The Glycemic Index Diet for Dummies (65 page)

Tamales:
Tamales use corn dough
(masa)
that can be filled with meats, cheese, and chiles.

When it comes to tortillas, your lowest-glycemic option is a whole-wheat tortilla. If the restaurant you're at doesn't serve those, ask next for a corn tortilla, followed by a white-flour tortilla.

Middle Eastern/Greek restaurants

Middle Eastern and Greek dishes use such a wide variety of foods that you can find some great low-glycemic options if you're willing to be a little adventurous. Check out the following:

Chicken Souvlaki:
This basic shish kebab can either be made with all meat or mixed with vegetables.

Chilled yogurt and cucumber soup:
Yogurt is a low-glycemic food, making this soup a nice, light addition to your meal.

Imam Bayildi (baked eggplant stuffed with vegetables):
This hearty dish is packed with nutrients from all the plant-based foods.

Stuffed grapevine leaves:
The small amount of rice in this dish means it's still a good low-glycemic choice.

Spinach with lemon dressing:
This is a great side to go along with your shish kebab or other meat entree. Mix and match to come up with the perfect meal.

Vegetable and lentil soup:
Soups that use low-glycemic foods are always a good choice. Most broth-based soups are very low in calories and can often leave you feeling fuller and more satisfied with your meal — a perfect fit for your weight-loss plan!

Hummus:
A bean dip made primarily out of chickpeas, hummus is often served with pita bread or vegetables. It's a very low-glycemic food and an overall healthy choice. Ask your server whether you can get whole-wheat pita bread to go along with it.

Thai restaurants

Some of the most popular Thai dishes feature noodles and rice (making them higher-glycemic choices). For healthy, low-glycemic Thai choices, turn to any of the following:

Thai vegetables with chicken and chili sauce:
This is a pretty basic but spicy meal. If it comes with rice, either omit the rice or just eat less of it.

Seafood kebab:
Like any kebab, a Thai seafood kebab is an excellent choice to order with a side dish of vegetables.

Tom Yum Goong (hot sour shrimp soup):
This soup will warm you up. Its low calorie level and low glycemic load make it great as a starter or as part of a meal.