Alarmingly, 22 million people were diagnosed with diabetes in 2014.  There are various factors that contribute to the development of Type 2 Diabetes, i.e. a poor diet, lack of physical activity, and a family history of diabetes.

Adopting a healthy eating pattern and lifestyle that are enjoyable for you can help prevent, or slow complications from diabetes.  To refresh your memory, here are a few simple changes you can make to prevent the onset of Type 2 Diabetes.

–  Choose complex carbohydrates, such as fruits, whole grains and starchy vegetables (potatoes, corn, and beans), as they are high in fiber and can help prevent spikes in your blood sugar.
–  Balance carbohydrate foods with lean protein and/or healthy fats.
–  Be active for 30-60 minutes most days of the week
–  See your doctor for annual visits to be best informed on your health.
–  Eat more non-starchy vegetables: They are low in calories and do not spike your blood sugar!  It is recommended that we eat at least 2-3 servings of vegetables every day, but more is even better and can help prevent chronic diseases like Type 2 Diabetes, cancers, and cardiovascular diseases.

Meet Kim Beavers, a fellow dietitian and guest blogger for today.  Her passion is to translate nutrition recommendations into delicious food strategies to prevent chronic disease.  She has a great recipe to help you accessorize your veg:

Hummus is good, but this Carrot Pecan Dip will blow your mind!

This recipe was originally developed for sampling at a local farmers market—it was such a hit that I share it whenever possible.  The reason this recipe was a hit, of course, was because it tasted delicious. Research tells us (and our taste buds agree) that the primary reason people choose one food over another is taste. Secondary reasons for choosing certain foods are, health, and cost.  It is always a goal of mine to promote the concept that healthy foods and delicious foods can be one in the same. This is particularly important when talking about snacks or upcoming holiday appetizers. Hummus has had a strong hold on healthy snack recommendations for years, but that has been done A LOT, and variety is the spice of life. This dip is a great hummus alternative (not that there is anything wrong with hummus). The other thing I love about this dip is that the star ingredient is a vegetable. Eating more vegetables is almost synonymous with better health, and snacking is a great “eating opportunity” to do just that – eat more veggies.