To help manage your diabetes, your doctor may prescribe a 1,500-calorie diabetic diet. This is a lower-calorie diet plan that can help women of small stature maintain a healthy weight, and larger women who exercise lose weight. Most men will lose weight on this diet. When following a calorie-controlled meal plan for diabetes, you need to make sure you balance your intake by including a variety of foods from each of the food groups in moderate portions.
Diabetes Food Guide Pyramid
You can use the diabetes food guide pyramid to help you create healthy and balanced meals on your 1,500-calorie diet plan. The food guide pyramid divides foods into familiar food groups based on their nutrient composition. A 1,500-calorie diabetic diet consists of eight servings from the starch group, two servings from the milk group, three servings from the vegetable group, three servings from the fruit group, six servings from the meat group and three servings from the fat group. Divide your food choices evenly between three meals. Eating the same amount of food at around the same time each day can help you manage blood sugar and hunger.
Breakfast
A balanced breakfast for your 1500-calorie diabetic diet should include two servings of starch, one serving of milk, one serving of fruit, one serving of meat and one serving of fat. A breakfast meal idea may include two slices of whole wheat toast with 1 tbsp. of peanut butter, half a banana and 1 cup of nonfat milk. This meal contains 410 calories and 60 g of carbohydrates.
Lunch
For lunch, include three servings of starch, one serving of milk, one serving of vegetables, one serving of fruit, two servings of meat and one serving of fat. A typical lunch might include a tuna sandwich made with 2 oz. of tuna mixed with 1 tsp. of mayonnaise and stuffed into a small whole wheat pita pocket. Have this with 1 cup of mixed greens with 1 tbsp. of fat-free salad dressing, 17 small grapes, five whole grain crackers and 1 cup of nonfat sugar-free yogurt. This meal contains 560 calories and 75 g of carbohydrates.
Dinner
For dinner, include three servings of starch, two servings of vegetables, 3 servings of meat or meat substitutes, one serving of fruit and one serving of fat. A diabetic dinner meal idea may include a 3 oz. of cooked London broil, 1 1/2 cups of roasted red potatoes tossed in 1 tsp. of olive oil, 1 cup of steamed broccoli and 3/4 cups of whole strawberries. This meal contains 530 calories and 460 g of carbohydrates.
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