Estée van Lingen, a registered dietitian, tells us why the Fabulite range is ideal for people living with diabetes.

When planning meals or snacks, people living with diabetes have to be careful of what and how much of certain food they consume. When you have to restrict carbohydrate (especially sugar) as well as fat intake, it can make healthy choices limited and also mean that less appetising options be consumed for health purposes.

It’s also important to have protein-based snacks to assist in controlling blood glucose levels compared to only having a sugar or carbohydrate by itself as a snack.

So, the question, Should I rather have low-fat, sweetened yoghurt or plain full cream? must have crossed your mind.

The Fabulite range

Thankfully, now you don’t have to wonder anymore. Parmalat has designed a tasty yoghurt range called Fabulite. This range of delicious yoghurts has no added sugar and no fat. Each yoghurt contains protein and calcium which are nice benefits to consuming yoghurt. This making it a perfect option for someone living with diabetes or anyone wanting to limit their sugar intake. You can have all of these benefits without compromising on taste and still enjoy a delicious meal or snack.

The Fabulite range is Halaal approved and consists of different flavours to suit every individuals taste preference, such as plain, vanilla, strawberry, blueberry and pomegranate, and black cherry. Each flavour can be found in 1kg or 6 x 100g tubs.

Fabulite can be added to a healthy diet as part of breakfast, snacks or even main meals. For breakfast and snacks, it can be enjoyed by itself or topped with berries, nuts and seeds, or even added into a smoothie.

Fabulite’s fruit range can be enjoyed as a guilt-free dessert; while everyone else is consuming something sweet, you can have a healthier alternative that is on par in the taste department.

The yoghurt can also be frozen as lollies to make an appetising healthy yoghurt lolly.

The plain fat free Fabulite yoghurt is perfect as a salad dressing or an alternative to mayonnaise or cream in recipes.

Nutritional value

Nutritional information: (per 100g)

Sugar

For a 100g serving, it only has 200 – 210kj which is less than a fruit serving, and has 6 – 8g of carbohydrates which is equal to 1 tsp of sugar. This is basically the sugar from the milk called lactose as there is no added sugar. Only 3g of that is the sugar.

Fat and calcium

The fat content is also less than 1g which is the perfect low kilojoule, fat-free snack. Calcium is definitely a bonus as you need calcium for strong bones and teeth, and most people don’t meet their calcium needs, increasing the risk for osteoporosis (low bone density). Calcium recommendations are 1000mg per day or more depending on individual needs.

So, go on and try one (or all) of these delicious flavours and expect to be surprised by how satisfying eating a healthy snack can be and soon even the whole family will enjoy these yoghurts as well.

Header image by Adobe Stock

We learn more about aQuellé and how they have a heart for diabetes.

Whether you’re living with diabetes or not, water is key to maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Why is water important for someone with diabetes?

Water helps regulate blood glucose levels. People with diabetes are prone to excessive levels of glucose in the body. When there is too much glucose, water is drawn out of the body more excessively. Without water, your body becomes dehydrated with serious consequences.

How much water should you drink a day?

Water is the best drink for people who have diabetes. We encourage sticking to the recommended amount of 2 litres of water a day for men and 1, 6 litres of water a day for women.

Water is the safest fluid to consume without risking raised glucose, calories, or carbohydrates. Most fizzy and energy drinks have little nutritional benefit to the body and are loaded with sugar. Even fruit juices are high in sugar and should be consumed in moderation.

What are the different ways to increase your daily intake of water?

It’s not always easy to drink enough water. Here are some tips:

• Keep a bottle of water with you wherever you go.
• Try to drink at least one glass of water before breakfast to get you started on the right foot.
• Drink water with all your meals.

Why aQuellé?

aQuellé is a pure natural spring water drawn from an underground source. The water is not treated or altered, which means that every bottle of aQuellé water is as pristine when you drink it as when the water flowed beneath the earth’s surface. aQuellé has been refreshing South Africans for over 20 years and was recently voted the country’s favourite water brand.

What has aQuellé done in support of diabetes awareness?

aQuellé has a heart for diabetes. The campaign has been running since August 2022, creating awareness and educating South Africans about diabetes.

aQuellé bottles with special labels featuring the heart for diabetes logo are in stores nationwide, with a QR code that links to the aQuellé website where more information about diabetes is found.

aQuellé has partnered with Diabetes South Africa to sponsor 2000 membership kits for people suffering from diabetes. The brand also ran an awareness drive with Orlando Pirates Football Club to spread the message about drinking water and staying active. A dedicated campaign ran on extensive digital platforms, using fun and interactive ways to educate South Africans about diabetes.

What did aQuellé do on World Diabetes Day?

In support of the cause for diabetes, aQuellé encouraged everyone to wear blue on 14 November 2023. Social feeds turned blue as many joined the initiative. Thank you to everyone who has a heart for diabetes and is making a difference.