I have been prescribed a Diabetic— can I still receive meals from Meals On Wheels Inc. of Tarrant County? YES!
Meals On Wheels Recommended Meal Plan
No concentrated sweets, Diabetic Diet with the beverage choice of one of the following: Skim Milk, Low fat Milk, or Calcium/ Vitamin D Orange Juice
Diet Implications
What is the purpose of a no concentrated sweets/ Diabetic diet?
To achieve and maintain optimal blood glucose and lipid levels through appropriate food choices.
What does the diet consist of?
The diabetic diet can vary from person to person depending on diagnosis, current nutritional status, blood glucose levels, glycated hemoglobin, blood lipids, and blood pressure. Regardless, it generally consists of monitoring the daily intake of macronutrients: carbohydrates, protein, and fat. Specifically, patients need to watch their carbohydrate intake because it is the main factor affecting postprandial blood glucose levels.
What are the nutritional recommendations of a diabetic diet?
The amount of carbohydrate in the diet is individualized based on the person’s usual intake and desired glucose and lipid goals. Daily intake of carbohydrates can range from 45% to 60% of total calories. Blood glucose and insulin response are influenced by both the source and amount of carbohydrates consumed. Of the two, priority is given to the total amount of carbohydrate consumed at each meal and snack rather than the source of carbohydrate.
Protein intake should consist of 10% to 20% of the daily calories. Dietary protein can be obtained from vegetable and animal sources. Fat intake should be 25% to 30% of total calories for the day. It is important to keep track of your lipid levels with your doctor. Cholesterol should be limited to less than 300 mg a day.
How can I make my prescribed diabetic diet work with the Meals On Wheels Regular Diet plan?
Meals On Wheels registered dietitian takes pride in accommodating clients’ needs and physical well being. Each of our meals meets at least one-third of the Daily Recom- mended Dietary Allowance for males 51+ years of age. For clients monitoring their sugar intake, Meals on Wheels offers a special diet meal that contains no concentrated sweets. Each meal you receive, on average, contains less than 100 grams of carbohydrates. Meals On Wheels offers a healthy dessert that provides a low intake of sugar, such as an apple cobbler.
On the menu you receive, the amount of calories and grams of carbohydrates per an entrée are listed. This allows you to keep track of your calorie and carbohydrate intake.
Aside from my Meals on Wheels food, what other heart- healthy foods can I consume for snacks and my third meal of the day?
Milk and Dairy Recommendations:
- 2-3 servings a day
- Enjoy skim or low fat milk, all cheeses, and plain low fat yogurt (sweeten with fresh fruit or cinnamon).
- Minimize flavored yogurt, frozen milkshake, and flavored milk (i.e. chocolate, strawberry), sweetened coco mixes, and eggnog
Bread and Grain Recommendations:
- 6-11 servings a day
- Enjoy unsweetened crackers such as graham crackers, animal crackers, bread sticks, and unsweetened bread.
- Avoid eating cinnamon bread, sweetened or frosted bread (donuts, coffee cake, pastries), sugar coated pre- sweetened cereals, honey or fruit flavored cereals, and granola cereals.
Fruit Recommendations:
- 2-4 servings per day
- Enjoy fresh or frozen fruits processed without sugar, water-packed canned fruits, and unsweetened juices
- Minimize canned, fresh or frozen fruit with sugar added
Vegetables and starchy vegetables Recommendations:
- 3-5 servings per day
- Enjoy all fresh, canned, frozen or cooked vegetables, peas, corn, and potatoes
Fat and Snack Recommendations:
- Use sparingly daily
- Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats are preferred fats and oils.
- Enjoy but limit margarine or butter, sugar free gelatin dessert, sugar free custard, angel food cake, vanilla wafers, gingersnap cookies, and popcorn.
- Avoid Frozen whipped toppings such as “Cool Whip”, ice cream, sherbet, sorbet, fruit ice, frosted cakes, cupcakes, pie, puddings, pastries, caramelized popcorn, and breakfast bars.