Yesterday I shared ways that you can alter your recipes to make them fit your gestational diabetes needs a little better. Eating a balanced diet is always important during pregnancy, but when you have gestational diabetes, it is more important than ever. Not adhering to your diet can lead to your baby gaining too much weight, which could lead to birth complications. Sticking to your diet is never easy, but you do have more control when you are eating at home. Things get complicated when you’re invited to a party and no longer have any control over the menu. Imagine how frustrating it must be for a pregnant woman with gestational diabetes during the holidays, attending a string of parties that offer so many foods she cannot touch. You don’t have to stay home, but you do need to plan ahead.
One option is to call up the hostess and offer to bring a dish to pass. If she agrees (and she most likely will), bring a dish that fits into your diet plan. This way, if you arrive and the buffet table looks like a carbohydrate parade, you won’t have a panic attack. Eat what you brought and enjoy some of the other items in moderation.
If you are attending an event that is catered, you may want to find out ahead of time what will be on the menu. Most of the time there will be something that you can eat, but if your options are limited, opt to eat a small meal before you arrive, then snack on some of the healthier options available. Do not be tempted to fast all day so you can splurge at the party. That is a recipe for disaster and will surely cause your blood sugar levels to spike dramatically.
Most parties have a veggie platter, as well as a meat and cheese tray, on the hors d’oeuvres table. Pass on the potato chips and mini hot dogs drenched in sugary barbeque sauce, and enjoy a plate of veggies (especially cucumbers and celery), meat and some cheese. Veggies and protein are your friend when you have gestational diabetes. Also feel free to enjoy unsweetened dill pickles, sugar-free Jell-O, coffee or tea without guilt.
Remember, the key is moderation.