Sweet veggies?

[Depleted]

I should eat more veggies, but I have a sweet tooth, so go for fruit. I'm diabetic, so I really shouldn't eat so much fruit. Add to that, summer is coming, so I'll be needing something that's cool and refreshing (instead of stews and soups), but I hate salads because salads always meant yet-another-diet, so I'm to the point of thinking typical diet veggies are as appealing as eating styrofoam.

But then I remembered my grandmother sprinkled sugar on tomatoes, which make them dessert-like. Instead of using sugar, I can use Splenda. Does anyone know any other veggies (that grow in North America), that are easy to prepare to eat and would taste good with sugar? I'm thinking cucumbers and carrots so far, because, like tomatoes, they already have a little sweetness to them naturally.

Have you ever made your summer veggies sweet? If so, which ones?

 

[tourist]

Maybe honey and vinegar. Sweet and sour.

 

[Willie-T]

I should eat more veggies, but I have a sweet tooth, so go for fruit. I'm diabetic, so I really shouldn't eat so much fruit. Add to that, summer is coming, so I'll be needing something that's cool and refreshing (instead of stews and soups), but I hate salads because salads always meant yet-another-diet, so I'm to the point of thinking typical diet veggies are as appealing as eating styrofoam.

But then I remembered my grandmother sprinkled sugar on tomatoes, which make them dessert-like. Instead of using sugar, I can use Splenda. Does anyone know any other veggies (that grow in North America), that are easy to prepare to eat and would taste good with sugar? I'm thinking cucumbers and carrots so far, because, like tomatoes, they already have a little sweetness to them naturally.

Have you ever made your summer veggies sweet? If so, which ones?

As long as you have no inflammation problem such as RA, sugar is just mainly going to encourage cancer, and most of us are headed for that anyway. Sugar will raise H__ll with any kind of inflammation. Your white cells work through your immune system like hungry little Pac Man "chompers" to gobble up the bad stuff, and sugar can totally shut down their action for sometimes as much as three days.

Many veggies taste great seasoned with some spices (your choice) and baked on a cookie sheet at 375 +/- for 20 + minutes. This time and temp can vary with each veggie. Asparagus done this way tastes almost like French fries.

 

[JosephsDreams]

If you can, use Coconut oil, or Flax or Olive oil with them, and season them with organic and raw Tumeric, Cumin, Garlic, Basil, Oregano, and/or Thyme, and you really have yourself a tasty and healthy snack.

 

[Hellooo]

Many veggies taste great seasoned with some spices (your choice) and baked on a cookie sheet at 375 +/- for 20 + minutes. This time and temp can vary with each veggie. Asparagus done this way tastes almost like French fries.

So true..asparagus, broccoli, cauliflower, red cabbage....all great roasted in the oven

 

[missy2014]

do you get Kumura or sweet Potatoe in the Usa thats sweet its lovely

 

[missy2014]

I like yams too

 

[Depleted]

Maybe honey and vinegar. Sweet and sour.

Honey is just like the sweetness in fruits and sugar -- it's the type of thing that causes higher numbers for diabetics. It's sugar.

 

[Willie-T]

Thank you, JD. I forgot to mention the oil. My wife uses an oil mister she bought at Bed, Bath & Beyond.

 

[Willie-T]

Many diabetics stay away from honey, out of a fear that the sweet nectar will cause a spike
in their blood sugar levels. However, as with many nutritional ‘truths’, the answer to “is honey
safe for diabetics” is not as cut and dry as we might suspect. In fact, studies have shown that
careful consumption of honey is safe for most diabetics.

The Canadian Diabetes Association notes that tracking carbohydrates is one of the ways
diabetics can keep their diabetes under control. One tablespoon of honey contains 17 grams
of carbohydrates, the same amount as in a single small apple. A teaspoon of honey, then, has
only 5.3 grams of carbohydrates. Diabetics are also encouraged to be aware of the Glycemic
Index (GI ) of the foods they eat and choose foods with lower GI values over ones with higher
values. Pure, unadulterated honey has a lower GI value than white sugar and may be a good
choice as a non-chemical sugar substitute for some diabetics.

Yet another advantage of honey for diabetics is found in the way our bodies perceive
sweetness. The sweetness in honey comes from fructose and glucose in a 1:1 ratio. Human
taste buds perceive fructose as sweeter than glucose, so honey tastes sweeter than regular
sugar. As a result, we tend to use less honey to sweeten to the same degree as sugar, so the
carbohydrate and glycemic load of honey is further reduced compared to the sugar that would
be needed to achieve a similar level of sweetness with sugar.

