EP034: An Interview with Author Lynne Bowman
Brownies for Breakfast? An Easy Way to Enjoy Food With Diabetes
“Food isn’t just fuel—it’s joy, healing, and something we share.”
Can dessert be easy and still fit your diabetes goals? Yes. In this episode of The Diabetes Podcast, we sit down with Lynne Bowman, author of Brownies for Breakfast: A Cookbook for Diabetics and the People Who Love Them. Lynne’s story starts with undiagnosed gestational diabetes and a 10-pound baby. It leads to decades of learning, living well, and making food simple, beautiful, and fun.
If you’ve ever asked, “What can I actually eat?” or “How do I cook for me without cooking a second meal for my family?” this is for you. We’ll share tips from Lynne’s book and life—like greens three times a day, smart sweeteners like allulose, easy soups, fast meals, and yes… diabetes dessert recipes easy enough for busy nights.
Lynne’s Diabetes Journey: From “Keep Your Weight Down” to Real Tools
First clue: a very big baby and big weight gain during pregnancy.
The advice then: “Keep your weight down.” Not helpful.
Reality: With a metabolic condition, that is hard without clear steps.
Over time: Lynne learned what works—real food, simple swaps, and daily habits that last.
Her big insight: Compliance happens when life is doable and joyful. Not when it feels like punishment.
Make Health Joyful and Shared
Food is social. We eat together. We celebrate together. You don’t need a “special” meal while your family eats something else. Lynne’s recipes are for everyone at the table. They’re quick, budget-friendly, and beautiful. She aims for:
Real food, mostly plants
Fast prep (often 15 minutes)
Simple ingredients
Pretty presentation that says “You’re welcome here”
Greens Three Times a Day: The Game Changer
Lynne’s favorite daily habit: add leafy greens to every meal.
Easy ways to start:
Keep a small vase or pot of parsley by the sink and snip it on everything.
Use pre-washed power greens (like spinach, kale, chard).
Stir greens into soups, eggs, pasta, and bowls.
Think “What can I add?” instead of “What do I lose?”
Fast Flavor: A Two-Ingredient Salad Dressing
You don’t need bottled dressings. Try this:
A splash of quality fruit-forward balsamic (like apricot or apple).
A spoon of tahini.
Salt and pepper to taste.
It’s creamy, tasty, and full of healthy fats. Add greens and a protein, and dinner is done.
Genius Soup: Clean the Fridge, Feed the Family
Soup is easy, cheap, and filling. Here’s the method:
Sauté onions, celery, and carrots in olive oil.
Add broth (chicken or vegetable) and tomatoes (fresh or canned).
Empty your crisper—toss in greens and veggies that need to be used.
Simmer low and slow (stovetop or crockpot).
Season with salt, pepper, herbs, turmeric if you like.
Stretch it all week:
Day 1: Soup as-is.
Day 2: Add a handful of whole-grain pasta or beans.
Day 3: Add leftover chicken or tofu.
Freeze extra for a busy night.
Smart Sugar Swaps: Why Allulose Shines
When you want something sweet, allulose can help. It’s a rare sugar found in small amounts in foods like figs and raisins. The version you buy is made from a food source like corn.
Why Lynne loves allulose:
It tastes like sugar.
It browns and caramelizes (great for baking).
It’s low calorie and low glycemic.
It’s gentler on many stomachs than sugar alcohols like erythritol or maltitol.
Note: As with all sweeteners, don’t overdo it. Use just enough to get the taste you want.
Diabetes Dessert Recipes, Easy and Delicious
From Brownies for Breakfast and Lynne’s kitchen:
Silken Tofu Pumpkin Pie: Sweetened with allulose, set with eggs (or egg substitute) and silken tofu for a creamy texture. Big flavor, less sugar.
Sugar-Free Apple Pie: Use a nut crust for a low-glycemic base—or a simple frozen crust in a pinch. Sweeten the filling with allulose and cinnamon. Pro tip: If the top crust breaks, cut pieces into leaf shapes and layer on top. It looks stunning.
Popcorn of the Gods: Pop in olive oil. Toss with truffle salt and nutritional yeast. It’s savory, satisfying, and fun for movie night.
Inflammation, Processed Foods, and Energy
Lynne links better aging to less inflammation. A major driver of inflammation? Ultra-processed foods and sugary intake. Her approach:
Eat real food most of the time.
Keep sugar low.
Focus on veggies, especially leafy greens.
Choose whole, simple ingredients you recognize.
Movement That Fits Your Life (Even a Goat Barn)
Lynne works out three times a week—yes, in a goat barn with friends. The lesson:
You don’t need fancy. You need consistent.
Walking is wonderful.
Build and keep muscle. It supports bones and helps you recover faster.
Community makes it fun. Find your people.
Recovery and Resilience at 80
At 80, Lynne broke a femur doing “aerobic gardening.” Her recovery surprised her medical team. Why did she bounce back?
Years of movement and strength.
A diet low in ultra-processed foods and sugar.
A joyful mindset and strong social ties.
Tip from her surgeon: As we age, bones get softer. Strong muscles protect you. Keep moving.
Testing and Meds: What Works for You
Lynne doesn’t track every calorie or wear a CGM now because her routine works and her A1C looks good. But she learned a lot early by fingerstick testing to see how foods affected her blood sugar.
Our take:
Know your numbers—A1C, blood pressure, cholesterol.
Short-term tracking can teach you a lot.
Use that knowledge to build simple, lasting habits.
Meds like metformin can be helpful and may even support longevity for some people. Talk with your care team.
Cook Once, Eat Together
You don’t need to eat apart from your family. Lynne’s cookbook is built for shared meals:
Quick crockpot soups and stews
Big salads with hearty toppings
Simple sides of greens
Easy desserts sweetened smartly
Holiday Help: Pie That Loves You Back
Pumpkin Pie: Silken tofu + eggs + allulose + pumpkin and spices. Creamy and delicious.
Apple Pie: Allulose-sweetened apples, cinnamon, and either a nut crust or a simple store-bought crust (Trader Joe’s works in a pinch).
Joy, Gratitude, and Connection
Set a place at the table. Make it pretty, even if it’s simple. Invite people in. When we eat together, food feels better. Health grows in community.
Where to Find Lynne
Book: Brownies for Breakfast (paperback, eBook, audiobook). Ask your local bookstore or find it online.
Substack: Search “Lynne Bowman Substack” for weekly recipes and stories.
YouTube: Look up her channel for talks and demos.
Takeaways You Can Use Today
Add greens at every meal.
Try the tahini + balsamic dressing.
Make Genius Soup this week.
Swap sugar for allulose in desserts.
Walk most days. Add simple strength work.
Eat with people you love. Make it joyful.
If you want diabetes dessert recipes easy enough for weeknights—and a way of eating your whole family will enjoy—Lynne shows it can be done.
Call to Action
Did this help? Share it with a friend who needs simple, tasty ideas. Have questions for Lynne? Send them our way at [email protected]—we’d love to do a follow-up Q&A.
Disclaimer
The information in this blog post and podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and it does not replace a one-on-one relationship with your physician or qualified healthcare professional. Always talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or care team before starting, stopping, or changing any medication, supplement, exercise plan, or nutrition plan—especially if you have diabetes, prediabetes, heart, liver, or kidney conditions, or take prescription drugs like metformin or insulin.
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