Gestational Diabetes? 5 must have desserts this Christmas
September 23, 2018Gestational Diabetes (GD) doesn’t have to be the Christmas grinch!
As a mum who experienced gestational diabetes while pregnant over a Christmas period, I’m here to tell you that it’s not all doom and gloom! Being pregnant over the Christmas season doesn’t mean you have to deprive yourself of sweets and dessert. But it does mean you have to make good decisions. Not just for your baby, but for your own health and wellbeing* too.
Introducing 5 Dessert recipes that will wow your guests this Christmas. Low Carb, Low sugar, Diabetes-friendly sweets that everyone will enjoy.
Chocolate Avocado Mousse
Thick, rich, and full of deep dark chocolate flavour, this gestational diabetes-friendly chocolate mousse recipe is a fabulous way to round off a delicious Christmas dinner.
Serves
2-4 people
What you’ll need
- 1 large or 2 small ripe avocados
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/4 cup almond milk
- 1-2 teaspoons pure maple syrup, to taste
- 1 tsp natural vanilla extract
- Raspberries, for garnish
Method
- Place avocados, cocoa powder, almond milk, maple syrup, and vanilla extract in the jar of a blender.
- Puree until smooth, stopping when needed to scrape down the sides. The mixture will be very thick and mousse-like. Add a little more milk, if needed.
- Spoon the pudding into dessert cups and top with fresh raspberries, if desired.
Strawberry Santa Hats
Strawberries are one of the fruits my dietician encouraged me to eat a lot of during my pregnancy with gestational diabetes. They’re low carb, full of antioxidants and are refreshing on a hot summer’s day. Better yet, they are shaped like Santa’s hat! The perfect recipe full of Christmas spirit.
Makes
Approx 10-12 hats
What you’ll need
- 1 punnet strawberries
- 1/4 cup low fat yoghurt
- 1/4 cup desiccated coconut (check for additive-free)
Notes
Add yoghurt and coconut close to serving time, and keep refrigerated until time to serve (to avoid yoghurt melting).
You can substitute yoghurt for white chocolate if preferred but this recipe option will be less healthy (white chocolate contains little antioxidants) and intake should be limited/monitored.
Method
- Prepare your decorating area by placing yoghurt and coconut in separate bowls. Prepare your strawberries by washing and cutting off the stalk
- Dip each strawberry base in yoghurt then coconut, repeat with the top. Shake off the excess coconut and place on a tray lined with baking paper
Lemon Cream with Blackberries
A light, protein-packed dessert made with lemon zest and juice, served with a side of fresh blackberries. #yesplease The secret ingredient? Tofu! Take a look.
Serves
4
What you’ll need
- 1 tablespoon grated lemon zest
- 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1 packet of silken tofu, extra soft if available, Drained
- 1 cup fresh blackberries
Method
Method
- Combine 2 1/2 teaspoons of the lemon zest, lemon juice, honey, and tofu in a blender.
- Puree ingredients until smooth, scraping down sides of blender with rubber spatula as necessary.
- Divide lemon cream evenly among four bowls or serving glasses. Garnish each portion with blackberries and reserved lemon zest. Serve immediately or refrigerate.
Dark chocolate dipped Cherries
Yum. It wouldn’t be Christmas in Australia without some cherries on the table. Dip them in dark chocolate, and watch them disappear in a hurry.
What you’ll need
- 50 grams dark chocolate
- 2 cups of cherries
- Baking paper
Method
- Bring an inch of water to simmer in a saucepan.
- Place a heatproof bowl on top of the saucepan, large enough to cover the mouth of the saucepan. Make sure the water doesn’t touch the bottom of the bowl.
- Stir chocolate occasionally as it softens, with a metal spoon. When only a few small unmelted chunks remain, remove the bowl from heat (the residual heat will melt the rest) and continue to stir until smooth.
- Dip the bottoms of cherries into melted chocolate. Let excess drip off.
-
Transfer to a baking tray lined with baking paper.
-
Refrigerate for 15 minutes.
Stick to dark chocolate
“The higher the cocoa content, the less sugar it has and therefore is easier to tolerate, so dark chocolate is the best option”
Baked Apples with berries
The perfect way to finish your Christmas lunch. This delicious diabetes-friendly dessert recipe will be a hit with the whole family.
Makes
6
What you’ll need
- 300g frozen mixed berries
- 6 large apples
- 4 cardamom pods
- 140g natural yoghurt (low fat)
- 2 teaspoons honey
Method
Method
- Place berries in fine sieve set over small bowl, cover; thaw in refrigerator overnight.
- Preheat oven to 160°C/325°F
- Core unpeeled apples about three-quarters of the way down from stem end, making hole 4cm (1½ inches) in diameter. Use small sharp knife to score around circumference of each apple. Make small deep cut in base of each apple; insert one cardamom pod into each cut.
- Pack three-quarters of the berries firmly into apples; place apples in small baking dish. Bake, uncovered, about 45 minutes or until apples are just tender.
- Meanwhile, mash remaining berries with a fork in small bowl; stir in yoghurt and honey.
- Serve apples with yoghurt mixture.
I’m not an expert, so please speak with your Doctor or Obstetrician about the best plan of attack for your diet this Christmas. I am however a mum of two who experienced Gestational Diabetes over the Christmas season and knows too well the feeling of being deprived at special times of the year. Having gestational diabetes over Christmas doesn’t mean you have to miss out completely! It just means you have to do your homework (especially us sweet tooth’s) and make good choices.
Merry Christmas mums to be!
*While maternal blood glucose levels usually return to normal after birth, there is an increased risk of the woman developing type 2 diabetes in the future. The baby may also be at risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life. – Diabetes Australia
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