A diagnosis of type 2 diabetes does not mean you cannot eat cheese. Keep portions small and choose low-fat options. If you choose to incorporate cheese into your menu, keep in mind that a healthy diabetes diet should include a proper balance of starches, fruits, vegetables and protein.
Protein
According to the American Diabetes Association, cheese is in the protein category. Cheese serves as an adequate substitute for meat, poultry or fish. When including cheese in your diabetes diet, keep in mind the balances of food groups recommended by the American Diabetes Association: breakfast, half starchy foods, one-fourth fruit and one-fourth protein; lunch and dinner, half non-starchy vegetables, one-fourth starchy foods and one-fourth protein. You should also include 1 cup of nonfat milk and 1/2 cup of fruit with lunch and dinner.
Breakfast
For breakfast, try a small homemade bran muffin for healthy starch. Split the bran muffin, and top each half with low-fat cottage cheese. Before you put the cottage cheese on the muffin, try mixing fresh berries into it -- blueberries, blackberries, raspberries or strawberries. Another diabetes-friendly breakfast option that includes cheese is sweet potato hash browns. Sweet potatoes are considered a healthy starch. Try topping your sweet potato hash browns with low-fat shredded cheese. Enjoy with a piece of fresh fruit, such as an apple or an orange.
Lunch
For lunch, try preparing a Greek salad. Start with a bed of non-starchy salad greens such as romaine, baby spinach and cabbage. Add a variety of other non-starchy vegetables including sliced cucumber, Roma tomatoes, diced green onion and olives. Top with low-fat crumbled feta cheese. For a healthy starch, enjoy with a small piece of whole wheat pita bread or a side of wild rice. Or try preparing a homemade broccoli and cheese soup; the American Diabetes Association recommends eating broccoli and cheese soup with a green leafy salad and a small whole grain roll.
Dinner
For dinner, try vegetable lasagna. For healthy starch, use whole grain lasagna rather than lasagna made from refined grains. Layer your lasagna with a variety of non-starchy vegetables such as baby spinach, zucchini, fresh diced tomatoes and mushrooms. Sprinkle with low-fat shredded mozzarella cheese. Another dinner menu option is a baked potato. Top a baked potato -- the starch -- with non-starchy vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, asparagus and green beans. Add a low-fat shredded cheese of your choice.
References
- American Dietetic Association, Eat Right: Diabetes and Diet
- American Diabetes Association: Food and Fitness -- Create Your Plate
- American Diabetes Association: Food and Fitness -- Breakfast on the Go
- American Diabetes Association: Food and Fitness -- Non-Starchy Vegetables
- American Diabetes Association: Food and Fitness -- Meal Ideas for Different Vegetarian Diets
