber, healthy fats, and protein, Poulson notes. Use more hummus to make the sauce and then add healthy toppings. “This recipe does what I often suggest to people with diabetes who still want to enjoy pizza, and that’s to top it with veggies,” Poulson says. Use nonstarchy veggies like zucchini and tomatoes, as these add flavor, fiber, vitamins, and minerals without tons of carbs, she adds.
One serving (1/12 of the recipe) packs 150 calories, 13 g of carbs, 4 g of protein, 10 g of fat (1 g of saturated fat), 3 g of fiber, and 1 g of sugar. Optional: Garnish with shredded vegan cheese, chopped basil, and red pepper flakes.
8. Mexican Chopped Salad
This chopped salad from The Cafe Sucre Farine is loaded with vegetables, with many of the nonstarchy variety: romaine lettuce, bell peppers, onions, jicama, zucchini, and tomatoes. It also includes black beans, which offer plenty of satiety-promoting protein and fiber (15.8 g protein and 18.1 g fiber per cup of the reduced-sodium variety). Bake your own tortilla chips and whisk together the recipe’s homemade honey-lime dressing so you can be sure how much salt and oil you’re getting.
One-eighth of this recipe provides 228 calories, 8 g of fat (1 g of saturated fat), 35 g of carbs, 10 g of sugar, 5 g of protein, 7 g of fiber. Add grilled chicken or fish if you’d like more protein.