When planning meals to manage Type 2 diabetes, it's important to make your selection from healthy foods that will keep blood sugar stable and within a healthy range. Quantity is also an important consideration, according to the American Diabetes Association. Half your plate at each meal should be filled with non-starchy vegetables, a quarter with whole grains or starchy foods, and the remaining quarter should be filled with protein.
Breakfast Boosts
To get your day off to a good start, poach two eggs. Sautee two cups of spinach and mushrooms, then follow it up with a small piece of fruit. Add a small tub of yogurt if you need a little extra to feel full -- the American Diabetes Association recommends choosing fat-free or low-fat options. If you need to take your breakfast with you, or prepare it at the office, take a couple of hard-boiled eggs with half an avocado to serve on a slice of whole grain bread.
Scrumptious Lunches
For lunch, marinate a chicken breast in lemon juice and thyme, then grill it under medium heat. Grill up your favorite vegetables, and serve with half a cup of whole grain pasta. The USDA recommends eating 8 ounces of cooked seafood per week, so lunchtime is also an opportunity to meet this intake. Try grilling a salmon fillet, then sauteeing some collard greens in garlic and olive oil. Serve it up with a low-GI carbohydrate source like bulgur. Low-GI foods don't spike your blood sugar, and are satisfying additions to many meals.
Delicious Dinners
Dinner might be a piece of steak, cooked to your liking, with a large serving of salad greens, baby tomatoes and a small sprinkling of feta cheese. Add one-half cup of sweet potato or 1 cup of pumpkin. Another option is to skewer some shrimp with diced peppers, onions and pineapple, then grill them on the barbecue. You can serve these up with one-third cup of brown rice or one-half cup of lentils.
Simple Snacks
Eat meals that are sufficiently satisfying, so that you don't need to snack between meals. If, however, you really need a bump, the American Diabetes Association recommends eating a piece of fruit, some nuts or seeds, vegetable sticks with some nut butter, a small serving of dairy, a handful of crackers or a small serving of whole grains.
