If you want to spoil somebody special with a delicious gift but you do not want to upset their sugar levels or encourage them to stray from their diet, a fruit hamper could be just what you’re looking for. Fresh fruit has many benefits. Not to mention the fact that these gifts look great. If you are not sure whether or not they will prove to be a safe gift for a diabetic, here are some important points to keep in mind.

A safe choice

A fruit hamper can prove to be a perfectly safe choice for somebody with diabetes. Fruit does contain a certain amount of sugar and carbohydrates but, since they are in their natural form, these should not be compared with the sugar and carbohydrates found in cakes, sweets and so on.

Fresh or canned

Another important point to remember is that fresh fruit is a safer choice than canned varieties. When fruit is canned, it undergoes a preservation process and additional sugar is usually added. Not to mention the fact that during boiling, fruit will lose certain nutrients.

The best choices

When choosing a fruit hamper, it’s important to take note of the types of fruit that have been included. Different types of fruit have different nutrients and different amounts of sugar and carbohydrates. Here are some of the best choices for somebody with diabetes:

These fruits contain just 15 grams of carbohydrates

  • ½ a medium banana
  • 1 ¼ cup of strawberries (whole)
  • 1 ¼ cup of watermelon (cubed)
  • ½ a cup of mango (cubed)
  • ¾ cup of pineapple (cubed)
  • 1/3 cup of chikoo (cubed)
  • 100g of pear
  • 1 orange

Enjoy in moderation

Anyone with diabetes knows that they cannot consume the contents of an entire fruit hamper in one sitting. Fresh fruit will usually keep for several days so this means that they can enjoy something sweet, in moderation, over the course of several days.

If you are still unsure about sending a fruit hamper, not to worry because your hamper vendor should also have a section dedicated to special dietary needs – including diabetic gift baskets. These hampers consist of goodies that will be safe for the recipient to consume.