Sometimes it is hard to think of diabetes meal ideas on your own. That is why it is a good idea to keep balanced diabetes meal menus and recipes around. When coming up with diabetes meal ideas of your own, the point is to make a balanced plate. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommends filling half your plate with vegetables that do not contain a lot of starch. The other half of the plate should be split between starchy foods, such as rolls or corn, and meat or meat substitutes.

Feel free to use the following diabetes menu for new diabetes meal ideas. Each meal should consist of approximately 45 grams of carbohydrates, and each snack should contain about 15 grams. Remember that meals and snacks should be spread at least 2 ½ hours apart. Please review the following:

Breakfast

  • 1 small orange
  • 2 slices of whole grain toast
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tbsp low-fat margarine
  • 1 cup coffee

 

Snack

  • 1 cup low-fat milk
  • ½ turkey sandwich

 

Lunch

  • 2/3 cup brown rice
  • 2 corn tortillas
  • 3 oz. chicken
  • 1 cup tomatoes and lettuce
  • 1 tsp salsa
  • Diet soda

 

Snack

  • 1 cup light yogurt
  • ½ cup strawberries or blueberries

 

Dinner

  • 2/3 cup of pasta
  • 3-5 oz of un-fried meat, chicken, fish
  • 1-2 cups of vegetables such as carrots, broccoli, spinach
  • Un-sweet tea
  • 1 tbsp. sour cream or diet margarine

 

Snack

  • ½ cup cottage cheese or 1 small fruit

 

Gestational Diabetes Meal Ideas

 

Unless your doctor has recommended that you should eat differently, meal ideas for gestational diabetes can be derived from any diabetes menu or diabetic recipe. Again, balance is important. You should always attempt to gain as much nutrition as possible out of each meal without allowing your blood sugar levels to rise too high. The following gestational diabetes recipe should help you to gain an understanding of how food should be proportioned when you are coming up with diabetes meal ideas.

 

Grilled Fish Tacos

Ingredients

  • 1 lb of skinless cod, ½-inch thick
  • 7-8 fat-free or whole grain tortillas
  • 1 tbsp. olive oil
  • 1tbsp. lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • ½ tsp. ground cumin
  • ¼ tsp. black pepper
  • ¼ tsp. salt
  • Any vegetables of your choice

 

Instructions

If the fish is frozen, allow to thaw, and then arrange the fish in a small square baking pan. Set this aside and begin mix together the lemon juice, oil, cumin, chili powder, salt, and pepper. Pour this mixture over the fish as a marinade, cover, and chill for 15 minutes. Afterwards, drain well and prepare to grill by wrapping the tortillas in foil.

Grill the fish and tortillas on a greased wrack. The grill should be set to medium heat and uncovered. Cook for 5-10 minutes, turning once. Transfer fish to a cutting board and cut the fish into bite-sized pieces. Top the tortillas with vegetables of your choice or salsa.