There are no one-size-fits all diabetic diet plans. A plan that is best for one diabetic may not be the best for another because of differences in diabetes type and nutritional needs. The overall goal is to eat a diet that contains the right portions of healthy foods. Based on this goal, creating diabetic meal plans for the whole family is easy. Substitute healthy food choices for unhealthy ones and achieve health benefits for the whole family.
The Right Food
Diabetics eat more often than the traditional three meals a day. In fact, for many diabetics, eating every two to three hours is recommended. Diabetic and non-diabetic meal menus are the same in that doctors recommend a healthy portion of foods from different food groups with each. According to the Diabetic Diet for Diabetes website, a healthy meal includes one serving each of fruit, vegetables, dairy, protein and whole-grain bread or pasta. Foods that are unhealthy for diabetics are generally unhealthy for people without diabetes as well. These include fried foods, fast foods, highly processed foods and foods that are high in saturated fat and cholesterol (see Reference 1).
Menus
Chicken is easy to prepare and a favorite of many families. It is low in fat and in the right portion size, low in calories. Prepare a meal the whole family will love by combining several food categories into one dish. Season skinless chicken breasts with pepper and broil. While the chicken is cooking, prepare a large salad with your favorite salad vegetables. Cut the chicken into strips and toss lightly in the salad. Sprinkle some low-fat grated cheese on top and your meal is ready to enjoy. Instead of crackers, serve whole-grain bread. Serve fresh fruit for dessert.
The Diabetic Living website provides a number of tasty menus the whole family will enjoy. Prepare a main dish of basil-lemon shrimp linguine. Cook whole-grain pasta according to package directions. Add freshly cut asparagus when the pasta is about three minutes away from being done. Cook minced garlic, pepper strips, shrimp and seasonings in a skillet coated with nonstick spray. When done, mix with the pasta and toss lightly in lemon juice. Make a salad of fresh greens, onions and peppers to complement the main dish. Again, save your fruit for dessert. The linguine recipe feeds four. The website contains many other menus and dessert options as well (see Reference 2).
Creating delicious meals the can enjoy together is an easy way to take some of the sting out of being diabetic. Another benefit is feeding your family healthy and nutritious meals that taste as good as they look.
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