Diet Samples
Gestational Diabetes Meal Planning Tips
Gestational Diabetes and Carbs
Managing glucose levels during pregnancy can be quite difficult without the right plan of action and meal plan to follow.
Limit your carbohydrates by following simple plans:
Limit your carbs for:
Breakfast = 30 grams
Lunch = 45 grams
Dinner = 45 to 60 grams (depending on how your body tolerates glucose/sugar)
Snacks to 15 grams
Gestational Diabetes and Controlling Blood Sugar Level
Upon first waking up in the morning, your blood sugar will be at a normal low. It’s important to not eat a breakfast high in carbohydrates or starch. Avoid food items such as pancakes, syrub, sugarded cereal and high-glycemic fruits such as grapes for breakfast, otherwise your glucose levels with skyrocket. A small and high protein meal that protein plus a small carbohydrate, such as a slice of whole wheat toast can do the trick. Depending on your body, you may be able to add yogurt or a cup of low calorie yogurt.
Common Mistakes
A common mistake is waiting too long before eating your next meal. If your sugar level drops too low, it will tend to bounce higher when you finally do eat. A snack of vegetable sticks with hummus or another low calorie dip, cottage cheese with some fruit, whole wheat crackers with peanur butter or a handful of nuts can help you get through until your actual meal. If you are always on the go and have trouble finding something healthy to eat, prepare early and keep the snack items in the fridge.
Foods to Avoid
Even though they seem healthy, they may not be. Avoid foods like white processed bread, juice, or dried fruit (typically they are laced with sugar). Instead eat whole grain pasta, pita bread, water, unsweetened 100% fruit juice and fresh fruit high in fiber (like an apple!).
Snack Ideas
We gotta love our snacks. Finding a diabetic friendly snack is actually not too hard. Probably limiting the amount will be the hardest challenge, especially when pregnant!
For snacks, try eating:
-3 graham crackers squares or 8 animal crackers
6 saltine crackers
Three cups of popcorn (probably the most filling)
Three-fourths of an ounce of pretzels
Dinnertime
It’s probably the trickest meal to plan for in the day. If you eat late you are inclined to crash into bed shortly afterward. You’ll need to choose carefully to minimize overeating. A whole grain wrap stuffed with chicken and salad trimmings is quick to make and good to eat.
If you are up for later than 3 hours after dinnertime, you will need to get a light snack to keep from your sugar level from dipping to low. It can be as simple as an apple, small whole grain muffin, or peanut butter crackers.
