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Diabetes-Friendly Baked Macaroni and Cheese

Contributed by: NAPSA

Basketball Legend Earl "The Pearl" Monroe Now Helping People With Diabetes Eat Smart

(NAPSA) - NBA All-Star Earl "The Pearl" Monroe is one of the greatest players in the history of professional basketball. He played for the Baltimore Bullets and the New York Knicks, and was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1990.

Earl was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes more than 10 years ago and he knows how challenging it can be for the 24 million Americans who suffer from diabetes to manage their disease. Now, Earl has teamed up with Merck on the first-ever Diabetes Restaurant Month program to challenge restaurants to create diabetes-friendly menu items.

More than one-third of Americans' daily calories come from food eaten outside the home, including sit-down restaurants and fast-food outlets. Sometimes it can be tough to find healthy options when eating out, and for people with type 2 diabetes it can be even more difficult.

Earl has learned how to maintain a diabetes-friendly lifestyle with a healthy diet and regular exercise, and aims to inspire others to do the same by making a few small changes in their daily lives, including making smart choices while dining out.

"As a professional basketball player, I ate many meals on the road and quickly learned how hard it was to stay on a healthy diet," says the former Baltimore Bullets and New York Knicks star. "With type 2 diabetes it can be even more difficult, but I want to show people that it's possible to enjoy foods at our favorite restaurants and stay healthy at the same time."

With these few simple tips available at www.MerckDiabetes. com, people with type 2 diabetes can maintain a diabetes-friendly lifestyle:

• Ask your server how a dish is cooked;

• Request healthy substitutions like steamed veggies instead of french fries;

• Order a side of vegetables in place of rice or potatoes to help keep track of carbohydrates;

• Ask for sauces on the side to avoid excessive amounts of butter, oil, cream and sodium;

• Watch your portion sizes; and

• Get active with at least 150 minutes of physical activity per week, such as walking, water aerobics or bike riding.

Serving Size: Makes 8 Servings