Five Tips to Keep the Fight Alive

All good things must end, even ADF’s Food Fight Campaign.

But the fight doesn’t have to go the way of the DoDo. There are a few simple things you can do every day to keep making healthy choices, feel good and better manage your diabetes. Here are just a few tips to keep you on track.

Fuel Your Day with Food

Just like your car, your body doesn’t run very well without fuel. To ensure your body is getting the nutrients it needs, eat three meals per day at regular times and space meals no more than six hours apart.

By spreading your meals out, you will have more energy throughout the day and better control over your hunger, cravings and blood sugars.

Fibre Up

You’ve heard me say it 100 times. And now, I’m going to say it again: fibre is a key ingredient in managing diabetes. Eating more high-fibre foods such as whole grains, lentils, beans, vegetables and fruit helps lower blood sugar and cholesterol levels.

High fibre diets also help with weight management, which is again crucial for managing or preventing diabetes. So fill your plate with veggies, legumes and whole grains!

Pair it With Protein

Including protein-rich foods at meals and snack times helps you feel full longer, which means fewer cravings and better appetite control throughout the day. Regular protein intake also helps keep blood sugars steady after a meal.

To make the most of your protein intake, aim for 20-30 grams of protein at each meal. This translates to filling one quarter of your plate with high protein foods such as lean meats, poultry, fish, eggs, soy, pulses, dairy products and nuts and seeds.

Choose Real Food. Always.

If you’re working to cut down on the amount of sugar, salt and fat in your meals, the best way is to make them yourself and focus on fresh, minimally-processed foods whenever possible.

The prairie provinces are bursting with locally-grown, whole foods: tasty fruits; delicious vegetables; whole grains like wheat and barley; dairy products like milk, cheese and yogurt; and great sources of lean protein like chicken, eggs, pulses and our world famous Alberta Beef.

By celebrating these foods, you’ll not only boost the nutrition and flavour in your diet; you’ll also reduce your carbon footprint and help support our local farmers.

Small Choices Make All The Difference

People often crave big results in short periods of time. But life doesn’t work that way. It’s the little things that add up to big successes. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: small changes made consistently over time lead to big results.

One of the most important decisions we make is what we put in our bodies. And if fighting diabetes means filling up on healthy and delicious foods, I for one am happy to put up my dukes.

Will you join us in keeping the #ABFoodFight alive?