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Daily Dietary Advice for Seniors with Diabetes

Dietary Advice for When You Are Eating Out

Though preparing your own meals at home allows you to have full control over the ingredients, diabetics can still eat healthily when they go out. The American Diabetics Association (ADA) has a few recommendations for when you’re eating out.

Start with a soup or salad. A broth-based soup or a salad is almost certainly lower in fat and sugar than other appetizer choices. Starting your meal like this allows you to add some variety without compromising your diet.
Ask for the dressing on the side. You don’t have to say no to delicious dressings and dips; you just need to be careful that your meal isn’t swimming in them. Dipping each bite into the dressing helps you track and limit how much you use.
Save your leftovers. Don’t be shy about asking for a box to take extra food home. Since you don’t have control over the portion sizes at a restaurant, there may be more on your plate than you should have at a single meal. Try to divide your portions before you start eating so that you don’t eat too much.

The “Plate Method”

Healthy eating doesn’t have to mean cutting out specific foods entirely; the key is in limiting the quantity. The ADA recommends the “Plate Method.” At mealtime, divide your plate down the middle. Half of your plate should be non-starchy vegetables, such as eggplant, salad greens or carrots. Divide the remainder of your plate in half again. One of these small sections can now be filled with starchy foods; potatoes, noodles or rice might be good choices. The last quarter of your plate can be your protein. You want to limit your fat, so pick a lean protein, such as chicken or low-fat cheese.

Watch Your Food’s Glycemic Index

A food item’s glycemic index refers to how quickly it will be metabolized and cause a spike in your blood sugar. Foods are rated on a scale from 0 to 100, with lower numbers being healthier for you. Generally, foods that are heavily processed have a higher glycemic index and will cause rapid spikes in your blood sugar. Looking up a food’s glycemic index will help you choose items that will keep your blood glucose stable all day.

Plan Your Diet with Your Doctor

It’s important to speak to your physician before making any big changes in your diet. This is because your nutritional needs go far beyond just counting calories and carbohydrates. Your doctor is the only one who can help you see the big picture and make sure you’re not neglecting any vital nutrients.

Are you looking for a home care service that can help you manage your dietary plan?

Diabetic meal planning is just one of the services that Fedelta Home Care offers to our clients. Our home care professionals can help you make healthy decisions and develop a diet plan that you’ll be happy to stick with. We can also assist with every other aspect of your diabetic care management, meaning you can be confident that you will receive comprehensive care. Contact us today to find out more about our services.