A Meal Plan for Pregnant Women with Diabetes
It's important for you to be on a specific diet to get adequate nutrition from the foods that you consume. Since your body becomes deficient or resistant to insulin, a proper diet is necessary that could bring down the blood glucose level. The diet plan basically restricts or eliminates consumption of carbohydrates or glucose in any form. A sample of such a diet is explained below.
Breakfast
The nutritional requirement of your body is definitely high when you are pregnant. Thus, you have to wisely increase the calories consumed by you. Make a 2500 meal plan with the help of healthy foods. In the morning, have a glass of skimmed milk stirred with prenatal protein powders. Buy a product that has been recommended by your doctor. Have two slices of whole wheat brown bread spread with margarine or peanut butter. Consumption of whole wheat pasta, oats and cornflakes in small quantities is safe because they contain simple carbohydrates. White bread, white flour and refined sugar is strictly restricted from the meal plan of women who are pregnant with diabetes and high blood pressure. Sugar replacement agents like Splenda is safe for consumption in moderate quantities. A healthy option for breakfast is scrambled eggs (white portion) and a banana.
Lunch
Your lunch should comprise foods rich in proteins, vitamins and minerals. During pregnancy, it's normal for you to suffer from incredible hunger pangs and so keep the option open for preparing healthy recipes that are low in fats. Your gestational diabetes meal plan will mostly contain fruits and vegetables. Increase consumption of green vegetables like spinach, cabbage, broccoli, etc. You can prepare tasty dishes by baking or grilling them. Cook foods in nut oils or extra virgin olive oil. If you are fond of non-veg dishes then treat yourself with chicken, fish, turkey, ham and beef. Include a plate of salad containing tofu, soy beans, pulses, peas and vegetables. Apples, guava, pears, prunes, oranges and sweet lime, cantaloupe, berries, and melon are some examples of fruits that are devoid of sugar.
Dinner
Keep you dinner light and have liquid food in the evening. Prepare delicious soup bowls from pulses, lentils, vegetables and broth. Such dishes have a high protein content and are healthy. Your blood glucose level will be controlled very efficiently if you consume these foods. Include soy and whey in your diet. Make whole wheat tortillas for dinner and eat in small portions. You can alternate with veg and non-veg meals for dinner. Inclusion of all these foods would definitely make for the 2500 calorie plan. A few healthy recipes for dinner include sugar free apple muffins, turkey sandwich, grilled chicken, lettuce soup and mixed vegetable dish. Use minimal oil to cook the foods and make sure that your cooking oil is devoid of saturated fatty acids. Drink fresh fruit juices. End your day with a glass of warm skimmed milk.
The meal plan for diabetic pregnant women explained in this article would prove beneficial to you for maintaining your blood glucose level. You have to control your hunger pangs for sugary foods like jelly, jam, chocolates, candies, cookies, pies and cakes. However, you can look for these items tagged with 'for diabetic pregnant women' in health and wellness stores since they are sugar free. White rice and sweetened beverages are absolutely not safe. Eat popcorn, puffed rice and nuts for snacks. Thus, you can see that consumption of sugar is strictly not allowed in any form. Follow this diet plan to stay fit during pregnancy.