Scientific studies on the use of honey by type II diabetics have shown that consuming honey
daily for a period of 8 weeks can have beneficial effects on body weight and for blood lipids. As
with any medical condition, people who have diabetes should consult with their doctor about
whether honey is safe for them to utilize as part of their diabetes management plan.
scientific studies:

Abdulrhman, Mamdouh, Mohamed El-Hefnawy et Al, “The glycemic and peak incremental
indices of honey, sucrose and glucose in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus: effects on
C-peptide level--a pilot study”. Acta Diabetol (2011) 48: 89-94.

Bahrami, Mohsen, Asal Ataie-Jafari et Al. “Effects of natural honey consumption in diabetic
patients: an 8-week randomized clinical trial”.International Journal of Food Sciences and
Nutrition, November 2009; 60(7): 618-626.

“Carbohydrate Counting.” Canadian Diabetes Association. Web. 9 Mar. 2015. <http://www.
diabetes.ca/diabetes-and-you/healthy-living-resources/diet-nutrition/carbohydrate-counting>.
Jacob, Aglaee. “Can a Diabetic Eat Honey?” LIVESTRONG .COM . LIVESTRONG .COM , 18 Dec.
2013. Web. 9 Mar. 2015. <http://www.livestrong.com/article/431897-can-a-diabetic-eat-honey/>.

 

[JosephsDreams]

Green Stevia (not white Stevia) is a GI of 0. You can get green Stevia on Amazon.
Yacon syrup has a glycemic index of 1.
Inulin is also a GI of 1.
Honey is a 50.
Black strap molasses is a 55.

Inulin:
It is a pre biotic, that is not a typo, it is a prebiotic. (not a probiotic)
Prebiotics as a non-digestible food ingredient that beneficially affects the host by selectively stimulating the growth and/or activity of one or a limited number of bacteria in the colon. This definition more or less overlaps with the definition of dietary fiber, with the exception of its selectivity for certain species.
Inulin is a soluble dietary fibre.. It is a naturally occurring oligosaccharide (several simple sugars linked together) belonging to a group of carbohydrates known as fructans. Unlike most carbohydrates, inulin is non-digestible. This allows it to pass through the small intestine and ferment in the large intestine. Through the fermentation process, the inulin becomes healthy intestinal micro flora (bifidobacterium).

Green Stevia:
Research has shown that stevia sweeteners do not contribute calories or Carbs to the diet and do not affect blood glucose or insulin response, which allows people with diabetes to consume a wider variety of foods and comply with a healthful meal plan.
Stevia leaves contain potassium, zinc, magnesium and vitamin B3.

Yacon Syrup:
As mentioned, yacon tubers are mostly composed of fructooligosaccharides and water. This means that the majority of the carbohydrate sugars cannot be digested by the body, resulting in a very low calorie level and a prevention of excess sugar coming into the bloodstream. Yacon also helps the body increase its vitamin and mineral absorption of all other foods, so while there aren’t many vitamins and minerals in Yacon itself, it is very important for the intake of these essential components of human health. That being said, Yacon is still rich in potassium, calcium, and phosphorous.
Some of the health benefits of Yacon include its ability to regulate blood sugar levels, lower “bad” cholesterol, help with weight loss, lower blood pressure, improve the health of the liver, prevent certain types of cancer, boost digestive health, and strengthen the immune system.

 

[coby2]

I had to eat more veggies too, so recently I started eating this:




and cucumber.
What my mom makes when I visit is salad made from cucumber, tomato and for the rest, since I don't like salad, she mixes it with avocado or banana, mandarin, apple and other fruit.

 

[mar09]

Heard of the miracle fruit? I understand it starts bearing fruit when about a foot tall. A friend once gave me a plant, but I didn't care for it enough=(

MIRACLE FRUIT: Uses, Side Effects, Interactions and Warnings - WebMD

Geeks On Gardens: How to Plant Miracle Fruit (with image)

 

[mar09]

Ah, doing the plants outside recently, i found still one miracle fruit plant alive outside! It is not a pretty remarkable plant when u look at, so i did not quite notice there was one in a corner pot.

But if u still care to try it...
Synsepalum dulcificum is a plant known for its berry that, when eaten, causes sour foods (such as lemons and limes) subsequently consumed to taste sweet. This effect is due to miraculin. Common names for this species and its berry include miracle fruit...

 

[ArtsieSteph]

I know sweat potatoes are good with cinnamon, dunno about summer veggies though....squash maybe? Cucumber???