![\"Zoku](\"https:\/\/asweetlife.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/Zoku-Slow-Pops.jpg\" "\\"Zoku")
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Summer with diabetes can be tough. It\u2019s the season of beer and sangria, juicy watermelon, sweet corn, and, at least if you\u2019re in my neighborhood, a full hour of the Mr. Softee truck\u2019s siren song every single afternoon. <\/em>So this summer, I decided to search for diabetes-friendly kitchen gadgets that would enable me to enjoy summer and <\/em>keep my diabetes under control. Here are my top four (in no particular order).<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Since ice cream is an important part of summer, I\u2019m starting with a double popsicle whammy. The Zoku Slow Pop molds make classic popsicle sticks in reasonable serving sizes (though if you want something smaller they also have a mini version<\/a>). The design is great: It\u2019s easy to fit in your freezer, and the resusable sticks are integrated into a base that both prevents your popsicle from dripping onto your fingers as you eat it, and holds the sticks in place while they freeze. Each popsicle insert is removable, making it very easy to clean (it\u2019s dishwasher-safe). Put it all together and there\u2019s a reason they\u2019re the #1 best-seller in Amazon\u2019s \u201cIce Pop Molds\u201d category.<\/p>\n But I\u2019m mentioning the Silicone Popsicle Molds too because, let\u2019s face it, sometimes you want a push pop. With these guys, you fill them up, top them with colorful caps, and put them in a glass in the fridge so they don\u2019t fall over. These are easy to clean as well and \u2013 special bonus \u2013 the box includes several extra tops under the assumption that you and your children will be so excited by the prospect of homemade push-pops that some of the tops might go missing. Why these guys only rank #18 in the Ice Pop Molds category speaks to the fierceness of competition in the world of homemade frozen treat-making gadgets. (Speaking of which, the Cuisinart Frozen Yogurt\/Ice Cream\/Sorbet maker<\/a> is also pretty great.)<\/p>\n Sounds good, you say, except where\u2019s the diabetes-friendly part? Well, when you make your own popsicles\/ice cream\/frozen yogurt\/sorbet, you can choose how sweet you want your treat to be, as well as what type of sweetener you want to use. The serving sizes are also both small and controlled.<\/p>\n Here are two that I made recently:<\/p>\n Coconut Push-Pops<\/span><\/p>\n One can reduced-fat coconut milk<\/p>\n Maple syrup and Splenda to taste<\/p>\n Pinch of salt<\/p>\n Sprinkle of cinnamon<\/p>\n (Optional) unsweetened shaved\/shredded coconut<\/p>\n Instructions: Mix all the ingredients together, adjust the sweetness\/saltiness\/cinammon-i-ness to taste, and pour the mixture into the push pop molds. Freeze.<\/p>\n Ginger Nutmeg Peach Frozen Yogurt Pops<\/span><\/p>\n 2 cups 2% plain Fage Greek yogurt<\/p>\n Maple syrup and Splenda to taste<\/p>\n 3 ripe peaches, peeled and cut into chunks (I like to blanch them first)<\/p>\n Grated nutmeg<\/p>\n Grated fresh ginger<\/p>\n Pinch of salt<\/p>\n Mix everything together. Taste it. Adjust it. Freeze it. Enjoy it.<\/p>\n (If you have an ice cream maker, I recommend processing it first \u2013 it\u2019ll give you a slightly softer pop.)<\/p>\n As you can see from the looseness of those recipes, you can have fun playing around. I also was inspired by this list from Buzzfeed<\/a> of interesting popsicle flavor combinations — including a new category: alcoholic popsicles, otherwise known as \u201cPop-tails\u201d\u00a0 (or if you prefer a more risqu\u00e9 term, \u201cCock-sicles\u201d).<\/p>\n Enter the Salad to Go Container. It\u2019s clever in a number of ways. \u00a0First, there is a top tray inside (which itself is divided into two compartments), which keeps your salad separated from whatever additional treats you decide to bring with you (I often put berries on one side of the tray and a piece of chocolate on the other).<\/p>\n Second, in the center of that tray is a small circular plastic jar for your salad dressing. Its screw top means that it will not leak all over your berries and chocolate. And its very existence means that you will not end up with a soggy salad from having dressed it at 7:30 in the morning.<\/p>\n Third, there is a reusable plastic knife and fork cleverly clipped to the bottom of said tray, so you do not have to fish around in the bottom of your backpack for the fork you may or may not have remembered to throw in your bag at the last minute, and which is probably now mingling with your dirty gym clothes.<\/p>\n Lastly, the whole container has clips on its sides, which keeps it securely shut. And if you tire of salads, the same company also makes a soup cup<\/a> and a sandwich-friendly \u201clunch cube.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Not as catchy, perhaps, but much better for my blood sugar. The Primula pitcher somehow manages to hold a lot of fruit in its (removable, easy-to-clean) basket and a lot of water \u2013 and yet doesn\u2019t take up much space in the fridge. And the resulting infusions are great \u2013 a touch of fruit and sweetness, but almost no carbs.<\/p>\n But wait, you say \u2013 that\u2019s only one <\/em>type of beverage. Why is it called a 3-in-1 Beverage System? Well, because the pitcher comes with two other options besides the fruit basket: a coffee\/tea filter, which is great for cold-brews, and a freezable insert that you can use to keep the pitcher cold at picnics. (And, should blood sugar not be an issue, you can also use it to make sangria.)<\/p>\nZoku Slow Pops: Classic Pop Molds<\/a> ($15.99 on Amazon) and Silicone Popsicle Molds<\/a> ($14.88 on Amazon)<\/h3>\n
![\"Ginger](\"https:\/\/asweetlife.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/Ginger-Nutmeg-Peach-Frozen-Yogurt-Pops.jpg\" "\\"Ginger")
<\/a>The Sistema Klip-It 37-ounce Salad to Go Container<\/a> ($8 on Amazon)<\/h3>\n
![\"Sistema\"](\"https:\/\/asweetlife.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/Sistema.jpg\" "\\"Sistema\\"")
<\/a>I like eating salads for lunch all year round, but I especially enjoy them in the summer, when there\u2019s so much tasty produce to be had. But despite my extensive collection of Tupperware and used plastic containers, I never had a good way to transport a salad without it a. getting soggy (from dressing it too early), or b. spilling all over my backpack.<\/p>\nThe Primula Flavor It Pitcher 3-in-1 Beverage System<\/a> ($29.99 from Bed Bath & Beyond)<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/asweetlife.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/Primula-Pitcher-225x300.jpg\" "\\"Primula")
<\/a>You know the expression, \u201cWhen life gives you lemons, make lemonade?\u201d My version is now: \u201cWhen life gives you lemons, combine them with some mint and smushed fruit\u2014oranges, berries, cherries, watermelon, whatever you prefer\u2014and stick them in the Primula Flavor It Pitcher 3-in-1 Beverage System.\u201d<\/p>\nThe Paderno World Cuisine Tri-Blade Plastic Spiral Vegetable Slicer<\/a> ($34.96 on Amazon)<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/asweetlife.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/Padero-World-Cuisine.jpg\" "\\"Padero")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/asweetlife.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/The-Paderno-World-Cuisine-Tri-Blade-Plastic-Spiral-Vegetable-Slicer1-225x300.jpg\" "\\"The")
<\/a>My husband made a basil pesto version that was pretty good, but so far, my favorite preparation is to take a cue from the Chinese restaurant my family used to order from when I was a kid, and make sesame noodles:<\/p>\n