What Do Diabetic Patients Eat for Breakfast?

When I ask diabetic patients, "What do you eat for breakfast?" about 70-80% answer "Poha!"

✅ That is understandable – it is quick, tasty, and a traditional dish passed down through generations.

However, traditional poha is made simply with white flattened rice, onions, some peanuts, tempering, and topped with sev.

❌ It lacks vegetables, protein, and fiber. 👉 Because of this, this poha causes blood sugar to spike rapidly.

🔁 But this poha can be easily modified to be suitable for diabetes:

1️⃣ Use brown rice poha or red rice poha instead of white – these have a lower glycemic index.

2️⃣ Add plenty of vegetables, not just onions – carrot, fenugreek leaves, cabbage, spinach, capsicum (which are not usually in regular poha).

3️⃣ Increase protein – add moong dal, sprouted moth beans, peanuts, or pieces of paneer.

4️⃣ Avoid sugar and sev – use lemon, asafoetida, and pepper powder for flavor.

5️⃣ Add some flax seeds or chia seeds – they provide fiber and good fats.

6️⃣ Have buttermilk or a boiled egg with poha to reduce sugar spikes.

7️⃣ Watch the portion size – one bowl of poha is enough; eating more increases the glycemic load.

Breakfast or a light evening snack is the right time to eat poha. Avoid it at night.

Don't avoid poha, just modify it a little.

Poha with a half-fry egg combo is the best option if you eat eggs.

Dr Ravindra L Kulkarni Just For Hearts