World Diabetes Day: Cashew Chicken Lettuce Wraps & Giveaway

Today is World Diabetes Day, and Carolyn from All Day I Dream About Food, along with many other bloggers (including myself obviously) are promoting Diabetes awareness by posting diabetes-friendly recipes today. Check out her blog for the chance to win a blue KitchenAid stand mixer (as blue is the color of diabetes awareness), and stay turned here on The Spiffy Cookie for a different giveaway!

Diabetes has not affected me personally (something to be thankful for next week), but I admire Carolyn for her refusal to give up on her passion of baking and cooking after being diagnosed with gestational diabetes. Instead, she fought on and found new ways to enjoy her passions, to the point where I find myself craving her low carb treats too! Her blog, All Day I Dream About Food, has opened my eyes to how you can make creative, flavorful foods that are still low in carbohydrates and suitable for diabetics, dieters and even the everyday hungry person. Many of her recipes are also gluten-free!

But unfortunately diabetes isn’t just about coming up with friendly foods. Diabetes is an increasing global problem, particularly in developing countries. Although the causes are complex in nature, the rapid increases in overweight, obesity and physical inactivity definitely have an impact. Worse still, the World Health Organization (WHO) projects that diabetes deaths will increase by two thirds between 2008 and 2030. Therefore, in an effort to stimulate effective measures for surveillance, prevention and control of diabetes and its complications, WHO is building awareness by participating in the celebration of World Diabetes Day.

There is good evidence that a healthy diet, regular physical activity, maintaining a normal body weight and avoiding tobacco may help in prevention and/or reducing complications. So eat healthy, get active, and put away those cancer sticks (aka cigarettes and that’s another good reason to quit). For my contribution to spreading awareness through healthy eating, I made these lettuce wraps using Swerve all-natural sweetener instead of brown sugar. proof that healthy eating can still be easy and fun.

Be sure to check out the giveaway for you own Swerve baking kit to try out yourself at the end of this post. Get your swerve on!

One year ago: Chicken Alfredo Biscuit Casserole

CASHEW CHICKEN LETTUCE WRAPS

Makes 6-8 lettuce wraps

Ingredients:

SAUCE

2 Tbsp reduced sodium soy sauce

1 Tbsp rice vinegar

1 Tbsp Swerve granulated sugar (or brown sugar for non-diabetics)

1/4 tsp ground red pepper

1/4 tsp ground ginger

1 tsp sesame oil

CHICKEN

2 chicken breasts (about 3/4 lb. total), diced

8 leaves of greenleaf or iceburg lettuce

3 Tbsp olive oil

1 cup onion, diced

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 tsp reduced sodium soy sauce

1/4 cup cashews, chopped

Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. For the sauce, mix all ingredients making sure to dissolve brown sugar. Set aside.
2. Heat canola oil in pan over medium to medium high heat. Add diced chicken and brown (about 4-5 minutes). Remove chicken from oil. Add onions, garlic and soy sauce to pan; brown. When onions and garlic are brown and tender, add stir fry sauce, browned chicken, and cashews. Saute mixture for a few minutes and remove from heat.
3. Spoon chicken mixture into individual lettuce leaves. Add your favorite hot sauce, more cashews or basil. Serve with rice.

Source: Adapted slightly from She Wears Many Hats.

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