To give you an idea of what a planned day of meals and snacks might look like, a sample menu for one day is presented here. This gestational diabetes sample menu was designed for a woman who weighed between 130 and 135 pounds before becoming pregnant and developing gestational diabetes.

The menu shown here may not be the right menu for you — this menu is not meant to take the place of your healthcare provider’s advice on menus and meal plans. Talk with your healthcare provider after looking at this menu for more specific information about the right meal plan for you.

Gestational Diabetes Sample Menu: Breakfast

Hard boiled egg, toast, grapes, and milk:

* 1 egg, hard-boiled
* 1 slice whole-wheat bread
* 1 tsp. canola-based, trans-fat-free margarine
* 1/3 pound grapes (any kind)
* 12 fluid ounces nonfat skim milk

Fat: 11 g; calories: 394; protein: 22 g;
Total carbohydrate 56 g;
Exchanges: 1.3 fat; 1.3 milk; 1.6 fruit; 0.8 meat; 0.8 bread

Gestational Diabetes Sample Menu: Mid-Morning Snack

Half a peanut butter and jelly sandwich with milk:

* 1 slice whole-wheat bread
* 1 Tbsp. peanut butter (smooth or chunky)
* 1 Tbsp. reduced-sugar jelly or reduced-sugar jam
* 8 fluid ounces nonfat skim milk

Fat: 9.7 g; calories: 276; protein: 14.5 g
Grams carbohydrate: 3.6 g
Exchanges: 0.5 other carbohydrates; 1.6 fat; 0.9 milk ; 0.4 meat; 0.8 bread

Gestational Diabetes Sample Menu: Lunch

Cheese, tomato, and black bean pita with milk:

* 1 large whole-wheat pita
* 1/2 cup cooked black beans
* 1/2 cup fresh tomato (chopped)
* 1 ounce low-fat sharp cheddar cheese (shredded)
* 1 Tbsp. salsa
* 2 tsp. olive oil

Blend the last five ingrediants and place inside the pita. Serve with 8 fluid ounces nonfat skim milk.

Fat: 17.7 g; calories: 547; protein: 29.2 g
Grams carbohydrate: 71 g
Exchanges: 2.8 fat; 0.9 milk; 0.5 vegetable; 1.0 meat; 3.4 bread

Gestational Diabetes Sample Menu: Mid-Afternoon Snack

Apple and peanut butter:

* 1 medium apple with peel, cored and sliced
* 1 Tbsp. peanut butter (smooth or chunky)
* 12 fluid ounces nonfat skim milk

Fat: 9.2 g; calories: 295; protein: 15.8 g
Grams carbohydrate: 41 g
Exchanges: 1.6 fat; 1.3 milk; 1.3 fruit; 0.4 meat

Gestational Diabetes Sample Menu: Dinner

Grilled chicken with pineapple, rice, and green beans:

* 3-ounce chicken breast (boneless/skinless, raw)
* 4 ounces pineapple rings, canned in juice
* 1 Tbsp. sesame seeds, toasted
* 1 Tbsp. sesame oil, dark
* 2 tsp. soy sauce, low-sodium
* 1/2 cup green beans, cooked
* 1/4 cup instant rice, uncooked
* 1 tsp. cornstarch
* 1/4 pound fresh strawberries

Preparation

What Is a Diabetic Diet? Vegetables Diabetic Diet Diabetic Diet and the Sweet Tooth Diabetes Food Pyramid? Healthy Eating for Diabetics Recipes for Diabetes Gestational Diabetes Diet Gestational Diabetes Sample Menu

Place chicken breast in shallow container; combine 1/2 pineapple juice, toasted sesame seeds, sesame oil, cornstarch, and soy sauce in bowl; pour over chicken breast. Place half the rings from the pineapple over the chicken.

Refrigerate 1 hour or overnight.

Remove chicken and pineapple from marinade and discard marinade; grill or broil chicken breast and pineapple until cooked through (turning as needed). Cook rice as indicated on package. Prepare green beans as indicated on package.

Serve with strawberries for dessert.

Fat: 16.2 g; calories: 523; protein: 23 g
Grams carbohydrate: 60 g
Exchanges: 2.4 lean meat; 2.8 fat; 1.8 vegetable; 1.8 fruit;1.1 bread

Gestational Diabetes Sample Menu: Daily Totals

Total fat: 71.3g; total calories: 2,100; total protein: 104.1g
Grams carbohydrate: 164 g
Exchanges: 10.1 fat, 4.2 milk, 4.7 fruit, 5.1 bread, 2.6 meat, 2.4 lean meat, 2.3 vegetable, 0.5 other carbohydrates

Gestational Diabetes Sample Menu: “Free” Food and Snack Options

“Free” foods are those that have fewer than 20 calories. You can often eat free foods without having to account for them in your meal plan. Water is considered a “free” food; you can drink as much water as you want. In fact, most healthcare providers recommend that you drink a lot of water when you are pregnant.

These “free” foods and drinks include certain:

* Raw vegetables
* Drinks
* Condiments
* Seasonings.

Raw Vegetables

You can have up to 2 cups of these “free” raw vegetables without having to count the calories or carbohydrates into your meal plan.

These raw vegetables include:

* Celery
* Cucumber
* Endive
* Mushrooms
* Peppers
* Radishes
* Spinach
* Cabbage (all varieties)
* Lettuces (all varieties).

Drinks

You can count 8 fluid ounces of these sugar-free or unsweetened drinks as one snack:

* Club soda
* Carbonated or mineral water
* Broth, bouillon, or consommes (also the low-salt varieties).

You should also drink a lot of water while you are pregnant with

Condiments

You can use the following in your meal plan, in the amounts listed:

* Catsup (1 tablespoon)
* Fat-free cream cheese (1 tablespoon)
* Horseradish
* Fat-free mayonnaise (1 tablespoon)
* Fat-free margarine (1 tablespoon)
* Reduced-fat margarine (1 teaspoon)
* Mustard
* Non-stick cooking spray
* Fat-free salad dressing (1 tablespoon)
* Salsa (1/4 cup)
* Fat-free or reduced-fat sour cream (1 tablespoon)
* Soy sauce (light),
* Taco sauce (1 tablespoon)
* Vinegar
* Worcestershire sauce.

Seasonings

Use these items to season your foods without adding condiments. Serving size for these seasonings is 2 to 3 dashes:

* Garlic
* Herbs (dried or fresh)
* Flavoring agents
* Pimento
* Spices
* Tabasco or hot pepper sauce.

Source: Kraft Foods Diabetic Choices Daily Recipes , 2002; also Treating Diabetes with Good Nutrition, Diabetic Meal Plans, MediConsult.com, Inc. 2000.