As a diabetic, you need to plan your diet at least a week in advance. This will give you a chance to see how your body responds to a structured diabetic diet. Your diabetic diet should include of healthy foods such as water and fresh, raw vegetables and fruits. The increased freshness of the foods brings higher amounts of nutrients, including vitamins and minerals to your mealtime.
Easy Breakfast
Start your day with two glasses of water. Water helps keep you hydrated and healthy. A normal diabetic diet breakfast will contain 1,400 to 1,800 on the American Diabetic Association calorie exchange diet and include healthy choices to start your day. Your doctor or nutritionist can provide the correct calorie exchange diet plan for your specific condition. For example, you may choose 1/2 cup of low-fat bran cereal, followed with 1/2 cup of sliced banana and 1 cup of skim milk. You also may include 1 slice of toast painted with 1 tsp. of peanut butter or low-salt margarine.
Midmorning Snack
A midmorning snack for you as a diabetic can include 1 whole fruit and a1/2 cup of yogurt. You should consume at least two glasses of water prior to your snack.
Easy Lunch
Try sandwiches made from wheat-type breads with whole grains. You can put sandwiches together quickly and easily. For example, you may choose a favorite vegetable, some lettuce and muenster cheese to maintain your diabetic diet. Use 1 tsp. of low-fat mayonnaise to add to the bread slices. You can complement your sandwich with 1 cup of sliced pears as a side dish. Remember to drink your 2 cups of water prior to eating your meal. You will feel fuller and obtain the hydration you need.
Easy Supper
You can eat meat on a diabetic diet, but how much fat it contains and how you cook it will determine how well it suits your diet. For example, if you want to eat hamburger, buy the leanest burger you can get. This usually will appear as a percentage of meat versus fat, so 73 percent burger means it contains 27 percent fat. Hamburger rates at 93 percent only has 7 percent fat. Frying keeps the fat in the burger, but grilling removes much of it. You can make many easy suppers with your favorite meats cooked on a grill. An ounce of chicken divided up on two skewers along with 1 cup of sliced pepper and tomato can add variety to the usual suppertime meal. Sprinkle the skewered meat with basil and powdered garlic for added taste and spices.
Nighttime Snack
You can eat a light snack before bed on a diabetic diet, but it should consist of food that may help you sleep. One cup of skim milk and 1 graham cracker will suffice as an easy snack for bedtime. If you want to drink 2 glasses of water prior to your snack, do so.
