We rustled through our archives and found a letter that is relevant to every season. Enjoy a Diet Detective Classic:

Dear Diet Detectives,

My name is Jenny and I had a question about holiday meals that are low-carb and low-sugar. I have a family member who is diabetic and they have very serious restrictions and I’m wondering how can I make this Christmas more flavorful without having excessive carbs and sugars? I need some holiday meal ideas as well as a little help in understanding what is “good” and “bad” for them!

Hi Jenny! Thank you for reaching out to us about this. Having restrictions during the holidays can sometimes make things harder than usual. Wanting everyone to be able to eat the holiday meal is very important. Understanding diabetes and the lifestyle of carb counting and low sugar is definitely a daily challenge. But no worries! We have some great suggestions for you and family. DIET DETECTIVE CLASSIC
First, let us start with some simple education on the topic to help make things a little easier for some of those who may not know what “carb counting” is. Carbohydrate counting is a meal planning tool for people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Carb counting involves keeping track of the number of carbohydrates there are in the foods you eat each day. There are healthy carbs and unhealthy carbs. Healthy carbohydrates include whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. These provide both energy and nutrients, such as vitamins, minerals, and fiber, but also can help lower cholesterol levels and control your weight. Unhealthy carbohydrates are often food and drinks with added sugars. Although these usually provide some energy, they have little to no nutrients. Carbohydrate counting can help keep your blood glucose levels at a more normal level. With all of this being said, let’s move on to low-carb, low-sugar healthy meal options!
One suggestion to serve a beef tenderloin roast with this recipe for Roasted Asparagus with Bacon.
Ingredients
• 2 pounds fresh asparagus, trimmed
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 (12-ounce) package
turkey bacon, chopped
Directions
1. Heat oven to 425 F.
2. Place asparagus on a large rimmed baking sheet.
3. Toss asparagus with olive oil and turkey bacon.
4. Spread in a single layer.
5. Roast 15 to 20 minutes or until asparagus is crisp-tender.
Nutritional information per serving:
Calories: 140
Fiber: 2 grams
Protein: 8 grams
Fat: 11 grams
Sodium: 370 milligrams
Sugars: 2 grams
Saturated Fat: 2 grams
Cholesterol: 30 milligrams
Carbohydrates: 4 grams
For dessert, we have Snowy Vanilla Pecan Crescents.
Ingredients
• 1 cup powdered sugar, divided
• 2 sticks fat-reduced margarine, suitable for baking (must have 60-70 percent fat), such as Imperial or Fleischmann’s
• 1/4 teaspoon salt (optional)
• 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1-1/4 cups rolled oats
• 1/2 cup pecans, finely chopped
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 325 F. In a large bowl, cream half of the sugar into the margarine, then add the salt and vanilla extract, blending well. Next add the flour, oats, and nuts, and blend thoroughly.
2. Place dough by the tablespoonful on ungreased cookie sheet. Shape into crescents. Bake for 15 minutes or until bottoms is light honey-golden.
Remove to wire rack and sift remaining powdered sugar generously over warm crescents.
Recipe Yield: 36 Cookies
Nutritional information per serving:
Calories: 75
Fat: 4 grams
Sodium: 50 milligrams
Carbohydrates: 9 grams
DIABETIC EXCHANGE
1 Bread; 1 Fat