EVMS Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine--Nutrition and Diabetes

Nutrition and Diabetes

A meal plan gives guidelines for the types and amounts of food a person should eat for each meal and snack. Most pregnant women will require a meal plan which includes three main meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) and 3 snacks (mid-morning, mid-afternoon and at bedtime). See below for sample meal plans.

Understanding Carbohydrates

Different foods affect blood sugar in different ways. Foods high in carbohydrates (carbs) tend to raise blood sugar more than other foods. These are the body's main source of energy. One kind of carb is sugar, found in foods such as fruit, milk and sweets. Another kind is starch, found in foods such as bread, rice, pasta and potatoes. Click here for more information on carbohydrate counting.

Diet Recommendations

Eat 3 small meals and 3 snacks every day. This will enable improved blood sugar results.
Follow the food plan recommended by a registered dietitian or diabetes educator (see examples below).
Limit the carbohydrates [starch, fruit, milk] eaten according to the meal plan. Concentrated sweets such as cake, cookies, candy, regular soda and kool-aid should be avoided. The use of Nutrasweet (aspartame) is safe in pregnancy and should be the substitute for sugar.
Always read labels on food containers
- select foods that are low in sugar [< 5gm per serving]. Each serving of milk or fruit has 11-15 gm of sugar.
- low in fat [< 3 gm per serving]
- high in fiber [> 3 gm per serving] e.g. breads, cereals
- lower in salt [< 200 mg per serving]
Wait at least 2 to 3 hours between all meals and snacks.
DO NOT SKIP SNACKS, these are a very important part of the diet plan and will help you keep blood sugars at a normal range.

Several meal plans are included below. If you would like to print this information select this link. Print Version

SAMPLE MEAL PLAN
1800-2000 calorie diet *

Breakfast	08:00 AM
	2 Carbs^
	1 Meat
	1 Fat

AM Snack	10:00 AM
	2 Carbs

Lunch	12:00 Noon
	3 Carbs
	2 Meats
	2 Vegetables
	1 Fat

PM Snack	03:00 PM
	2 Carbs

Dinner	06:00 PM
	2 Carbs
	4 Meats
	2 Vegetables
	2 Fats

Bedtime Snack	09:00 PM
	3 Carbs
	1 Meat

*consult an exchange book for more information
^1 carbohydrate (carb) = 1 starch, fruit or milk

Preconception Meal Plan
1400 Calorie Diet *

Breakfast	08:00 AM
	2 Carbs^
	1 Meat
	1 Fat

AM Snack	10:00 AM
	1 Carb

Lunch	12:00 Noon
	2 Carbs
	2 Meats
	2 Vegetables
	1 Fat

PM Snack	03:00 PM
	1 Carb

Dinner	06:00 PM
	2 Carbs
	2 Meats
	2 Vegetable
	2 Fats

Bedtime Snack	09:00 PM
	2 Carbs
	0 Meat

* Depending on individual deal body weight the amount of calories recommended may be lower or higher than this basic plan
^Carbohydrate, 1 carb=12-15 grams

Pregnancy Meal Plan
1800 Calorie Diet*

Breakfast	08:00 AM
	2 Carbs
	1 Meat
	1 Fat

AM Snack	10:00 AM
	2 Carbs

Lunch	12:00 Noon
	3 Carbs
	2 Meats
	2 Vegetables
	1 Fat

PM Snack	03:00 PM
	2 Carbs

Dinner	06:00 PM
	2 Carbs
	4 Meats
	2 Vegetables
	2 Fats

Bedtime Snack	09:00 PM
	3 Carbs
	1 Meat

1 carbohydrate =12-15 grams
(1 starch, fruit or milk)

Sample Meal *

Breakfast	1 Slice whole wheat toast
	2 tbsp. peanut butter
	(omit fat if peanut butter)
	1 small orange

AM Snack	3/4 cups bran flakes
	1 cup low fat milk

Lunch	1 cup cooked rice
	2 oz baked chicken
	1 cup cooked collards
	1 tsp. margarine


PM Snack	3 squares graham crackers
	3/4 cup plain low fat yogurt vanilla added

Dinner	1 small potato, 1 ear corn
	4 oz. baked fish
	1 c steamed broccoli
	2 tbsp diet margarine

Bedtime Snack	1 cups low fat milk
	8-12 crackers
	1/4 c cottage cheese

We recommend 3-4 cups of low fat milk or substitutes, 1-3 fruits and 7-10 starch foods daily. Carbohydrate intake may be limited depending upon blood sugar control.

*Specific Individual diets should be approved by your health care provider. This information is provided for educational purposes only and cannot be used to plan individual dietary programs.

This information is not intended to substitute or replace the professional medical advice you receive from your physician. The content provided on this page is for informational purposes only, and was not designed to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease. Please consult your physician with any questions or concerns you may have regarding a medical condition.