Cooking for Diabetics

By Rory McClannahan Mountain View Telegraph

When most people think of diabetes, they think of a dramatic change in diet.

But that’s not necessarily the case. A diagnosis of diabetes usually means a person needs to be more aware of their diet.

"No food is off-limits, you just have to limit what you eat and the way it’s prepared," says Ruth Baldwin, a teacher for the Creative Kitchen cooking class.

Kitchen Creations is sponsored by the New Mexico State University Cooperative Extension Service to teach people how to cook with diabetics in mind. Each year, the program sponsors classes around the state. Last year, 26 classes were held in New Mexico, and Karen Halderson, the extension diabetes coordinator, said the agency hopes to have more in the coming year.

The Torrance County class is being held in Moriarty and will be finishing this week.

"It’s a valuable program," Halderson said. "Everyone would be healthier on a diabetic diet."

The class takes place over four weeks with three-hour sessions each week. The first class goes over basic information and the classes afterward focus on different kinds of foods and their nutritional benefit. At the end of the class each session, participants help prepare and get to eat a diabetic meal. During the final session, students will prepare meals on their own.

An important part of the curriculum is to inform students of substitute ingredients that can be used in the place of items that have high sugar or fat content.

"We figure if they prepare it here, then they might be more likely to try these recipes at home," Halderson said.

There are 19 participants in the class this year, some who don’t have diabetes but have family members who do. Halderson said it’s important that diabetics find family support because changing a diet can have an impact on a whole family.

The class is given free of charge each year. The program is paid for through a grant from the state Department of Health.

For more information

To learn more about the diabetes cooking program, contact Halderson at (575) 332-3765 or the Torrance County Extension Office at 246-4745.

(c) 2008 Albuquerque Journal. Provided by ProQuest LLC. All rights Reserved.