Diabetic Cooking: Sample Menu
The diabetic diet that you follow will be determined by you and your doctor
based upon the type of diabetes that you have as well as its severity taken into
consideration with any other health problems that you have. A common diet that
is used for diabetics is often referred to as the 1800 calorie diet. The goal of
this diet is to limit caloric intake in order to control blood glucose as well
as cholesterol and weight. In addition, it helps to transition the diabetic to a
healthy eating lifestyle. Below is a sample day's menu for an 1800 calorie
diabetic diet.
Breakfast
1 cup of skim milk or 1 cup unsweetened low fat yogurt
2 slices of whole wheat bread
1 serving of an apple, banana or orange
1 small slice cheese
The breakfast provides adequate nutrition and fuel to last all morning and
includes starch, fat, vitamins and protein. Whole grain pasta may be substituted
for the bread.
Lunch
2 small portions skinless turkey or chicken
1 small fish
Cheese may be substituted for one portion of turkey or chicken. Meat is an
excellent source of protein and should be cooked with a very small amount of
oil. It is best not to fry but to steam, grill, bake, or roast instead. You may
optionally add 1 cup of vegetables or 1 cup of whole grain rice or pasta.
Afternoon Snack
Salt free or low salt crackers
1 cup skim milk or yogurt
1/2 cup tea unsweetened or with artificial sweetener
Try not to eat anything heavy for an afternoon snack. Be sure to use sweeteners
in moderation and to check with your doctor before using sugar as a sweetener.
Dinner
1 small fish or 1 portion of meat
1 small fruit
Vegetables such as carrots, broccoli, or spinach
Rice cake
1 cup low fat milk
A heavy meal should be avoided at dinner time also so digestion will not be
impaired while you sleep. You can see by this sample menu that you can eat very
well on an 1800 calorie diet. The basic tenets of the 1800 calorie diet include
calorie restriction to 1800 calories per day, eating low salt or salt free
foods, eating foods that are low in fat, avoiding cooking in excess fats, and
limiting the amount of carbohydrates consumed during the day. The diet is
basically a healthy eating plan and can be used to lose weight and control
diabetes. If you are a diabetic, you should get specific details from your
doctor to make sure you know which foods to eat and which to avoid so you can
regulate your blood sugar. And remember, the above is just an example menu. You
can follow the basic guidelines while jazzing up your menu so your meals don't
become boring.