So you've just been diagnosed with diabetes and are overwhelmed with the seemingly endless restrictions on how and what to eat. You may wonder if you'll ever be excited by food again! Or perhaps you've been managing the disease for a long time and have fallen into a cooking rut: your food technically follows the "rules" but lack the culinary spark you once enjoyed. It can be mind-boggling to decipher product labels to ensure you are staying within the guidelines of your diabetic diet. If you are new to the diabetic way of life, managing your food sizes and selections can seem like an extra hassle.

Guidelines to Jumpstart the Diabetic Senior Lifestyle

As a senior, your body has different needs than when you were a younger adult. As you get older, the need for calories lessens because of physiological changes which affect metabolism and level of activity. To help you toward success, follow these simple tips to gain and/or maintain control of your diabetic senior diet:

• As always before beginning any new diet, get a physical and consult with your family doctor.
• If possible, seek the advice of a nutritionist and fitness trainer.
• Set both long-term and short-term diet goals.
• Avoid trendy diets that promise quick fixes.
• Be sure to incorporate your favorite foods into your diet to sustain interest.
• Don't use a diet plan that requires you to buy expensive food items.
• Don't try to diet during stressful events.
• Stay active!
• Choose a diet with numerous food options.
• Leave the table after eating.
• Have a low-calorie snack before eating out or socializing.
• Taking a break during eating helps you realize when you're full.

Keep Mealtime Interesting

As one gets older, it's not uncommon for the taste buds to change. Foods you once enjoyed are no longer appealing (and vice versa). As a diabetic senior, this can make your diet restrictions even more challenging. However, just because you have a new diet routine to follow doesn't mean that you can't find adventurous new ways to prepare the "old" dishes!

To jumpstart your cooking and menu planning, here are some helpful tips for making the diabetic senior's diet more interesting:

• Try preparing one new food a week. International cuisine, such as Greek or Chinese, are popular and healthy alternatives for the diabetic cook.
• Pick up a cookbook and find a new recipe using one of your favorite foods.
• Prepare a favorite food item a different a different way than you normally would.
• Don't be afraid to experiment with seasoning or that exotic spice you always wanted to try
• Plan meals in advance.
• The more colors on your plate, the healthier your meal. For example, baked chicken, a slice of tomato, green beans and applesauce are more colorful than baked chicken, cauliflower, apples and wheat bread.
• Use herbs and spices like nutmeg, paprika, parsley, or dry mustard to add color and "pizazz" to everyday meals.

By implementing some or all of these diabetic senior diet tips, you will soon find that the diabetic senior diet restrictions and guidelines are not so dull. Before you know it, you'll be looking forward to mealtimes once again!