A diabetes meal plan includes a variety of healthy foods that the whole family can enjoy. When your food budget is limited, it's helpful to know you don't have to buy special foods or expensive therapeutic diets. A variety of healthy food options are available when you know how to choose, plan and prepare foods that work with a diabetes meal plan and fit your budget.
Myths
People with diabetes do not have to buy special foods for their condition. Foods included in a diabetes meal plan are the same foods that are healthy for everyone, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean protein. Special diabetic meal supplements, energy bars and packaged foods are not required. Food packages labeled "sugar free" or "no sugar added" are often more expensive and can actually have little difference in sugar or carbohydrate content from the regular versions.
Preparation Saves Money
Use your own cooking skills to save money by not buying convenience items. For example, single-serving instant oatmeal and prepared salad come at a higher price. You can save money by purchasing oatmeal in the large can and measuring out your serving, or by shredding the lettuce for salad yourself.
Avoid Empty Calories
Sodas, sweets and salty snacks take away money from your food budget, but offer nothing of nutritional value in return. In addition, they can make diabetes worse by adding extra calories that lead to unwanted weight gain. For the price of a bag of potato chips, you can buy a bag of apples, carrots or other fruits or vegetables that will nourish your body and give you healthy fuel without compromising diabetes control. One way to save money on produce is to look for fruits and vegetables when they are in season. Local farmer's markets or produce stands can be another economical source for buying fresh produce. Canned or frozen vegetables offer the same nutritional benefits as fresh produce and are sometimes cheaper and more readily available.
Planning
At the heart of a diabetes meal plan is thinking ahead about what to eat. Take a look at what's available and plan simple meals around what you have. A meal plan is about controlling both how much you eat and what you eat. If you receive commodity foods, food boxes or food assistance funds at certain times of the month, consider how you might conserve food reserves to use later on when resources are low. For example, you might make a large batch of soup, stew or casserole and freeze portions to eat later.
Learning More
Every person with diabetes has unique needs, so discuss all aspects of your diabetes care with your health-care team. A diabetes educator or dietitian can help you develop a meal plan focused on foods that work for your budget.
