Children with diabetes don’t have to give up their favorite dishes and snacks even though their meals need to be planned carefully, both for nutritional quality and quantity. Diabetes Snacks, Treats, and Easy Eats for Kids by Barbara Grunes is designed to help all kids enjoy food that is good for them—even if they have diabetes. Grunes offers recipes for nutritious foods that are both easy to prepare and delicious to eat, from snacks and sandwiches to main dishes and desserts (all accompanied by nutritional information!).
To bring awareness to National Diabetes Month, we’re sharing one of her recipes for a healthy, fun, and tasty snack that we hope you—and your kids—will love as much as we do!
It is easy and fun to make your own pretzels, and children love to help twist the dough. Delicious alone, you can also serve them with mustard, low-fat plain yogurt, or nonfat ranch-style dressing. You can also substitute an equal amount of chopped almonds, a sprinkling of kosher salt, or cinnamon sugar for the sesame seeds.
Pretzels
MAKES 24 PRETZELS, OR 12 SERVINGS OF 2 PRETZELS
1⅓ cups sifted all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons sugar
½ cup margarine, chilled
¼ cup egg substitute
1 egg white, lightly beaten
½ cup toasted sesame seeds
Per Serving: Calories: 168; % calories from fat: 59; Fat (gm): 11.1; Saturated fat (gm): 2.1; Cholesterol (mg): 17.7; Sodium (mg): 99; Protein (gm): 3.4; Carbohydrate (gm): 14.2 Exchanges: Milk: 0.0; Vegetable: 0.0; Fruit: 0.0; Bread: 1.0; Meat: 0.0; Fat: 2.0
Combine flour and sugar in a large mixing bowl. Cut in margarine with a pastry blender, electric mixer, or fingertips. Stir in egg substitute and blend well. Form dough into a ball. Flatten dough slightly on a lightly floured surface. Cover in plastic wrap and chill for 2 hours.
Pull off pieces of dough about a tablespoon in size. Roll out each piece on a lightly floured surface to form 10-inch ropes. Form rope rings, then cross ends and twist to make pretzel shapes. Place on nonstick baking sheets. Chill for 20 minutes.
Preheat oven to 375°F. Brush tops of pretzels with egg white. Sprinkle with sesame seeds. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until golden. Remove from baking sheet and cool on a wire rack.