Food Exchange Lists for Weight Loss

Food exchange lists are an important tool for those who are concerned about their diet because of medical conditions such as diabetes. People seeking to lose weight can also use food exchange lists to make healthier food choices.

History

• Food exchange lists were introduced by the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and other health organizations. According to the Diets in Review web site, the groups came up with the lists in the 1950s as a simple and understandable way to help diabetics control their diets.

Function

• A food exchange list divides foods into categories such as fruits, starches, proteins and vegetables. Each category includes appropriate serving sizes for each food it contains. One serving of any food in a category is considered "equal" to a serving of any other food in that category, so that a person can 'exchange' any one food in the category for another.

Benefits

• Food exchange lists are designed to help people select healthier foods, Although the lists were originally intended for diabetics, categories such as "lean protein" and "fat free and 'very low-fat' milk" can help anyone reduce unneeded fats and calories from his diet.

Considerations

• Because exchange lists are not specifically intended for weight loss, a person may need to do further research to help him determine which foods on a list will help in that regard, as well as select healthful foods that don't appear on an exchange list.

Warnings

• Diets in Review recommends that anyone wishing to start a food exchange list consult a dietitian, who can help a person determine the number of servings from each category can help him meet his individual needs and goals.