Diabetics and their families are probably the most familiar with the diabetic diet exchange meal planning method. The diabetic diet exchange method assigns foods to certain groups based on their effects on blood glucose levels. Using an assigned number of exchanges, diabetics create recipes and meals that meet their own individual diabetic needs.
The Diabetic Diet Swap Method was developed as a joint effort between the American Diabetes Association and the American Dietetic Association. The method has been in use for several decades and has recently been reformatted to include a wider variety of commonly consumed foods, including fast foods, reflecting changes in foods that are marketed specifically for diabetics and the need for variety in today’s busy lifestyles. Also, many people, not just diabetics, are making food choices more carefully. Decades of poor food choices have infected the nation with various food-related disorders. Because of this, various health organizations have launched campaigns to educate consumers. Consumers have responded by demanding that food manufacturers provide healthy food. Several major food manufacturers have risen to the challenge, resulting in the need for an updated diabetic diet exchange list that includes more foods low in fat and sugar, as well as fast foods. The new Diabetic Diet Exchange includes more lists of lean meats, carb-controlled foods, and foods for vegetarian diets.
The diabetic diet swap method works by assigning foods to six different categories: starch / bread, cereal, and grain group; meat and protein group, vegetable group, fruit group, milk group and fat group. Each food is assigned an amount that makes it equal to one exchange. Review the following examples from each group …
- Half a medium bagel equals one starch / bread swap.
- Three egg whites equals one meat / protein swap
- Half a cup of mushrooms equals one vegetable swap
- Half a cup of unsweetened applesauce equals one fruit swap
- One eight-ounce cup of 1% milk equals one exchange of milk
- Two teaspoons of diet margarine equals one fat exchange.
Using one exchange from each of the six diabetic diet exchange groups, you have just made a breakfast consisting of an egg white omelette with mushrooms, a bagel slathered in applesauce, and a glass of milk, probably more filling. than the egg mcmuffin. normally eats.
The Diabetic Diet Exchange Lists will help you prepare hearty and nutritious meals and snacks. They are called exchanges because you can exchange food within each group. However, you cannot exchange a fruit exchange for a meat exchange, regardless of the calorie count. Fruits and meats affect blood glucose levels differently and that is why they are stored in different groups. The diabetic diet change method takes great care to keep your blood glucose level as constant as possible.
The Diabetic Diet Exchange Lists closely mimic the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) food pyramid with only a few exceptions. Diabetic diet swaps move some foods into different categories based on their effect on blood glucose. For example, potatoes are part of the bread group on the diabetic food pyramid because they affect blood glucose in the same way as breads, as they are a starchy vegetable. The diabetic diet exchange method has been merged into plans that encompass the caloric needs of 1,200, 1,500, 1,800, 2,000, and 2,200 calories per day. For example, a 1200 calorie per day diet includes five bread exchanges, four meat exchanges, two vegetable exchanges, three fruit exchanges, two milk exchanges, and three fat exchanges. A 2,200 calorie per day diet includes thirteen bread exchanges, eight meat exchanges, four vegetable exchanges, three fruit exchanges, two milk exchanges, and five fat exchanges. The exchanges are combined into recipes to create meals like the breakfast above.
