Wonton soup looks like a tedious delicacy to put together, no matter how complex it may appear, but this is not true. I usually use 5 minutes to prepare the fillings, a method I learned from Cheng (my Chinese friend). While undoubtedly delicious, is wonton soup good for diabetics?
As a diabetic, while I prepare some meals for my family, I sometimes have to make two versions: a diabetic-friendly version and a version others could also enjoy. Wonton soups for diabetics are not advisable for some reasons we will discuss in this article.
What are wonton soups?
Wonton soups have been a Chinese staple for over 100 years, consisting of wontons in chicken broth. Picture it as the Chinese version of tortellini or ravioli. In the past, wontons were used as medicine, stuffed with herbs, and offered to prevent frostbite during the winter.
Present-day wonton fillings usually consist of pork, shrimp, prawns, ground chicken, ground turkey, or a combination of two or more. Sometimes, mushrooms, carrots, Asian greens, and water chestnuts are added.
These fillings are wrapped in wonton wrappers—a flat piece of egg noodle dough that can be folded, pinched, or cut into any shape you want. After wrapping your fillings, these wrappers can be boiled for a chewier texture or pan-fried for a crispy texture.
Once your wontons are ready, you could serve them in a Chinese chicken broth, usually found in Asian stores, or you can make them at home.
Is wonton soup healthy?
Wonton soup can be a nutritious addition to your menu, depending on the ingredients used. Each serving of wonton supplies essential minerals like iron, potassium, and calcium, vitamins A, C, and K, and macronutrients necessary for your well-being.
Each wonton dumpling is stuffed with protein-rich ingredients like shrimp and ground pork, which supply amino acids that aid cellular growth and repair. The broth, made from vegetable or chicken stock, is low in fat and calories but has lots of calcium that is essential for teeth and bones.
However, you should choose low-sodium broths or limit the amount of salt you add to your broths if you make them at home, as the sodium content of this Chinese chicken broth can take up 39% of your daily value (905 mg) if you’re on a 2000 calorie diet.
Is Wonton Soup Good For Diabetics?
Diabetics are advised to stick to complex carbohydrates consisting of vegetables, beans, peas, and whole grains because of how long they take to digest, making them a great source of stable energy and negating the high blood sugar spikes that come with simple carbs.
Each wonton dumpling could supply as much as 2.7 grams of carbs. While they could supply the much-needed energy for diabetics, they could also trigger blood glucose spikes if eaten without caution. One to five wonton dumplings are safe for diabetics, as their protein content will slow down how fast the carbs in the egg noodle wonton wrappers convert to glucose and get absorbed into the bloodstream.
Having carbs in your food does not make it unhealthy; you still need to consume certain amounts of carbs daily, as your dietician would tell you, but you ought to measure these carbs depending on your type of diabetes. For type 1 diabetics, you need to eat carbs relative to your insulin shots. For prediabetics and type 2 diabetics, you are required to consume carbs that enable you to recover or manage your diabetes effectively.
To make diabetic-friendly wonton soup, you may consider using low-carb wrappers and stuffing them with good amounts of veggies and proteins. Then you are good to go.
Can diabetics eat wonton soups? Final Thoughts
Diabetics can enjoy wonton soup in moderation. However, to make wonton soup for diabetics a healthier option, you could consider substituting egg noodle wonton wrappers for low-carb wonton wrappers.
Faqs
Are wonton wrappers ok for diabetics?
Wonton wrappers contain about 2.5 grams of carbs, making them not the best option for diabetics. With rich protein and vegetable fillings, you could occasionally enjoy wonton wrappers in a Chinese chicken broth.
Is wonton soup good for gestational diabetes?
Managing gestational diabetes is crucial as it increases your risk of high blood pressure, and your baby could become too big, requiring a cesarean section. While the broth (low sodium) will be good for you, you need to substitute the egg noodle wrappers for a low-carb alternative or check with your dietician for a bespoke solution.
