Diabetic Cooking for Kids

In a child with diabetes, insulin is not produced or is not used correctly by the body. Diabetes in children may be managed with a combination of insulin, medication, diet and exercise. Cooking for a child with diabetes is easy with guidance from a medical team including a physician and dietitian.

Dietary Basics for Children with Diabetes

• According to the organization Kids Health, children with diabetes may eat many of the same healthy foods included in a typical child's diet, with special attention to the amount of carbohydrates ingested. Carbohydrates raise blood sugar levels, so they must be balanced with activity or medication to ensure that blood sugar levels remain even. The specific amount of carbohydrates required in a diabetic child's diet will be determined by a physician and dietitian. In general, a diabetic diet requires frequent meals and snacks, limited sugar and choosing complex carbohydrates over simple carbohydrates, according to Medline Plus.

Planning for Meals

• Meal plans may be obtained specifically from a medical team, depending on the needs of the diabetic child. In general, healthy foods should be used to build meals and snacks that provide a variety of nutrition throughout the day. Kids Health suggests a daily goal of obtaining 10 percent to 20 percent of calories from a lean protein, 25 percent to 35 percent of caloric intake from healthy fats and 50 percent from carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are best when they come from foods like whole grain breads, brown rice, produce and low fat dairy products. Added sugar should be limited in the diet, because it is preferred to obtain calories and carbohydrates from foods that offer the most nutrition. A healthy, balanced diet is appropriate for the entire family.

Specialized Meal Planning

• When consulting with a child's medical team, a specialized meal plan may be recommended. Some meal plans must be tailored for specific goals, like weight loss or increased activity for children who play sports. Meals may also need adjustment if a child takes insulin at specific times of the day or if the child is on an insulin pump.

  A dietitian may recommend a diabetes exchange meal plan. These plans categorize foods and allot a number from each group for each meal and snack. Each meal may include the following categories: dairy, fat, carbohydrate, meat, vegetable and fruit. Items within the diet may be exchanged as necessary, such as substituting a serving of milk for a serving of cheese for one dairy unit.

  Other specialized meal plans may require counting calories and carbohydrates to determine medication levels. A physician or dietitian may provide logs to keep track of food ingested, as well as pamphlets and other information.