Diabetic Diet Plan & Recipes

This healthy 7 Day 1,200-calorie weight-loss Diabetic Diet Plan & Recipes makes it easy to balance your blood sugar.

How do you get all the nutrition you need in a day while still being mindful of calories and carbs? The secret is to plan ahead.

Meal planning depends on lots of things, like your taste preferences, medications, and activity level, says Jill Weisenberger, RDN, CDE, author of Diabetes Weight Loss -- Week by Week.

But good general advice to follow is to keep your carbs consistent - eat the same amount at breakfast, lunch, and dinner to keep blood sugar from spiking or dipping too low. Weisenberger recommends 45 grams as a target for the three main meals of the day. "If you go lower than 30 grams at a meal, it's going to be really hard to get all the nutrients you need, such as fiber and phytochemicals," the health-boosting nutrients in fruits and vegetables

The simple meals and snacks in this 7-day meal plan feature some of the best foods for diabetes: complex carbohydrates (think whole grains and fresh fruits and vegetables), lean protein and healthy fats. We limited refined carbohydrates (like white bread, white pasta and white rice) as well as added sugars, which can spike your blood sugar quickly. We've also cut back on saturated fats and sodium, as they can negatively impact your health if you eat too much. What we definitely didn't skimp on is flavor. The meals and snacks in this diet plan feature fresh ingredients and plenty of herbs and spices that add flavor without adding extra sodium. You can plan to eat well over the course of this weekly meal plan.

Managing blood sugar levels is key to living well with diabetes and avoiding some of its complications. Maintaining a healthful diet can help.