Food Pyramid for Diabetics

Eating healthy is a vital part of controlling diabetes. The food pyramid offers is a guide to how much of each food group should be consumed each day.

Grains and Starches

Grains and starches make up the base of the Diabetic Food Pyramid. Consume six to eleven servings of grains, breads, and starchy vegetables each day.

Vegetables

Consume three to five servings of low-fat, non starchy vegetables each day. A serving size for cooked vegetables is a half cup and for raw vegetables is a whole cup.

Fruit

Choose two to four servings of fruit each day. Fruit contains fiber, vitamins and minerals, as well as carbohydrates.

Milk and Dairy

"Choose non-fat or low-fat dairy products for the great taste and nutrition without the saturated fat," recommends the American Diabetes Association. Consume two to three servings of milk or dairy products each day.

Meat

Four to six ounces of meat or meat substitutes should be consumed per day. This food group includes beef, poultry, fish, eggs, cheese, tofu and peanut butter.

Fats and Sweets

Foods that contain a lot of fat or sugar should be used sparingly. Examples of these type of foods are potato chips, cake and alcohol.

References

• American Diabetes Association

Resources

• Visit the ADA for more details on the diabetes food pyramid.
• Learn about the effects of alcohol on people with diabetes.