Smart Meal Planning

When first diagnosed with diabetes, many people expect to be put on a special "diabetes diet." But there are as many diabetes meal plans as there are people with diabetes. Your meal plan should reflect your lifestyle, likes and dislikes, level of activity, and more.

That's why the American Diabetes Association strongly suggests working with a registered dietitian to create an individual plan for you.

Your meal plan will include:

•   How much carbohydrate, protein, and fat you should eat at each meal.
•   Snacks to eat each day.
•   The timing of meals and snacks.
•   Foods to eat more of, as well as some foods to cut back on, depending on your current eating habits.

There are no off-limit foods, such as sugar or sweets. The idea is to eat the right amount of food to maintain a healthy weight and feel your best. The guiding principle: You can eat anything as part of a balanced meal plan, just like people who don't have diabetes. Just remember that too much fat or too many calories can cause weight gain and cholesterol problems.

A few things you'll consider in creating a meal plan are:

•   What does your current diet include?
•   How do the foods you eat compare to the Food Guide Pyramid?
•   What are your favorite foods?
•   Do you have "problem foods," such as candy or chips, that trigger you to overeat?
•   How large are your portions?
•   What is your regular schedule?
•   Do you have any other medical conditions, such as high blood pressure or heart disease?

Once your plan is in place, you'll still have thousands of choices about what to eat each day.