Did you know you can enjoy flavorful recipes that are also diabetic-friendly? Invest in a diabetic cookbook to unlock a world of potential in your kitchen.
Diabetic cookbooks include recipes that align with your wholesome, low-sugar lifestyle. They also share tips and tricks on making diabetic cooking easier, quicker, and more enjoyable.
Ready to start cooking? Here’s our buying guide on diabetic cookbooks with a few recommendations at the end. Our top choice, “Diabetes Meals by the Plate: 90 Low-Carb Meals to Mix & Match” by Better Homes & Gardens, remains a perennial favorite for its beginner-friendly recipes.
Before you buy any cookbook, including a diabetic cookbook, it’s helpful to know where you stand in the kitchen. Otherwise, you might end up with a cookbook that overwhelms you — or falls short of your expectations.
If you’re a novice cook, for example, you’ll be better served by cookbooks whose titles contain words like “easy,” “quick,” or “simple.” Experienced cooks, on the other hand, maybe open to more complex recipes. These diabetic cookbooks feature recipes that require many ingredients and employ a variety of cooking techniques.
Take stock of the tools and appliances you have in your kitchen. It may narrow (or expand) your options for diabetic cookbooks.
Most beginner-friendly diabetic cookbooks only require essential tools, like knives or hand mixers. With these, it’s unlikely you'll need to invest in special tools or appliances to enjoy a diabetic cookbook. On the other hand, some diabetic cookbooks are written for cooking with specific appliances, like slow cookers, pressure cookers, or blenders.
Diabetic cookbooks are available in a variety of formats. Selecting a format is a personal choice, and many people simply choose the most practical.
Paperback cookbooks are considered affordable but are flimsy and won’t stay open on their own. Hardcover cookbooks are durable and stay open on countertops. Spiral cookbooks stay open on their own and have reinforced or plastic pages for added durability.
Some people prefer electronic formats, which tend to be the most affordable. In addition to being more portable and convenient, they’re considered much easier to browse and earmark.
Some diabetic cookbooks are written to accommodate particular dietary preferences. The most common cookbooks in this category feature low-carb meals, comfort foods and holiday dishes.
There are also diabetic cookbooks that are based on keto or paleo diets. Rising in popularity are vegetarian and vegan diabetic cookbooks, especially for individuals that grow their own veggies. According to the American Heart Association, growing and cooking your own vegetables for meals can save you money as you embrace a diabetic-friendly lifestyle.
It comes as no surprise that some of the bestselling diabetic cookbooks build recipes around specific cook times. Many cookbooks focus on quick-to-prepare meals that can be served in 30 minutes or less. Others divide recipes into chapters based on cook times, which generally break down to 20-, 30-, or 60-minute meals.
According to many home cooks, images can make or break a cookbook purchase. It may be helpful or inspiring to see what a dish should look like once it’s prepared. Fortunately, many diabetic cookbooks feature high-resolution images of plated meals to guide you.
Basic paperback diabetic cookbooks without many images cost $15 and below. Mid-range cookbooks that contain color images and at least a few dozen recipes cost around $20. Diabetic cookbooks with well over 100 recipes may run as high as $30 to $40.
A. Cookbooks are considered timeless, so you’ll find plenty that feature tried-and-true recipes in older ones. However, with advances in food science and medicine, newer diabetic cookbooks may provide more relevant, up-to-date information not seen in older editions.
A. Absolutely. Many people adopt diabetic diets because they align with their health, fitness, or nutritional goals. Diabetic recipes also focus on nutrient- and fiber-rich foods, which contribute to gastrointestinal health.
A. Not necessarily. These days, many diabetic-friendly ingredients, foods, and pantry staples are affordable. However, if you prefer organic or specialty ingredients for recipes, you may end up spending more on your grocery bill.
“Diabetes Meals by the Plate: 90 Low-Carb Meals to Mix & Match” by Better Homes & Gardens
What you need to know: In addition to a diverse range of recipes, this cookbook helps you navigate successful diabetic cooking with tips and tricks.
What you’ll love: Image-heavy guide is engaging and encouraging. Meals are simple and approachable, even for novice cooks. Includes accurate breakdowns of nutritional information.
What you should consider: A few recipes call for a large number of ingredients.
Where to buy: Available on Amazon
What you need to know: This award-winning cookbook is filled with flavorful, colorful recipes that are satisfying and delicious.
What you’ll love: Includes a whopping 400 recipes. Features classic recipes as well as plenty of dishes from around the world. Some recipes include images demonstrating cooking techniques, like filleting.
What you should consider: Recipes are detailed, though some people find them somewhat dense.
Where to buy: Available on Amazon and Kindle
“The Diabetes Comfort Food Cookbook” by American Diabetes Association
What you need to know: This cookbook remains a crowd favorite for its intelligent, balanced approach to diabetic-friendly comfort foods.
What you’ll love: Shows you how to reimagine dishes with healthier substitutes for sugar, salt and high-carb ingredients. Recipes are quick and easy to make. Stunning food photography throughout the book.
What you should consider: A few recipes call for small amounts of honey or sugar.
Where to buy: Available on Amazon and Kindle
Sian Babish is a writer for BestReviews. BestReviews is a product review company with a singular mission: to help simplify your purchasing decisions and save you time and money.
