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Dinner meal-planning: 7 diabetes-friendly ideas

What’s for dinner? If you’re like most people, dinner meal planning can be a challenge. You likely revert to the same few meals week after week and might find yourself in a bit of a rut. Our busy lives mean we spend less time on meal planning and cooking and turn to take-out meals more often. We created the following one week’s worth of meals and recipes that are anything but routine. We made sure to include at least one meatless meal and 2 fish meals as recommended for heart healthy eating.

Each of the meals below contains about 45-50 g net carbohydrate (total carb minus fibre). Depending on your goals and lifestyle, your calories and carbohydrates may need to be higher - adjust the portion sizes accordingly. Don’t forget to make a little extra so you can use the leftovers for the next day’s lunch.

Some meals like Salmon trout with zucchini, asparagus and tomato en papillot and Jewelled orchietti pasta with squash and chard have vegetables right in the main dish recipe so you don’t need to worry about cooking another vegetable to have on the side.

Bon appetit!

Day 1
1 serving Jewelled orchietti pasta with squash and chard
Nutritional values:
Carb 58g  Fibre 12g  Calories 404
Day 2
1 serving Mediterranean sea bass with sun dried tomato coulis
1.25 cups cooked couscous
Steamed green vegetable such as spinach, broccoli, or green beans
Nutritional values:
Carb 50g  Fibre 3g  Calories 483
Day 3
2 sticks Greek style chicken kebabs
1 cup cooked rice
1 serving Greek salad
Nutritional values:
Carb 50g  Fibre 2g  Calories 605
Day 4
1 serving Salmon Trout with zucchini, asparagus and tomato en papillot
1.25 cups cooked quinoa
Nutritional values:
Carb 60g  Fibre  10g  Calories 590
Day 5
1 Turkey and  white bean burger
1 tbsp ketchup
1 whole wheat burger bun
1 serving Perfect chopped salad
Nutritional values:
Carb 54g  Fibre 6g  Calories 560
Day 6
1 serving Fast and easy weekday chipotle chicken and black bean chili
1 cup cooked brown rice
Nutritional values:
Carb 58g  Fibre 9g  Calories 446
Day 7
1.5 cups Lentil and brown rice pilaf
1 serving Balsamic orange glazed chicken breast
Steamed green vegetable such as spinach, broccoli, or green beans
Nutritional values:
Carb 54g  Fibre 4g  Calories 485

About Joanne Lewis

Joanne Lewis, Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Educator, is the Director of Nutrition with Diabetes Canada where she is responsible for the development of diabetes education tools for healthcare professionals and people living with diabetes. She has nearly 20 years of experience as a registered dietitian and certified diabetes educator working in both hospital- and community-based programs. Ms Lewis has collaborated in the development and implementation of professional diabetes education programs and has presented at local, national and international conferences on a variety of diabetes and chronic disease related topics and has served as an advisor and reviewer for professional organizations and journals.