Fabiola Demps Gaines - The New Soul Food Cookbook for People with Diabetes

Director, Book Publishing, John Fedor; Managing Editor, Book Publishing, Abe Ogden; Editor, Greg Guthrie; Production Manager, Melissa Sprott; Composition, Harlowe Typography, Inc.; Cover Design, Kathy Tresnak, Koncept, Inc.; Cover Photography, John Burwell; Cover Food Styling, Anne McLaughlin Nechkov; Printer, Port City Press.

2006 by the American Diabetes Association, Inc. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including duplication, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the American Diabetes Association.

Printed in the United States of America
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The suggestions and information contained in this publication are generally consistent with the Clinical Practice Recommendations and other policies of the American Diabetes Association, but they do not represent the policy or position of the Association or any of its boards or committees. Reasonable steps have been taken to ensure the accuracy of the information presented. However, the American Diabetes Association cannot ensure the safety or efficacy of any product or service described in this publication. Individuals are advised to consult a physician or other appropriate health care professional before undertaking any diet or exercise program or taking any medication referred to in this publication. Professionals must use and apply their own professional judgment, experience, and training and should not rely solely on the information contained in this publication before prescribing any diet, exercise, or medication. The American Diabetes Associationits officers, directors, employees, volunteers, and membersassumes no responsibility or liability for personal or other injury, loss, or damage that may result from the suggestions or information in this publication.

The paper in this publication meets the requirements of the ANSI Standard Z39.48-1992 (permanence of paper).

ADA titles may be purchased for business or promotional use or for special sales. To purchase this book in large quantities, or for custom editions of this book with your logo, contact Lee Romano Sequeira, Special Sales & Promotions, at the address below, or at LRomano@diabetes.org or 703-299-2046.

American Diabetes Association
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Alexandria, Virginia 22311

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Gaines, Fabiola, 1952- The new soul food cookbook for people with diabetes / Fabiola Demps Gaines and Roniece Weaver. 2nd ed.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 1-58040-250-X (alk. paper)
1. DiabetesDiet therapyRecipes. 2. African American cookery. I. Weaver, Roniece, 1960- II. Title.
RC662.G346 2006
641.56314--dc22
2005035236
eISBN: 978-1-58040-628-4

To my parents, Bernetha Sirmans Demps and John L. Demps, Sr. Your spirits will be forever with me.

FDG

To Dad and Mom. Daddy, I know youre not here to see my joy, but your spirit is alive and well in me. Thank you for your inspirational thoughts and words of encouragement. Mom, you are truly the best. Thank you for listening to me and being a stabilizing force. God has blessed me, in that I have come into this world through the both of you.

RW

Contents

Its hard for us to think of anyone we know who hasnt been touched by diabetes in some way, either personally or through a family member. Diabetes represents one of the great health problems of our community. We have spent years learning how to help people with diabetes develop healthier ways of eating, but before that, we were children in homes where diabetes was an unwelcome presence. We have lived much of what you may be living now, and we know its not easy to make some of the changes you want to make.

Roniece remembers when her dad suddenly began to eat more sweets and complain of tiredness and blurry vision. Everyone tried to ignore these signs, until the day her dad didnt get up to go to work. He was told to go on insulin, a special diet, and exercise. The first Sunday morning after diagnosis, as he reached for the familiar biscuits, butter, bacon, and syrup, Roniece began to cry. Her father looked at her in amazement. Im the one who should be crying, not you! he said. Everybody has taken everything I love away from me! But he left the table without eating more.

Fabiolas father was diagnosed with diabetes after a heart attack, but he was determined to avoid insulin shots. She watched as he struggled to come to terms with the inadequate instructions he was given on diet and exercise. The rest of the family had to do without favorite sweets and desserts, until the day her mother made her special sweet potato pie and served her dad a piece. He objected, asking, Are you trying to kill me? That pie is not on my meal plan! After a year, her dad was controlling his diabetes through diet and exercise alone, and Fabiola was learning how far a little determination and education could help someone go.

