Eileen Molloy is a registered dietitian nutritionist and certified diabetes educator. She says the recipe for Corn and Black Bean Burritos (which you’ll find below) is good for people whether they have diabetes or not.”
A diet that’s good for people with diabetes is the same diet that everyone else should be eating. It’s good for everyone. It’s not a specialized diet. It’s really just a focus on a healthy diet in the appropriate portions.
When she made that statement, Eileen was talking about type 2 diabetes. Ninety percent of people with diabetes have type 2.
The difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes
- Type 1 The body does not produce any insulin. Usually diagnosed in children and young adults.
- Type 2 The body does not produce enough insulin or uses what it produces inefficiently. Usually occurs in adults, especially as they age, but more and more children and teenagers are being diagnosed.
You may have heard that you shouldn’t eat a lot of refined carbohydrates if you have diabetes. It’s true, but Eileen says we should all be watching our carb intake.
When I counsel someone with diabetes I tell them to eat healthy whole grains instead of refined carbs and sugary foods because they affect blood sugar. There’s a lot of research that says if you eat a lot of refined carbohydrates it’s also bad for the heart and bad for the brain. A diet that is good for people with diabetes is also good for preventing cancer and heart disease and also diverticulosis and arthritis and many other things. I find that an interesting point that I think some folks miss.
With or without diabetes, the most important thing is to eat a balanced diet. “It should include a lot of natural food, fruits, and vegetables,” says Eileen. “I start with vegetables and then say fruit, lean protein sources and whole grains. Watch portions and make sure to include the healthy foods and minimize the unhealthy foods.”
The key is to eat moderate portions of nutrition-rich foods — good advice for all of us.
Corn and Black Bean Burritos
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup scallions (green onions) rinsed and sliced into 1/4-inch wide circles, including green tops
- 1/4 cup celery, rinsed and finely diced
- 1 1/4 cup frozen yellow corn
- 1/2 ripe avocado, peeled and diced
- 2 TBS fresh cilantro, chopped (or substitute 2 tsp dried coriander)
- 1 can (15 1/2 ounces) black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1/4 cup reduced-fat shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/4 cup salsa or taco sauce (look for lowest sodium version)
- 12 (9-inch) whole-wheat tortillas
Directions
- Pre-heat oven to 350° F.
- Combine scallions, celery and corn in a small saucepan. Add just enough water to cover.
- Cover, bring to a boil and reduce heat to medium. Simmer for 5 minutes, until vegetables soften. Drain vegetables. Set aside to cool.
- Combine avocado, cilantro and beans in a large mixing bowl. Add cheese and salsa and mix.
- When corn mixture has cooled slightly, add to avocado mixture.
- In a large nonstick pan over medium heat, warm each tortilla about 15 seconds on each side. Place each tortilla on a flat surface. Spoon 1/3 cup of the mixture into the center of the tortilla. Fold the top and bottom of the tortilla over the filling. Fold in the sides to make a closed packet.
- Repeat with the remaining tortillas.
- When all tortillas are wrapped, continue heating in the oven 5 minutes, until all are warm and cheese is melted.
Recipe source: National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. Taken from the MaineHealth Choose Your Foods nutrition booklet.
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