Making Healthy Food Choices
For most children with diabetes (and often their families), diabetes changes what and when they eat. If your child is used to eating whatever she wants whenever she wants, adjusting to a new way of eating may be difficult for her. You'll probably have to make adjustments, too -- in what you cook, how you plan meals, and the kinds of snack food you keep in the house. However, there are solid reasons for sticking to a healthy eating plan. Use the information below to help you help your child eat healthy.
Meal & Snack Planning
Meal and snack planning is the first "ball" that you're juggling in your child's diabetes care.
The Big Three
Find out about the three kinds of nutrients your child needs to have in the foods he or she eats.
Carb Counting
Learn how to use carbohydrate counting to balance food and insulin.
Making the Exchange
Another way to plan your child's meals is to use exchanges.
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 Further Reading...
With Cooking Up Fun for Kids learn how to make cool foods that are a blast to make and a ball to eat. Healthy eating is fun with recipes like Stuffed Green Eggs and Ham...Zoo-rific Zoo Animal Cookies...Leapin' Linguini...and more. Bonus craft projects, too!
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Rate Your Plate
A fun way to make sure your child eats a variety of healthy foods at each meal.
Eating Out
Find out how you can make sure your child does not blow his or her meal plan when you go to out to eat.
Sugar & Sugar Substitutes
Sugar is not evil. It's just a type of carbohydrate.
Shopping
Learn how to shop for healthy food for your child.
Portion Control
Learn correct portion sizes and tips & tricks to help you avoid portion distortion -- a common carb-counting and dieting issue.
Resources
Food Guidelines
Learn how new food guidelines affect people with diabetes.
Healthy Eating (PDF)
Learn more about meal planning, stocking your kitchen, portion sizes, special occasions, and delicious recipies.
Cooking for Kids with Diabetes (PDF)
Find information about cooking healthy, tasty, diabetes-friendly meals & snacks for your kids.
Portion Distortion: Learn how to avoid holiday weight gain by watching portion sizes
During the holiday season, when gatherings and even shopping trips are often centered on food, weight gain can seem unavoidable. But watching portion sizes can help prevent those extra pounds. New additions to the Portion Distortion Interactive Quiz section of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute's Web site show the difference in size and calories between portions offered 20 years ago and what is often a standard serving today.
