Some foods you should eat – Part 3

Another food that you should consider eating a small amount of is peanut butter. This food is high in fat and you must be careful as it is also a source of many calories. So please use sparingly as just a tablespoon contains about 90 calories. Peanut butter does provide protein and folate, a B vitamin for the healthy development of new cells.

Next time you are in the grocery store or supermarket, take time to read the labels. You may decide not to eat peanut butter. A serving size of two tablespoons is normally suggested. This can be about 200 calories, but what you need to watch is the amount of sodium. I try to find a real and natural peanut butter that has less than 6 grams of carbohydrates, and less than 75 milligrams of sodium. Fat is going to be high, but it should be a majority of good fat. One brand did have some trans fats so it stayed on the shelf. Most brands do not have trans fats.

Peanut butter can be good for people with diabetes as it is a good source of protein and fiber. I am not sure why there is so much difference in calories among the different brands unless it is the method of processing.

When comparing peanut butter labels, make sure that you look at the natural peanut butters as well. Whether the peanut butter is the real thing or not will depend on the ingredients. Many have several additives that help preserve the peanut butter so that it does not have to be refrigerated. Real peanut butter does require refrigeration after opening and are often in the refrigerated section.


If you are vegetarian, then you may stop reading. This is about beef and why I eat some, but not a lot. Beef has saturated fat and dietary cholesterol, and people with heart problems need to limit their intake and use lean cuts. Beef is a good source of protein and iron. For women especially, this iron source is important for during childbearing age as women are often deficient in iron.

Unless you are following a vegetarian diet, beef is still good for you and even though you may not care about the fat, lean cuts are generally the best for those of us with diabetes. A good leafy salad with a tasty steak do make a good meal.

This is the last post in this series.