Diabetes and Pregnancy 
                                              Food Guide 
     
     
     
                                                                               
     
              Healthy Food Choices        Proper Portions    Good Timing       Balanced Eating 
     
                
                
                
                
                
                  
                  
     
     
               
                                             Table of Contents 
               How Food Affects Blood Sugar .............................................................................. 1 
               Carbohydrate Servings .......................................................................................... 2 
               My Meal Plan ........................................................................................................ 3 
               Daytime Snack Ideas ............................................................................................. 4 
               Bedtime Snack Ideas ............................................................................................. 4 
               A Well-Balanced Plate ........................................................................................... 5 
               My Everyday Checklist .......................................................................................... 6 
               My Weight Goal .................................................................................................... 6 
               Substituting Foods ................................................................................................ 7 
               Label Reading ........................................................................................................ 8 
               Why Is My Blood Sugar High? ............................................................................... 9 
               My Notes and Questions ..................................................................................... 10 
                
                                             Diabetes in Pregnancy Clinics 
               Abbotsford                                       New Westminster 
               Abbotsford Regional Hospital                     Royal Columbian Hospital 
               Cheam Wing, 4th Floor                            Room 3314 
               32900 Marshall Road                              330 East Columbia Street 
               Abbotsford                                       New Westminster 
               Dietitian: 604-851-4700 Ext 648269               Dietitian: 604-520-4488 
               Surrey                                            
               Jim Pattison Outpatient Care & Surgical Centre 
               Level 3A, Room 3009 
               9750 140 Street 
               Surrey 
               Dietitian: 604-582-4558 Local 764100 
                
                
               Note: This booklet contains general diet guidelines. They might be modified for 
                      you with specific instructions such as timing of meals. 
                                            Diabetes and Pregnancy Food Guide 
                             
                                                                         How Food Affects Blood Sugar 
                                       Carbohydrates                                                                                        Non-carbohydrates 
                                  Raises blood sugar                                                 Stabilizes blood sugar                                                  Minimal or no effect 
                       Bread, Tortillas,                                                                               Protein                                                           Vegetables  
                       Pita, Roti                                                             Beef                                                                 All non-starchy 
                                                                                              Pork                                                                 vegetables 
                                                                                                                                                                    
                       Pasta, Noodles                                                         Chicken 
                                                                                                                                                                   These are considered ‘free’ foods so 
                                                                                              Turkey                                                               if you are hungry add more 
                       Grains                                                                                                                                      vegetables to your diet.  
                       Rice, Quinoa,                                                          Fish                                                                  Aim for 5 or more servings per day.   
                       Oatmeal, Barley,                                                       Aim for 2-3 servings of                                               Variety is important. Try to eat 1 
                       Wheat                                                                  fatty fish/week                                                         green vegetable and 1 orange 
                                                                                              (Salmon, Sardines, Trout)                                               vegetable per day. 
                       Cereals                                                                                                                                                           Fats & Oils 
                                                                                              Eggs 
                       Crackers                                                                                                                                    Vegetable oil 
                                                                                              Cheese, cottage cheese                                               Butter/Margarine 
                       Fruit                                                                                                                                       Salad Dressings 
                                                                                              Plain Greek Yogurt*                                                  Avocado 
                                                                                                                                                                   Nuts and Seeds 
                       Starchy Vegetables                                                     Tofu                                                                 These foods contain a lot of calories 
                       Corn, Potato, Yams                                                                                                                          if eaten in large amounts. If you are 
                                                                                              Beans and Lentils*                                                   gaining weight too quickly, you 
                                                                                                                                                                   might need to eat less of these. 
                       Milk and Yogurt                                                        Edamame (Soy Beans) 
                                                                                                                                                                                          Beverages 
                                                                                              Peanut/Almond Butter 
                                                                                                                                                                   Water/Sparkling Water  
                       Poor Choices                                                           Nuts and Seeds                                                       Diet Pop/Drinks 
                             Sugar: white, brown, honey,                                                                                                          Black Coffee** 
                              maple syrup, agave, molasses                                                                                                         Clear Tea** 
                             Juices                                                                                                                               **Note:  Limit drinks with caffeine. 
                             Regular Pop                                                                                                                                          No more than 2 cups of 
                             Dried Fruit                                                     *Note:   Also contains                                                               coffee or 4 cups of strong 
                             Regular Jams                                                                    carbohydrates so will                                                tea a day 
                             Desserts                                                                        count towards your total 
                             Candy and Chocolate                                                             carbohydrate intake.                                                      Condiments 
                                                                                                                                                                   Herbs                    Lemon or lime juice 
                       See page 7 for better choices                                                                                                               Spices                   Soy sauce 
                                                                                                                                                                   Salt                     Vinegars 
                                                                                                                                                                   Pepper                   Mustard 
                                                                                                                                                                   Garlic                   Ginger 
                             Note:  Not enough is known about the effect of herbal medicines and herbal supplements on 
                                            pregnancy or breastfeeding. It is best not to take them at all. 
                                                                                          Diabetes and Pregnancy Food Guide 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                             1 
                 
                                               Carbohydrate Servings 
                                                 1 serving = 15 grams of carbohydrate1 
                            Fruits                                Starches                                 Milk 
                 Limit to 2 to 3 fruit servings    Choose whole grains                           Eat 4 servings of 
                 each day.                         (These will keep you full and give you a      calcium-rich foods or 
                 A fruit serving is equal to       better blood sugar result)                    take a calcium 
                 the size of your fist.                                                          supplement each day 
                 Eat one fruit at a time. 
                 No juices or dried fruit. 
                 Examples                          Examples                                      Examples 
                 1 medium apple                    1 slice of bread                              1 cup of milk 
                 1 medium orange                   3 stoned wheat crackers                       1 cup of soy milk 
                 1 medium pear                     2 rye crisp crackers                          ¾ cup of plain or Greek 
                 2 cups of blackberries            ½ English muffin                                  yogurt 
                 2 cups of strawberries            ½ pita (CD size) 
                 1 cup of blueberries              1 Tortilla (CD size) 
                 2 cups of raspberries             1 Roti (CD size) 
                 ½ cup of cherries                 ¼ bagel (¼of a CD) 
                 ½ cup of grapes                   ¼ naan bread (8 inch oval) 
                 2 medium kiwis                    ⅓cup of cooked rice 
                 2 medium plums                    ½ cup of cooked pasta 
                 ½ cup of mango                    ½ cup of cooked quinoa or other grain 
                 ½ of a banana                     ¾ cup of cooked oatmeal 
                 1 cup of melon                    ½ cup of potato 
                 1 large peach                     ½ cup of corn 
                 ¾ cup of pineapple                ½ cup of sweet potato (yam) 
                                                   3 cups of plain popped popcorn 
                            Read the Nutrition Facts label to decide the right serving size (See page 8). 
                  
                 My Preferred Foods 
                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                            
                                                                 
                 1
                   Canadian Diabetes Association (2006). Beyond the Basics 
                                                   Diabetes and Pregnancy Food Guide 
                                                                                                                             2