The diet for diabetes is a healthy diet that helps control blood sugar. The diet does not require you to eat special types of foods, but encourages you to eat a variety of healthy foods from each of the food groups in moderate amounts. Most men and women can safely follow the 1,800-calorie ADA diet for diabetics.
Breakfast
The American Diabetes Association, or ADA, diet uses the diabetic exchange list to help you create balanced meals. The exchange diet divides foods up into groups based on similarities in nutrient content, and includes starches, fruits, milk, nonstarchy vegetables, meats, fats, sweets and other carbohydrates and free foods. Because foods within each group contain the same amount of calories, carbohydrates, protein and fat, items can be "exchanged" for one another when meal planning. For example, in the starch group one slice of toast can be exchanged for a 1/2 cup serving of cooked oatmeal.
A balanced breakfast meal on the 1,800-calorie ADA diet for diabetics should include three starch exchanges, one meat exchange, one fruit exchange, one milk exchange and one fat exchange. Each single exchange is equal to one serving. A sample breakfast meal may include two slices of whole wheat toast with 1 tsp. of margarine, a scrambled egg, 3/4 cups of unsweetened ready-to-eat cereal with 1 cup of nonfat milk and a small banana. Another breakfast meal idea on the 1,800-calorie ADA diet may include two 4-inch whole wheat pancakes with 2 tbsp. of light pancake syrup, 1 tsp. of margarine, 1 cup of sliced strawberries, 1/4 cup of low-fat cottage cheese and 1 cup of nonfat milk.
Lunch
For better blood sugar control, include foods high in fiber at each meal such as whole grains, fresh fruit and vegetables. Fiber in food slows digestion and the release of sugar into the bloodstream. A balanced lunch on the 1,800-calorie ADA diabetic diet includes three starch exchanges, three meat exchanges, one vegetable exchange, one fruit exchange, one milk exchange and one fat exchange. A lunch meal may include a small pita stuffed with 3 oz. of tuna salad made with 1 tbsp. of low-fat mayonnaise, 3/4 oz. serving of pretzels, 2 cups of mixed greens with 1 tbsp. of fat-free salad dressing, a small apple and a 6 oz. container of nonfat, sugar-free yogurt. Another lunch meal idea on an 1,800-calorie ADA diabetic diet may include an entree salad consisting of 2 cups of mixed greens with 2 oz. of grilled tuna, 1/4 cup of kidney beans, 2 tbs. of raisins, four walnut halves with 1 tbsp. of low-fat salad dressing served with a 2 oz. whole wheat roll.
Dinner
Diabetes increases your risk of heart disease. Choose lean meats and low-fat and nonfat dairy foods to limit your intake of saturated fat. A balanced dinner meal on the 1,800-calorie ADA diet for diabetics includes four starch exchanges, three meat exchanges, two vegetable exchanges, one fruit exchange and one fat exchange. A sample dinner meal may include 2.5 oz. of chicken topped with 1/4 cup of marinara sauce and 1/2 oz. of low-fat mozzarella cheese and served with 1 cup of whole wheat pasta with 1/4 cup of marinara sauce and 1 cup of broccoli sauteed in 1 tsp. of olive oil and garlic. Another sample dinner meal on the 1,800-calorie ADA diet for diabetics may include 3 oz. of pork tenderloin with 1 cup of brown rice, 1/2 cup of peas and 2 cups of mixed greens with 2 tbsp. of low-fat salad dressing.
