Planning for holiday dining requires an extra step for those with special dietary needs. Diabetics cooking for themselves or for other diabetics at Passover (beginning this year at sundown on Wednesday, April 12) need to consider not only the special requirements of that holiday -- avoiding bread and other unleavened products, and sometimes other grains and legumes -- but also need to be sure to cook healthy meals. Healthy eating during the holidays helps ensure that blood sugar levels remain as stable as possible, which requires a bit of forethought. Searching the web for meal planning tips can be a great way to get (and share) ideas. An excellent starting point is the website of the Jewish Diabetes Association (www.jewishdiabetes.org). There, you can view (as a PDF file) the association's handy booklet-sized guide on Passover meals for diabetics. Although this is not new -- it was published back in 2004 -- it contains invaluable advice for Jewish diabetics on celebrating the holiday in a diabetic-friendly way. It includes carb counting guides, advice on preventing blood sugar variations, as well as a bunch of recipes at the back.

Another web site well worth visiting is www.cinnamonhearts.com. Here you can find a ton of delicious-sounding recipes that diabetics can enjoy at Passover. Actually, this is a neat site at any time, but it is a veritable goldmine for Jewish diabetics searching for good recipes. Click on "Passover Pleasures" or "Passover Seder for Six" to view the recipes. Each recipe is accompanied by nutritional information.