Gestational Diabetes Lunch Ideas for Your Effective Dietary Choices

Healthful Vitality | 08/26/2021 | By NP Team | Gestational Diabetes Lunch Ideas for Your Effective Dietary Choices.

Insulin resistance is on the rise. As a result, a greater number of women are getting diagnosed with gestational diabetes. However, pregnancy is a particular physiological state, a condition when one cannot compromise on nutrition or severely restrict calorie intake. Therefore, pregnant women need to eat wholesome meals to prevent becoming prangry (pregnant, hungry, and angry).

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is diabetes first diagnosed in the second or third trimester. If diabetes is found earlier, then it is most probably a case of undiagnosed type 2 diabetes. Whatever the situation, management of diabetes in pregnancy poses specific challenges and difficulties in making dietary choices.

Gestational Diabetes Lunch Ideas: Start by learning the basic rules of a diabetic diet

Here are some rules to follow to make healthy food choices for lunch:

• Consume foods naturally low in carbs, moderately high in fats, and rich in proteins (like poultry products, lean meat, fish).
• Eat complex carbs that take time to digest, thus have a low glycemic index.
• Eat small portions, but eat more frequently.
• Consume high-quality fats to fulfill energy needs.
• Consume lots of green vegetables and salad to fill your tummy.
• Drink plenty of water.

Gestational Diabetes Lunch Ideas: How you cook may also affect post-lunch glycemia

New studies are emerging showing that people with diabetes may sparingly consume high-carb products by cooking them differently or using specific strategies to reduce the impact of foods on blood glucose levels.

Potatoes are a rich source of carbs and are commonly consumed in the west. Frying potatoes in healthy oils may reduce their glycemic index. Similarly, cooling the baked or boiled potatoes, storing them for later consumption may even help reduce their glycemic index.

Similarly, wheat is moderately high in carbs. Excluding wheat products from food or lunch is a challenge. However, studies show that preparing pasta, storing it at low temperatures (like in the refrigerator), and then reheating it for consumption alters its glycemic index, making it a better food for people with diabetes.

Some lunch ideas for those diagnosed with gestational diabetes

As food preferences differ, it is vital to understand the concepts behind the right kind of diet for gestational diabetes. By understanding these principles, one can avoid compromising. All that is needed is some tweaking and learning a few new healthy recipes.

Here is the best way to fill a lunch plate:

• Start filling half of the plate with non-starchy vegetables of different colors like tomato, lettuce, spinach, carrot, eggplant, mushrooms.

• Next, one-fourth of the plate should contain protein-rich food items like skinless chicken, fish, tofu, beef, eggs, and even nuts.

• Now fill another fourth of the plate with foods rich in complex carbs like sweet potato, beans, pasta, rice.

Further, remember that though consuming fried items is safe for those with diabetes. However, it is still essential to count calories. Thus, make it a habit of adding oil using teaspoons when stir-frying to know the exact amount of oil going into the food items. If you still feel hungry, you can always increase the lunch portion by adding a can of lentils or beans, as they add bulk and are a good source of dietary fiber.