Are you listening to your food label?

Whether you are counting carbohydrates, are following the exchange diet, or you are on  the Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes (TLC) diet you can increase your chances for success  by reading your food labels and understanding what they mean.

Look at the serving size and compare that to the number of carbohydrates is in a serving.   Most servings of carbohydrates for a diabetic are 15 grams.  If one serving is higher than  15 grams you will have to eat less than the suggested serving size to stay on track with  your meal plan.

Sugar- Free or High Carbohydrates?

Sugar-free foods may grab your attention as something safe and yummy to add to your shopping cart. But look at the carbohydrate count first. Most foods that are made sugar- free using artificial sweeteners and sugar substitutes have higher carbohydrate counts.

Check the fat content too, look for a low percent of your daily intake and ideally it will be monounsaturated as opposed to polyunsaturated or saturated fats.