Recipe contest spotlights tasty nutritious, diabetes-friendly dishes

At Mom’s Meals^®, we’re passionate about delivering nutritious, condition-specific meals to the homes of individuals across the country.

Studies show medically-tailored meals support patient recovery after hospitalization and reduce instances of readmission, as well as help patients manage chronic conditions, avoid hospitalizations, and preserve health and independence.

But for any of these health outcomes to be realized, meals have to taste as good as they look, and look as good as they taste. Otherwise, they may never get consumed, despite nutritional content. Menu matters, and Mom’s Meals is constantly innovating and looking to strike a balance between food people love and the nutrition they need.

This past November, we partnered with the esteemed Diabetes Practice Group of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics in sponsoring our first-ever Fall Recipe Contest. We figured, how exciting to go directly to experts themselves to see what they’re cooking up in their own kitchens.

We invited Diabetes Care and Education (DCE) members to submit their most beloved diabetes-friendly recipes in one of two categories: an entrée or a side dish.

Entries were judged based on nutritional content (e.g., friendly for clients with diabetes), taste, visual appeal, clarity of recipe, and other factors. Our judges—the chefs and dietitians at Mom’s Meals — tested the recipes in our own kitchens in Ankeny, Iowa.

“The winning recipes came together quickly. They were tasty, and recipes a home cook could easily follow for a weeknight dinner,” said Jon Benedict, Certified Executive Chef at Mom’s Meals. “They each proved that recipes don’t have to be difficult to be delicious!”

You’re probably wondering, who were the winners, and what were their standout recipes?

Judy Fitzgibbons of Cedar Rapids, Iowa won the grand prize in the entrée category with her pièce de résistance, Eastern Mediterranean Turkey Meatballs. Susan Berkman of Columbus, Ohio claimed the side dish grand prize with Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Sweet Potatoes. Runners-up were Elizabeth Michaels (Carbondale, Illinois) for her Oven Roasted Chicken with Vegetables entrée and Brooke Findley (Raleigh, North Carolina) her savory side dish, Ginger Turmeric Roasted Carrots with Walnuts.

“The balance between flavor and solid nutrition was great in these recipes,” said Amanda Daines, RD, LD, of Mom’s Meals. “It’s something we always keep in mind at Mom’s Meals. We all want something that tastes great AND delivers a healthy dose of the nutrition we need.”