Type 2 Diabetes – Five Foods to Avoid When You Have Diabetes

While convenience foods serve the purpose of being well, convenient, they are not the healthiest option for anyone. Convenience foods are often full of added sodium, sugar, and artificial ingredients. Convenience foods can also pack in a hefty dose of refined carbohydrates throwing your blood sugar out of whack.

Here are the top convenience foods that raise your blood sugar…

1. Frozen Dinners. Frozen dinners are notorious for containing tons of added sodium, not to mention additives. It is best to skip these and make as much of your food as you can. If you are short on time, try tossing together a salad with a lot of vegetables and a drizzle of olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

2. Soda and Juice. Both soda and juice are loaded with sugar! So don’t be fooled about diet soda. Diet soda contains artificial sweeteners which are just as harmful as refined sugar. Skip the soda and fruit juice, and choose plain sparkling water sweetened with a splash of fresh lemon or lime juice.

3. Granola Bars. While often thought of as healthy snack choices, granola bars can contain as much added sugar as a candy bar! If granola bars are your go-to snack, then be sure to read the nutrition label, and skip anything that lists sugar as one of the first ingredients. Try sticking to a granola bar that is naturally sweetened with ingredients such as dried fruit, raw honey, or pure maple syrup.

4. Flavored Yogurt. While a convenient breakfast or snack choice, flavored yogurts are heavy on the sugar. The good news is you can still enjoy yogurt; choose full-fat unsweetened Greek yogurt and sweeten it yourself with fresh fruit and a drizzle of honey.

5. Protein Shakes. While not all protein shakes are unhealthy, many protein powders contain added sugar and artificial ingredients. Added unhealthy ingredients can be hard on the digestive system, can trigger inflammation, and can also cause blood sugar imbalances. If you do like to enjoy a protein shake as a convenient snack, try to stick to a protein powder free from added ingredients: protein powder such as collagen protein, or hemp protein.

While convenience foods can make eating on the go easy, they are not all healthy and can lead to a host of issues when it comes to balancing blood sugar levels. Skip the foods on this list, and choose one of the following healthier convenient food options…

• a piece of fruit with a handful of nuts,
• full-fat unsweetened yogurt with fruit,
• a bowl of overnight oats, or
• avocado toast.