Diabetes Meals on $7 a Day?or Less!. Patti B. Geil
target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="#fb3_img_img_fa5d6df9-a3b7-5d38-bef4-565c31eeeb2f.jpg" alt="image"/> Consume a sufficient amount of fruits and vegetables while staying within energy needs. Two cups of fruit and 2 1/2 cups of vegetables per day are recommended for a 2,000-calorie intake, with higher or lower amounts depending on the calorie level.
Food Groups to Encourage
Fats
Carbohydrates
Sodium and potassium
Alcoholic beverages
Those who choose to drink alcoholic beverages should do so sensibly and in moderation-defined as the consumption of one drink per day for women and up to two drinks per day for men. Make sure to check your blood glucose after consumming alcohol because alcohol can raise certain blood fats and may cause low blood glucose.
ALCOHOL AWARENESS
Alcoholic beverages should never be consumed by certain individuals, including:
Food Safety
To avoid microbial foodborne illness:
DIABETES FOOD GOALS FOR YOU
The first diabetes diet recommendations were made in Egypt in 1550 B.C., and consisted of wheat grains, fresh grits, grapes, honey, and sweet beer. Today, the American Diabetes Association nutrition recommendations stress an overall healthy eating plan, with an emphasis on several vital nutrients.
If you’d like to learn more about specific nutrient needs and food recommendations for your family members based on gender, age, and activity level, access the website of the USDAs new interactive food model, MyPyramid, at www.mypyramid.gov.
Calories
The days of preprinted, calorie-level diet sheets are over. Although we know that most adults require between 1,800 and 2,500 calories per day, what you need to maintain a reasonable body weight may be different. To lose weight, between 1,000 and 1,600 calories per day may be your goal. Individualized meal plans, designed with the help of a registered dietitian (RD), are the best for watching your weight.
Protein
Your intake of protein foods (meats, poultry, seafood, dairy foods, beans, peas, nuts, and seeds) should be at the same level as that of the general public. These foods should make up between 15 and 20% of the calories you eat, which translates into two 3-oz servings each day (3 oz is the size of a deck of cards or the palm of a woman’s hand).
Although a high intake of protein may be a risk factor for the development of diabetic kidney disease, there is evidence that vegetable protein- which comes from beans, grains, and vegetables-may slow the rate of kidney disease in people with diabetes. Eating less protein from animal sources-meat,