Living with Diabetes does not have to be difficult. The American Diabetes Association has created the Diabetes Food Pyramid to help people with diabetes better understand the food they can eat. The Diabetes Food Pyramid is different from the typical food pyramid. It groups different foods together and focuses on how certain foods affect blood glucose levels. The good news is that no food is off-limits; it’s just a matter of understanding how much you eat, when you eat it, and what it will do to your blood sugar levels.
Choosing a healthy amount of food at every meal will help an individual with diabetes stay healthy and lose weight. Diabetics should have:
- Fats and Sweets – Avoid or eat less fats and sweets
- Milk – 2 to 3 servings of milk products per day.
- Meat – Diabetics should have 2 to 3 servings of meat products per day.
- Fruits – 2 to 4 servings of fruits per day.
- Vegetables – 3 to 5 servings of vegetables per day.
- Grains, beans and starchy vegetables – 6 or more servings per day.
The goal is to consume more from the groups at the bottom of the pyramid, and less from the groups at the top.
According to the pyramid, 60 to 70 percent of your total daily calories should come from grains, beans, and starchy vegetables, with the rest being meat, cheese, fish and other proteins. Fats, oils, and sweets should be avoided or rarely consumed.
Eating right is just one of the ways to manage your diabetes. Exercise and regular diabetic testing are important to live a healthy lifestyle. If you are diabetic check out the Catered fit meal plans. Find the one that fits the way you eat, your daily routine, and your diabetic medications. Then start your own plan today.