May 10, 2016

Diabetic Friendly Colombian Tostones Recipe

I have been compensated by Glucerna for this post; however, I am sharing my own thoughts. All opinions are my own. Talk with your health-care provider about a diabetes management plan that’s right for you. #GlucernaHungerSmart #CollectiveBias

I am about to turn 40. That’s unreal. I blinked my eyes and in less than two weeks the big 4-0 will be upon me! Something you all may not know about me is that diabetes runs in my family. Every year my employer has the hubs and me do an annual screening to check our cholesterol and blood glucose levels. I don’t drink soda or even juice and I eat very little sugar so I was surprised to find out that I was positive for borderline diabetes. I know my dad is already managing his blood sugar with diet and while I don’t eat a lot of sugar, the little indulgences count, right? I learned about Glucerna® Hunger Smart™ Shakes and implemented them into my diet.

Glucerna® Hunger Smart™ Shakes: The lowdown

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Today I actually went and did this. Yep! Time for the bloodwork and to know how the ol’ glucose is doing:

Since I fasted, by the time I got home it was time to put something in my stomach! If you’ve been around awhile, you’ll know I am 1/2 Colombian. I also like salty and sweet. Colombian Tostones sounded good with one of my Glucerna® Hunger Smart™ Shakes to go right along with it. Now, usually tostones are fried and the way my mom and abuela (grandmother) made them back in the day-they’re fried TWICE and there was a lot of salt involved. These are baked in the oven and I don’t use salt.

Green plantains come in around a 40 on the glycemic index and have a glycemic load of 13. I eat them in moderation. And remember, guys – this recipe works for my diet and the parameters I need to follow. Always check with your doctor to make sure of what is right for you.

Diabetic Friendly Colombian Tostones

Of course, be sure to go to the Walmart Health & Wellness aisle to get your Glucerna® Hunger Smart™ Shakes to accompany your tostones:

What you’ll need:

3 large plantains
A tostonera – (this is a press that squashes the plantain) if you don’t have one of these, don’t worry-I’ve got you covered!
Cooking spray

For the dipping sauce:

Olive oil (I used blood orange olive oil) – two teaspoons
lemon or lime for citrus flavor if your olive oil doesn’t contain it
pinch of oregano
pinch of cumin (this gives the salty taste without the salt)
1 large clove of garlic

Let’s get started:

Preheat the oven to 400°F
Peel the plantains
Slice plantains into about 1/2″ thick pieces
Put them in the the tostonera and press them so they are only 1/4″ inch thick or so (this will flatten the plantain)
- If you do not have a tostonera, you can use a sandwich bag or two pieces of wax paper and the bottom of a sturdy glass to press the plantain until it is flat
Spray a cookie sheet very lightly with the cooking spray
Place plantains on cookie sheet
Spray the tops lightly again with cooking spray
Bake for 8-10 minutes (if you like yours really crispy you can bake up to 12 minutes – keep an eye on them since oven cooking times vary)
Remove and cool

To make the dipping sauce:

Mince your garlic then take the olive oil, oregano and cumin and put it into a small bowl. Add the garlic and mix well. That’s it. You’re finished!

Two of these diabetic friendly Colombian tostones and one of my Glucerna® Hunger Smart™ Shakes and I am full! A little salty and a little sweet. It’s an easy snack that doesn’t over do it and still makes me feel like I’m indulging. 🙂

Find out more about Glucerna® Hunger Smart™ Shakes

If you’d like to learn more about how Glucerna® Hunger Smart™ Shakes can work for you visit them here and be sure to click here for a $3.00 coupon off of a 2-pack bundle.