ADA Menu Plan for Kids

Insulin counteracts carb intake, which allows more freedom in food choices.

If your child has recently been diagnosed with juvenile diabetes and you are worrying about how to feed him, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) assures us that children do not have to give up their favorite foods, but rather they need to be "more careful about how often [they] eat them and how much [they] eat each time." Your doctor and dietitian will help you determine which menu plan is right for your child as individual needs differ by age, weight, physical activity and personal tolerances to different foods.

Create Your Plate

The ADA recommends the plate method as an easy way to start forming healthier eating habits that can help control your child's diabetes. Imagine a line cutting the plate in half. Fill one half of the plate with non-starchy vegetables, such as carrots, green beans, cucumbers and tomatoes. Cut the second half of the plate in half again, and on one quarter put starchy foods---for example, whole grain breads and cereals, rice, pasta, corn, peas, potatoes, crackers, chips and popcorn. Fill the last section with proteins, such as chicken, turkey, fish, lean beef, eggs, cheese or cottage cheese. Drink 8 ounces of milk, or choose water and add a small yogurt or fruit to round out your meal.

Counting Carbs

A diabetic who follows a counting-carbohydrates menu plan generally starts by consuming 45 to 60 grams of carbs at each meal and works with doctors and dietitians to adjust this number depending on her body's reaction. You can change carb intake by increasing or decreasing portion sizes. Carbs include starchy foods, fruits, milk, yogurt, sweets and many snack foods. Complete the meal with a serving of protein and a small amount of fat. When counting carbs in canned and ready-made foods, check the nutrition label for serving size and carbs for each serving, as you often must adjust the portion to meet the standard measurement of 15 grams per carb.

Constant Carbs

A constant carb menu plan requires a child to maintain the same number of carbs at each meal. She takes a set amount of insulin on a strict schedule each day to counteract the effect of the carbs.

Exchange Meal Plan

Exchange meal plans categorize food as starch, fruit, milk, fat, vegetable and meat, each with a standard serving size: approximately 1/2 cup for most starches, fruits and milk, 1/2 to 1 cup for vegetables and 3 ounces for meats. Your health care team will help you determine how many servings of each your child needs at each meal to meet healthy calorie levels and control his diabetes.

Conclusion

The ADA states, "There is no one diet or meal plan that works for everyone with diabetes." The important thing is to pay attention to your child's body and follow the recommendations of her health care providers. They will work with you to develop a meal plan that takes into account personal preferences to bring your child's blood glucose, cholesterol and triglycerides levels, and blood pressure under control, to help her maintain a healthy weight and continue enjoying all the activities that make her smile.

 

References

• American Diabetes Association: Healthy Eating: 2010
• American Diabetes Association: Create Your Plate: 2010
• American Diabetes Association: Carbohydrates: 2010
• The Children's Hospital: Meal Plans and Diabetes: Steven Dowshen, MD: 2011
• Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International: Diabetes and Diet: A Recipe for Optimal Control: 2011
• The Children's Hospital: Meal Plans: What Kids With Diabetes Need to Know: Steven Dowshen, MD: 2011

Resources

• American Diabetes Association: Glycemic Index and Diabetes: 2010
• American Diabetes Association: Planning Meals: 2010
• Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International: Buy It or Bag It: 2011
• The Nemours Foundation: Meal Plans: What Kids With Diabetes Need to Know: Steven Dowshen, MD: 2011