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Step 1
Divide your food intake into several small meals throughout the day. Eating frequently keeps cravings and appetite under control and makes it easier to stick to the original diet plan. The ideal diet plan should provide small meals or snacks every 3 to 4 hours.
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Step 2
Start the day with 2 starches (carbohydrates such as whole grain bread, rice crackers or sugar-free cereal), 1 protein (from the dairy or meat group, such as yogurt, skinless chicken or low-fat cheese), 1 fruit and 1 fat. A balanced start like this will provide about 250 calories and stabilize blood sugar while providing energy for a good start to the day.
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Step 3
Follow the same system for lunch and dinner, but add 2 extra servings of protein and at least 1 vegetable to each meal. This will up your calorie count to about 400 calories per meal. Avoid starchy vegetables such as corn, carrots or potatoes, as they may shift the carb total.
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Step 4
Add 2 to 3 small snacks of about 150 calories each between meals. Make sure the snacks provide a good balance of carbs and protein/fat, but keep them small. Good examples include a handful of nuts, a few saltine crackers with cheese or a small apple with peanut butter.
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Step 5
Consider using a professional diabetic menu planner if you have trouble coming up with a balanced 1,500 calorie diet plan. GlucoMenu is a website that allows you to enter your personal information (including weight, height and gender) to obtain a specific menu that meets any caloric intake specified (see Resources below). If you have special diet considerations (vegetarian, no salt, food allergies), you can also account for them here.
