You don't have to make two separate meals for your family just because one person has diabetes. By planning healthy meals that are both nutritious and diabetes friendly, your entire family can eat meals together. Eating healthy foods around the dinner table will ensure that your entire family gets adequate nutrition, regardless of their dietary needs. Talk to your doctor before making changes in your family's diet plan.
Preparing a Meal
Focus on providing your family with a healthy variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, lean protein and whole grains. Diabetic members of your family may need to stay between 45 and 60 g of carbohydrates per meal, depending on their doctor's recommendation. One slice of bread has about 15 g of carbohydrates -- adding a small piece of fruit to the meal adds an additional 15 g of carbohydrates. Start with set portions of carbohydrates for diabetic members of your family, then add other foods accordingly until you have created a full meal.
Breakfast
For breakfast, serve whole-grain waffles with a handful of strawberries sliced on top. Serve with a glass of low-fat milk. Although family members with diabetes must portion their meals carefully to keep their glucose levels in check, other family members may add more fruit or toppings to their waffle, if desired. Other healthy breakfast options include oatmeal or a cup of yogurt with a small piece of fruit.
Lunch
For lunch, serve a source of lean protein, like chicken, baked in the oven with herbs and a drizzle of olive oil. Olive oil is a source of healthy fat that may help lower low-density lipoprotein, or bad cholesterol, in the bloodstream. Serve the chicken alongside 1/2 cup steamed veggies, 1/2 cup brown rice and a small glass of orange juice.
Dinner
For dinner, focus on a balanced meal that contains lean protein, fresh fruits and veggies and whole grains to provide adequate nutrition to your entire family. Serve 2/3 cup whole-grain pasta, with a glass of skim milk, salmon cooked with olive oil and lemon juice, 1 cup of steamed broccoli and a small salad with a drizzle of low-fat dressing. Individuals who do not have diabetes do not need to stick to such precise measurements, but the meal is a healthy option for everyone in the family.
