Serve Diabetic Friendly Super Bowl Snacks

      Having homemade, diabetic-friendly snacks on hand will eliminate the temptations and dangers that Super Bowl fans with diabetes struggle with when everyone around them is munching on typical snacks that will worsen their glucose readings and increase their weight. Nicole DeMarco, Penn State Extension community health educator, suggests the following diabetic-friendly recipes for your Super Bowl gathering.
     *Chicken Sausage and Roasted Red Pepper Bites. This snack is low in fat and high in taste, and are sure to be a crowd pleaser.
     Ingredients: 2 links chicken sausage all-natural, 1 large red pepper(s) roasted (sliced), 1/4 cup mustard Dijon and 2 tablespoons plain yogurt. Directions: 1. Sear the sausage on all sides until brown and cooked through. Cut into 1/4 inch slices. 2. Wrap each slice with a roasted red pepper strip and secure with a toothpick. 3. Mix the mustard and yogurt and serve on the side.
     *Turkey Burger Sliders with Sautéed Onions, Sharp Cheddar and Horseradish. These bite-sized burgers have all the hefty flavors of fast food burgers. The onion, grass-fed turkey and garlic all contribute to diabetes healing.
     Ingredients:  1 tablespoon olive oil pure, 1 small onion(s) sliced, 1 pound turkey ground, 2 cloves garlic minced, 2 slices sharp cheddar cheese cut into quarters, 1/4 cup horseradish prepared and 1 Ezekial sprouted grain bun toasted and cut into quarters. Directions: 1. Heat the olive oil and sauté the onions for 10-15 minutes or until soft and starting to caramelize. 2. Mix the ground turkey and garlic and form into 8 patties. Cook on medium heat for 3-5 minutes. Turn, top with the cheese and cook for 3-4 minutes more. 3. Spread horseradish on the buns, top with the burgers and onions and serve open-faced.
     *Cinnamon Popcorn. Don’t kick your glucose into the stratosphere with kettle corn. Instead, help heal your diabetes with this buttery, sweet and aromatic popcorn.
     Ingredients: 1 tablespoon cinnamon, 2 tablespoons honey, 2 tablespoons butter melted and 4 cups popped popcorn. Directions: Combine cinnamon, honey and butter and toss with popcorn to mix.
     If you are interested in learning more about managing type II diabetes, consider attending Penn State Extension’s Dining with Diabetes Program. Classes will provide nutrition education, daily meal plans, interactive cooking demonstrations, food sampling and an opportunity to connect with others who are living with type II diabetes. The program will be held for four consecutive Fridays starting March 2 from 2-4 p.m. at Penn State Extension’s Meeting Room, 200 Adams Ave., Lower Level, Scranton. There will be a follow-up class on June 1st. The cost of the program is $40.00 per person or $55.00 for two family members living in the same household. To register, call 877-489-1398 or visit http://www.cvent.com/d/8cq92v. For questions about the program, contact Nicole DeMarco at (570) 963-6842 or nmd5140@ag.psu.edu .
 
Karen Thomas is a family and consumer sciences educator for Penn State Cooperative Extension in Lackawanna County.