Sample Eating Plan
Meals are broken into food groups and serving sizes. They are combined to create a balance between protein, carbohydrates and fats. Five to six smaller meals are suggested; with breakfast, lunch and dinner with two snacks, your blood sugars will be more stable.
Breakfast (275 calories) can include: 1 slice of whole grain or gluten free toast; 1 tsp. butter or margarine; 1 egg; ½ cup milk.
Snack (150 calories): 1 rice cake; 1 tbsp. peanut butter.
Lunch (400 calories): ½ cup rice; 1 (3 oz.) seasoned chicken breast;1 cup of steamed veggies.
Snack (125 calories): 1 mozzarella sting cheese; 1 small apple.
Dinner (430 calories): ½ backed sweet potato; 1 cup green beans; 1 cup cut dark green salad; 4 oz. of fish, chicken, pork or beef.
Snack (limit to 120 calories of your choosing).
The above sample menu is a very generic one and is intended only to show an example how one can divide up food groups over the day.
Considerations
Our bodies convert carbohydrates to glucose, and in response the pancreas regulates the amount of insulin (a hormone) that is released into the blood stream to metabolize it.
Remember that calories are not just calories when it comes to glycemic reactions. Loading up on 1,500 calories of carbohydrates poses serious health problems for the diabetic.
Caution
Due to the serious nature of diabetes, it is very important you seek your medical professional's opinion before starting any reduction in calories or glucose-regulating programs.
Tags: calories rice, food groups, Snack calories