The diabetic eating plan is already somewhat restrictive. Further limiting it by cutting calories is often the last thing that any would-be dieter would like to do. But dieting is easier than one might think. Many of the foods that are on the diabetic's list of approved meals are also the healthy things that you would want to eat on a diet restricted to 1,500 calories.
Include Snacks in Your Diet Plan
The most important thing to remember when cutting calories is to never go hungry. A hungry person is a person prone to make bad food choices. To avoid this, the key is to eat five to six smaller meals rather than three big meals every day. Between meal snacks don't have to be elaborate. You can plan no-calorie snacks such as carrot or celery sticks. For a protein-powered and flavorful kick, you can add two tablespoons of peanut butter or hummus, which is a much healthier option than drowning your veggies in ranch dressing. Other good snack options include low-fat cheese and whole grain crackers.
Watch Out for Carb-Laden Breakfasts
Of all the meals that you can eat in a day, breakfast has the most potential to make or break a diabetic's diet. That's because between the butter-laden pancakes dripping with syrup, hash browns and sugar-laden breakfast cereals, breakfast can be the most carb-laden meal of the day. For healthy alternatives at breakfast, try a cup of cottage cheese served with peaches that have been packed in their own juices. Another low-calorie alternative is an omelet made with egg whites, low-fat cheese and vegetables. For a fast, healthy breakfast, place slices of tomato on a wheat English muffin. Cover this with low-fat pepper jack or mozzarella cheese and a couple of strips of pre-cooked low-fat turkey bacon. Toast in the broiler for 5 minutes.
Turn Your Leftovers into Planned Overs
Lunch is typically a meal consumed on the go in the middle of a busy day, so it is frequently not elaborate. However, this is where fast food restaurants can get you into trouble. Instead, skip the takeout and have leftovers from dinner the previous night. This not only solves the 'what to eat' question, but also makes for a healthful midday meal. Some good dinner options that can be made in quantity for two meals include chicken breast or salmon grilled with Italian seasonings, steamed vegetables and a small quantity of brown rice.
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