Serves: 5

Some of the recipes in this book do contain a small amount of sugar. The largest amount per serving is 1 teaspoon. There's nothing inherently wrong with a small amount of sugar when it's ingested with an otherwise wholesome food that contains fiber and some protein or fat. It's the concentrated sugars served in a food with no nutritional value that are detrimental to people with diabetes. Your child's blood sugar response to food is individualized what raises one child's sugar greatly may not affect another child nearly as much. You and you child can judge by experience which foods are no-nos. If you have any questions, consult your doctor or dietician. Something like Wholesome Brownies (see index) may be fine for your child to have before a period of insulin and food intake can be important, and this subject is discussed in greater depth in Part III: "The Copebook."

Concerning artificial sweeteners, I have noted when it is appropriate to use Equal (aspartame). It is preferred because, thus far, it has been shown to be safe for human consumption and approved by the FDA. Its drawback is that it breaks down at the boiling point (212°F), so it cannot be used for baking. Saccharin (Sweet'n Low and SugarTwin), on the other hand, can be heated above the boiling point but has been identified as possibly carcinogenic.

Equal, Sweet'n Low, and SugarTwin come in standardized packets of approximately 1 gram by weight that are each equal in sweetness to 2 teaspoons of sugar. This is the size packet referred to in the recipes. Six of these packets would be equal in sweetness to ¼ cup sugar. If you like to buy SugarTwin in the pour-spout box, measure it just like sugar. I have given the comparative "sugar" sweetness of the artificial sweetener in each recipe. You can use that "sugar" amount as a guide when using SugarTwin.

As a parent, you need to make a decision as to how much artificial sweetener your child ingests each day. There is the previously discussed trade-off of good control and lessened risks of complications for the use of artificial foods with unknown long-term consequences. It is best for your child to eat whole, natural foods as much as possible, but your child is going to want to have some "sweets and treats" now and then. Your doctor and dietician or nurse-educator can help you with any specific questions that arise on this issue.

More Recipes from the The Kids, Food and Diabetes Family Cookbook Cookbook:
A Note on Ingredients
A Note on Sweetness
Test