Diabetes Diet Ideas for Kids

Creating a diet for a diabetic child doesn't have to be troublesome as long as you keep these crucial rules in mind: Closely monitor sugar and carbohydrate intake, eat plenty of fresh food and stay away from processed foods. Limit the amount of snacks, such as cookies and chips, your child consumes, and replace them with healthy snacks such as grapes, celery and almonds. By keeping your child on a scheduled meal plan, you are providing him with the best tools for a healthy life.

Limitations and Replacements

• Although eggs are part of a healthy breakfast, removing the egg yolk is important to keep your child's cholesterol in check. Purchase egg substitutes and limit the amount of weekly servings to one per week. Replace your current supply of food that contains white flour with whole wheat, as white flour is packed with carbohydrates that raises your child's blood glucose level. You can still have a spaghetti night; simply substitute your current pasta with whole-wheat pasta and replace the meatballs with turkey meat instead of beef.

Reduce Sugar Intake

• Carbonated drinks contain high fructose corn syrup, sucrose and fructose. All three ingredients push your child's blood sugar level up and should be limited if not avoided. Be wary of fruit juices, as they often contain high amounts of sugar and calories. Candy, desserts and cookies need to be taken in moderation as these sugary treats contribute to increase glucose levels. Read the nutrition label and check the food's total carbohydrates, since these carbs turn into sugar during digestion.

Keep a Meal Schedule

• Part of maintaining diabetes includes scheduling meals throughout the day to keep your blood sugar at a steady level. According to the American Diabetes Association, including carbohydrates in every meal lessens the possibility of sugar level spikes. Get into the habit of eating at a specific time, and be sure to include protein in your child's diet as it repairs and builds muscle.