Your daily meals play a significant part in helping you lead a healthy and balanced lifestyle. When you're managing diabetes, you've got to be even more conscious about what you choose to consume, especially because you need to control your blood sugar levels.
 

Deciding to eat clean is only half the battle. You also need to plan your meals and understand the kinds of food you should be eating. Here are five food items you should consider adding to your grocery shopping list.

Surrounding yourself with healthy snacks is a good idea. You won't get tempted by chips or candy while satisfying your desire for unhealthy cravings.
 

Picking out almond butter on your next trip to the supermarket may be a good idea. Nuts are naturally high in fibre, protein and good fats (polyunsaturated fats), as well as nutrients. What's great is that nuts typically rank low on the glycaemic index.
 

While generally heathier compared to peanut butter, you should still read the ingredients label to ensure you purchase raw almond butter without any additives. By pairing almond butter with whole-grain bread, you'll enjoy a satisfying new taste to a traditional snack while eating healthy.

Rice is a staple many Asians consume on a daily basis. The problem with white rice is that it tends to lack fibre and nutrients, compared to its brown rice cousins. White rice is high on the glycaemic index, and can quickly impact your blood sugar levels.
 

Brown rice is a form of "good carb" as its complex sugars is broken down slowly by your body. This regulates your blood sugar levels. Apart from this, brown rice is also rich in fibre, vitamins and minerals, adding to an overall healthy meal.

Majority of yogurts are excellent sources of calcium, potassium, protein, zinc and vitamins. The problem is that flavoured yogurts can also have high added sugar content and additives.
 

This is why you need to be attentive to the ingredient labels when picking out yogurt at the supermarket. Greek yogurt tends to be higher in protein and lower in carbohydrates and sugars making it a healthier choice for diabetics.

While peppers do contain carbohydrates, most of it are in the form of fibre and considered healthy. Peppers are packed with vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants. They're also full of flavour and visually appealing, enabling you to easily add them to most meals you are having.

Cherries are healthy and flavourful fruits that you can consume as a diabetic. Even though it's sweet and juicy, some studies have found that it may contain naturally-occurring chemicals that boost insulin¹, that regulates your metabolic process.
 

Besides satisfying your sweet tooth, cherries are also rich in vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants.

The foods mentioned above aren't an exhaustive list, and if you're interested in adding more diversity to your meal, you can do more research of other types of healthy foods for diabetics.
 

More importantly, it goes to show that even diabetics can add tasty yet healthy options to your diet. Apart from aiding in the regulation of blood sugar levels, they provide many other health benefits as well.
 

While these foods are healthier options for you, a balanced diet, even with a few less healthy ingredients occasionally is acceptable for diabetics. The trick is to minimise the amount of sugars and processed food you consume and ensure that the majority of your diet comprises natural food products such as fresh vegetables and fruits, and lean meats.

Eating right is one part of the puzzle. A healthy and active lifestyle requires that you also keep your body fit and your mind nimble. With AIA Vitality, a science-backed wellness programme that works with you to know and improve your health while earning rewards, you'll be even more encouraged lead a healthier lifestyle.
 

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