I came across this 1200 calorie sample menu for diabetics (long)

dawn_mo

Well-known member
and have been following it pretty closely. I can really feel a difference in my energy level. I have also noticed that I do not crave junk food at all. I usually never eat before or during a farmer's market so I don't end up eating until about 2pm. I did that yesterday out of habit, and I won't be doing that again anytime soon. I was so tired by the end of the market.

I have been reading a lot of labels for carbohydrate amounts and using my digital scale to see what an actual serving size should be. I have been referring to Atkins carb counters to reference carb amounts in different foods. It's really surprising to see such high carb levels in some of the more common foods we eat.

Hummus has become my new best friend. I snack on it with baked pita chips and use is instead of mayo on my sandwiches. Thanks, Dawn for that tip!

I have been buying it but now I getting ready to make it myself.

Here is the menu. I use my own discretion as to what to eat for a carb, but try to stick with the general plan that they have laid out. I added the mid-morning snack because I find that I need one.

1200 CALORIE SAMPLE MENU A sample of a 1200 calorie diabetic diet is shown below. A dietitian can help you decide you many snacks you need each day.

Breakfast: 42 grams carbohydrate

* 3 carbohydrate servings, such as:

-1 bread or starch, like 3/4 cup (6 ounces) bran flakes cereal

-1 fruit, like 1 small banana (5 inch) or 1/2 of a 9 inch banana

-1 milk, like 1 cup skim or 1% milk

* 1 meat or meat substitute, like 1/4 cup cottage cheese or 1 poached egg. Do not eat more than 3 eggs a week.

* 1 fat, like 1 tsp. margarine

Mid-Morning Snack: 15 grams carbohydrate

* one carbohydrate serving

Lunch: 35 grams carbohydrate

* The following foods can be combined to make a tuna salad:

o 1 ounce meat or meat substitute, like 1/4 cup water-packed drained tuna

o 1 fat, like 1 tsp regular mayonnaise or 2 tsp. lowfat mayonnaise

o 1 vegetable, like 1/2 cup chopped celery with 1 lettuce leaf and 1 slice tomato

*2 carbohydrate servings, such as

-1 bread or starch, like 1 slice bread

-1 fruit, like 1 medium orange

* 1 free food, like 12 ounces diet soda

Afternoon Snack: 15 grams carbohydrate

* 1 carbohydrate serving

o

Dinner: 47 grams carbohydrate

* 2 ounces meat or meat substitute, like 2 ounces lean chicken breast

* 3 carbohydrate servings, such as:

-1 starch

-1 fruit

-1 milk

* 1 vegetable

* 1 fat

Evening Snack: 15 grams carbohydrate

* 1 carbohydrate serving

CARBOHYDRATE FOODS AND SERVING SIZES

Breads and Starches: Each serving contains 15 grams carbohydrate. Eat ____ servings per day from this list. Most people need 5-8 servings per day.

* 1 slice bread (1 ounce)

* 1/2 cup cooked pasta, corn, cooked cereal, mashed potato, or green peas

* 1/3 cup cooked rice, dried beans, or dried peas

* 3/4 cup flake cereal

* 1/2 hamburger or hot dog bun, English muffin, or frozen bagel

* 3 cups air-popped popcorn

* 1 small (3 inch) potato

* 2 rice cakes

* 6 saltines or three (2-1/2 inch squares) graham crackers

Fruits: Each serving contains 15 grams carbohydrate. Eat ____ servings per day from this list. Most people need 2-4 servings per day.

* 1/2 cup apple, orange, or grapefruit juice

* 1 small (2-1/2 inch) apple, peach, or orange

* 1/2 cup applesauce or canned fruit

* 3/4 cup fresh blueberries

* 1/3 cup cranberry juice cocktail, grape juice, or prune juice

* 15 small grapes or 12 large grapes

* 1 kiwi fruit

* 1/2 large pear or fresh grapefruit

* 2 Tbsp raisins or 1/4 cup dried fruit

* 1-1/4 cup fresh strawberries or melon cubes

Dairy: Each serving contains 12 grams carbohydrate. Eat or drink____ servings per day from this list. Most people need 2-3 servings per day.

* 1/2 cup sugar-free custard, pudding, or evaporated milk

* 1 cup fresh milk or sugar-free yogurt

* 1/3 cup nonfat milk powder

Vegetables: Each serving contains 5 grams carbohydrate. Only count a vegetable as carbohydrate if you have more than 2 servings per meal. Eat ____ servings per day from this list. Most people need 2-4 servings per day.

* 2 Tbsp tomato sauce

* 1 cup vegetable or tomato juice

* 1/2 cup cooked vegetables or 1 cup raw vegetables

Combination Foods: Each serving contains about 15 grams carbohydrate. Eat ____ servings per day from this list. Most people need 1-2 servings per day.

* 1/2 cup of any casserole, like tuna or chicken noodle, macaroni and cheese, chili with meat, or spaghetti and meat sauce

* 1 cup cream, bean, tomato, or vegetable soup

* 1/8 of a 10-inch pizza

* 1/2 of a store-bought pot pie, like chicken, turkey, or beef

* One 3 ounce taco

NON-CARBOHYDRATE FOODS TO INCLUDE IN YOUR DIET

Meat / Meat Substitutes: The foods on this list do not count as carbohydrates. Eat ____ servings per day from this list. Most people need 2-3 servings per day.

* 1/2 cup cottage cheese

* 1/2 cup cooked dried beans

* 1 to 2 oz low fat cheese

* 1 large egg (Limit eggs to 2 or 3 per week.)

* 2 to 3 oz cooked meat, fish, poultry

* 2 Tbsp peanut butter

Fats: The foods on this list do not count as carbohydrates. Eat ____ servings per day from this list. Most people need 1-3 servings per day.

* 6 almonds or 10 small peanuts

* 1/8 avocado

* 1 teaspoon oil or margarine

* 6 small olives

* 2 Tbs. low calorie salad dressing

* 1Tbsp regular salad dressing

 
I'm happy for your encouragement, Dawn. I'm using hummus in place of mayo too. My favorite is

lemon artichoke. I wish I knew how to make it myself! It's awesome!

 
Lemon artichoke hummus? Yes, that does sound good. Keep in mind, though that

although hummus is much better (fiber, protein, etc.) than mayonnaise, remember to count it as a carb - a "good" carb, but still a carb. Mayo is just fat.

 
Thank you - sounds like a WW plan. I can't do "non"-fat most things, but

do opt for the low-fat versions, when I can find 'em. I basically followed this plan for years... adding a dessert here and there too. Probably a couple hundred more calories of fat here and there too.

But now I'm doing better with it and sticking closer to about 1500. And eat high-fiber every chance I can get. I've noticed that avocados and tomato sauce do wonders for my blood glucose levels, too, for what it's worth. Thanks Dawn!

 
I don't like fat-free and barely like reduced-fat versions of foods.

But I love the hummus on sandwiches, even better than mayo. What is your recipe for hummus? I remember that you make it homemade a lot, and I remember your tip about cooking them first, if you are using canned garbanzo beans. Thanks!

 
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