Nutrition Guidelines
Goals for this Guide
- Maintain as near-normal blood glucose as possible by balancing food intake with insulin or oral blood glucoselowering medications and physical activity.
- Provide adequate calories for normal
- growth and development rates in children and adolescents.
- Prevent and treat complications of diabetes including hypoglycemia and abnormal serum lipid levels.
- Improve overall health through good nutrition.
Plan your Meal
your meal plan should based on the nutritional needs and usual eating habits.
1.
The calorie level of the meal plan is based on individual needs for growth and development as well as their physical activity level.
Children and adolescents, even if overweight, should not have calories restricted that could limit their normal growth and development.
2.
Spacing of food intake, particularly carbohydrate foods, throughout the day is key to blood sugar control. The
Amount and
Timing of carbohydrate
Foods should be balanced with physical activity and insulin or oral medication.
3.
The type of carbohydrate is no longer restricted in the diabetic diet. For years, sugar (sucrose) was omitted and starches were preferred to natural sugars (lactose and fructose) found in milk and fruit. Scientific evidence has shown that all carbohydrates are digested and absorbed at similar rates. All carbohydrates are now counted as equal in terms of blood sugar regulation.
Carbohydrate foods are now interchanged using the amount of 15 grams for one serving of carbohydrate in a meal plan. Preference is given to whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and “low fat” milk because of their nutritional value, not because of the type of carbohydrate they contain.
|
Meal Plan (Target Calories)_____________________
|
Date_______________
|
| Time |
Number of Exchanges/Choices |
Total Carbohydrate Grams |
| |
- Carbohydrate group -
- Starch -
- Fruit -
- Vegetable -
- Milk -
- Meat group -
- Fat group -
|
|
| - Notes - |
| |
- Carbohydrate group -
- Starch -
- Fruit -
- Vegetable -
- Milk -
- Meat group -
- Fat group -
|
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Nutrition Recommendations
The following are the Nutrition recommendations for children and adolescents
- Aim for a healthy weight by choosing sensible portions and being physically active every day.
- Eat at least 5 servings of vegetables and fruits every day.
- Choose a variety of grain foods, especially whole grains.
- Choose plenty of calcium rich foods including milk and milk products each day
- Choose a diet that is moderate in total fat and limited in saturated fat and cholesterol.
- Limit beverages high in sugar.
- Moderate the use of salt.
- Avoid alcoholic beverages. Alcohol may cause hypoglycemia; risk is increased if taking insulin or sulfonylureas.
A meal pattern provides the framework for making food choices. Key to all meal plans is controlling the amount and the spacing of carbohydrate foods eaten throughout the day.
1. Exchange Lists for Meal Planning
Exchange Lists for Meal Planning is a frequently used approach. Meal plans specify the number of servings from each food group that should be eaten at each meal and snack. Food groups list measured amounts of foods that may be exchanged for one another and provide similar calorie, carbohydrate, protein, and fat content.
2. Carbohydrate counting
This approach counts only grams of carbohydrate in foods. It is used when greater simplicity and flexibility are desired. Insulin amounts may be adjusted before each meal based on the grams of carbohydrate at that particular meal.
3. Diabetes Food Pyramid
This pyramid approach differs from the USDA’s Food Guide Pyramid by grouping starchy vegetables and dried beans with the grain foods because of their similar carbohydrate content. See below the Diabetes Food Pyramid.
The Diabetes Food Pyramid has six food group sections. The largest group - grains, beans and starchy vegetables - is on the bottom and serves as the base of the pyramid. This means that you should eat more servings from this group than of any of the other food groups. The smallest group - fats and sweets - is at the top of the pyramid, emphasizing that you should eat less of these foods.
The number of servings you need from each food group depends on your nutrition needs, your lifestyle, and the foods you like to eat. For a healthy meal plan that is based on your individual needs, you should work with a registered dietitian (RD) or Physician. The following chart shows a sample number of servings from the pyramid food groups for different calorie needs. Carbohydrate food groups (marked as *) may be interchanged.
| Daily Calories |
1500 |
1800 |
2000 |
2200 |
2500 |
*Grains, Beans and
Starchy Vegetables |
7 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
| Vegetables |
3-5 |
3-5 |
3-5 |
3-5 |
3-5 |
| *Fruits |
3 |
3 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
| *Milk, skim |
2 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
4 |
| Meat |
2 |
2 |
2-3 |
2-3 |
2-3 |
| Fats |
4 |
5 |
6 |
6 |
8 |
| *Sweets |
Substitute by counting each 15 grams of carbohydrate for one serving of a carbohydrate food group. |
Keep your blood sugar at a healthy level each day
- Divide your food intake evenly throughout the day into regular meals and snacks.
- Distribute carbohydrate foods so that about the same amount of carbohydrates are eaten at about the same times each day.
- Do not skip meals or snacks.
Sample 1800 Calorie Meal Pattern - With the Diabetes Food Pyramid
| Meal Pattern |
Sample Menu |
Breakfast
2 starch
1 fruit
1 milk
1 fat
|
Breakfast
1/2 cup oatmeal
1 slice toast
1/2 cup orange juice
1 cup skim milk
1 teaspoon margarine
|
Morning Snack
1 starch and 1 fruit
|
Morning Snack
3 graham cracker squares
1 small apple
|
Lunch
1 meat
1 starch
1 vegetable
1 fruit
2 fat
1 milk
|
Lunch
2 slices whole wheat bread
2 teaspoons mayonnaise
1 cup carrot and celery sticks
1 orange
2-3 oz sliced ham
1 cup skim milk
|
Afternoon Snack
1 starch
|
Afternoon Snack
4-6 crackers
|
Supper
2 starch
3 vegetables
1 meat
4 fat
|
Supper
2-3 oz chicken
1/2 cup potatoes
1/2 cup corn
1/2 cup green beans
1/2 cup tomato juice
2 teaspoons margarine
|
Evening Snack
1 fruit, 1 milk
|
Evening Snack
1/2 cup peaches (light syrup)
1 cup skim milk
|
