It's summer, and grill fever grips the nation once again. It's time for picnics and barbeques: at home, at the park, visiting friends, co-workers, relatives. Now, be honest: does a part of you dread the next invitation because you (or your child, your partner, or a guest) face dietary restrictions? If so, let me just say this: you have my sympathy. You see, I do not have diabetes, but I don't eat meat. No, there is no medical reason. But does it impact my social life? You bet!

Diabetics must watch what they eat. But this is easier said than done when it's BBQ season. So much tasty food that you mustn't eat! And then there's the challenge of making dishes that are diabetic-friendly, but that don't scream "I Have a Medical Condition!" to other party-goers. Hosts and guests alike can always turn to the Web for inspiration. This recipe for Roasted Veggie Chili from the Kraft Foods website looks good. It uses BOCA and lots of veggies instead of meat. I love Boca burgers, but beware, the fake meat deal could turn off your guests depending on how traditional their tastes run. (I've tried to accept that my fake meat creeps them out as much as their real-deal meat makes me shudder.)

For a more elegant affair, try the Diabetic Gourmet recipe for Grilled Ginger Tuna. Their website says it's great for guys who are dyed-in-the-wool Red Meat Men. It's satisfyingly big and meaty with a juicy marinade, but much healthier than a steak. On the other hand, this would only suit a smaller gathering of adults because of the price of those tuna steaks! This site also has some terrific suggestions for scrumptious yet filling summer salads.

Other sites with summer recipes worth checking out include DLife, Better Homes and Gardens and AllRecipes.

Bottom line: the best recipe for relaxed summer BBQs? Plan on a good mixture of dishes. Don't do just burgers and coleslaw. Do provide at least one filling and healthy diabetic-friendly main dish and a couple of types of snacks too. One could be super-simple, like a fruit plate. This is your best insurance policy to ensure everyone chows down happily and leaves content!

When Mike Adams, of NewsTarget, dropped 50 pounds of body fat using absolutely no drugs or pharmaceuticals of any kind -- he found that there are several foods and beverages that will suppress hunger pangs, without significant calories. The following list of foods are all easily accessible and worth a front-row in your fridge (or pantry).

The basic foods are quick and easy. Ready? #1 is water. Whether you prefer Poland Spring, Smart Water, or plain old tap - it should be your first line of defense in quelling hunger pangs. Drink a tall glass, and wait a few minutes. If water doesn't float your boat try a cup of chicken or vegetable broth. It will have higher sodium content but the calories are still negligible. Food #2 is a whole isle at your local grocery store: leafy greens! Fresh produce like lettuce, cabbage, and bok choy offer a tremendous nutritional advantage -- crunchy goodness without the guilt of carbs. They may not be high on the list of favorites, but chop a salad bowl full and stir fry till your hearts content. The 10 minutes of preparation might distract you from your hunger. Mikes #3 food sounds delicious! It's called instant banana pudding. You'll have to check his site for the secret recipe. It has near-zero carbs, no sugars, and is high in soy protein. The #4 food is pickles. That's right, pickles. Try not to buy pickles containing any added sugars or artificial colors. Last but not least, the appetite suppressing food #5 is apples. Eat the largest apple you can find. Sure, you'll get some calories and some carbs, but the apple will fill you up, and that might arrest your criminal cravings for more illicit foods.

Mike continues to explain why this strategy is practically failsafe. He says, "if you're crazy hungry, it's very easy to reach for some processed foods (bag of chips, for example) and start munching away until you've consumed 1,000 calories or more. And that's about half the total calories you need for the entire day! But I dare you to try to eat 1000 calories worth of apples. It's impossible." Sweet bulky fibers, leafy greens, salty pickles, refreshing water - and let's not forget the banana pudding. All these suggestions will find their way onto my next grocery list. As always, thanks for the good advice, Mike!

Nothing gets my attention like the prospect of food. Even reading cookbooks makes my tummy rumble! Well, a new cookbook aimed at diabetics has entered the market: The EatingWell Diabetes Cookbook: 275 Delicious Recipes and 100 Tips for Simple, Everyday Carbohydrate Control. The book is by Joyce Hendley and the editors at EatingWell (The Countryman Press, $29.95, hardcover). The book includes facts and practical tips on healthy eating. Of course, it also includes lots of healthful recipes suitable for diabetics. Crustless Crab Quiche, Roasted Eggplant Dip, Lamb Chops with a Mustard Crust, and Orange-Date Pumpkin Muffins, are some of the recipes. Amazon readers have posted a couple of reviews, both very favorable, but without much detail on what the recipes came out like!  Has anyone out there tried this book?