There are millions of people in our community with undiagnosed diabetes. Worse, there are those who know they have diabetes and arent willing or dont know how to make the small changes necessary to take care of themselves. We wrote this book to help you learn how you can eat better without giving up some of the traditional flavors you love. We want you to know you can live long, healthy lives, even with a condition like diabetes. Thats within your power. You have the strength to meet this challenge. We hope you will enjoy these recipes for many, many years.

This cookbook would not have been possible without the love and support of many people. Thank you for assisting me in this endeavor. Your time, patience, and recipes have been invaluable. I thank my soul mate, Charlie A. Gaines, III, whom I love for many reasons. If not for your guidance, support, teaching, and reasoning, I would have given up. You kept me going through those late-night sessions. Thank you for being the wonderful man you are. I want to thank my adult children (I know you wanted me to put that in), Devona and Tramaine, for the many times you just left me alone. You are wonderful children, and I am so proud of both of you. My mother-in-law, Mary Alice Gaines, kept me on my toes while trying to keep your blood sugars under control. Thank you for your prayers and guidance these past years. Thanks to Audrey Allison for the long, tireless nights of typing while we worked on revisions. I thank my siblings, John L. Demps, Jr., Jeanette Demps Hudson, and Eunice Demps, for the memories of stress-free days and laughter. Thanks to Cynthia Holmes for believing in me. I appreciate the support and love of my aunts and uncles on the Demps, Holmes, and Sirmans sides of the family. Deborah Jean Mitchell, Vavescia Johnson, Felecia Williams, and Almeda Jefferson, thank you for being the best friends a girl could have. Thanks to the American Diabetes Association of Orlando for believing in us and giving us the opportunity to make a difference in our community. And thanks to the American Diabetes Association, National Office, for the freedom to create this book and for giving us the chance to get the message out.

FDG

My heartfelt thanks go to my husband, Dr. Curtis Weaver, for reading this book and lending a strong shoulder so I could finish it. Thanks also go to the loves of my life, my children, Candace and Curtis (CJ), for giving me the time I needed to be alone. Thanks go to my sisters, Willa Ashe, Althea Howell, and Rojean Williams, for your input and words of encouragement. You all have been an irreplaceable cheerleading section. Thanks go to my loving in-laws and friends, Zelma Weaver, Isabella Christian, Michael Weaver, Julia Weaver, Everette Howell, and Daughn Cantrell, for sharing your family recipes and experiences with diabetes. (Mike and Everette: Its not the end of the worldyou can meet the challenge of living with diabetes.) Glenn Barbour, thanks for the many times you inspired me to continue with this project. Your energy is contagious, and it helped me through many book pages. I thank the Reverend Walter R. Prince, pastor of Mt. Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church of Orlando, Florida, for your spiritual guidance and uplifting words that inspire me to continue to grow and help me be creative. You have taught me to have faith and believe that through God, all things are possible. Thank you for the hours you gave to this book. I appreciate the support of the Mt. Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church family and the opportunity to work with the congregation, Silver Angels, and many other projects. I am proud to say that my church home is one that practices heart healthy deeds of service. Thanks go to Deaconesses Della Fayson and Mary Key, Deacon Perry Bell, and Bishop Simon Peter Mabson for sharing your stories with me. Sherman Sheffield made us look great in printyoure the best. Lorraine Onfroy, CDE; the American Diabetes Association in Orlando; Delia Javier; and Nancy Carlton offered their kind support from the very beginning. We continue to appreciate their input and assistance. The Orlando Regional Medical Center Diabetes Treatment Center of Orlando offered clinical opinions and thoughtful revisions. Thanks for the collaborative input. God put Parniece Spears and Edward J. Thompson in my path at a special time in my life. Thank you for your friendship. My deepest appreciation goes to my many special friends who were there for late-night talks or e-mail conversations. You are all jewels that will always shine in the window to my heart. I love you all.