1,200-Calorie ADA Diet

Many people with diabetes believe they need to follow a special diet in order to be healthy. According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), however, people with diabetes can eat foods similar to people without, as long as they follow some simple guidelines. A 1,200 calorie diet using these guidelines is a low-calorie diet that may help you lose weight.

ADA Dietary Guidelines

The ADA takes an approach similar to the MyPlate system. Instead of measuring portion sizes, the ADA recommends dividing your plate into three sections.

Imagine a line right down the middle of your plate.
Fill one full side of the line with non-starchy vegetables such as broccoli, green beans, or leafy greens.
On the other side of the plate, imagine a line down the middle, dividing it into two small sections.
Fill one of these smaller parts with a starch such as potatoes, bread, or brown rice.
Fill the other part with meat, fish, poultry, or other lean proteins.
Add an 8 ounces of lowfat dairy or another small portion of carbs.
Add a small piece of fruit.

1,200 Calorie Meal Plan

This meal plan is based on the ADA recommendations, and adds up to around 1,200 calories per day. It is not endorsed or created by the ADA.

To follow the meal plans, select one each from breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snack to total around 1,200 calories per day.

Breakfast

Each of the following breakfasts has around 300 calories.

Food	Details/Instructions	Calories	Total
Egg white omelet with spinach and mushrooms 1/2 banana 1 slice whole wheat toast 8 ounces skim milk	Whisk together 3 egg whites. Spray a saute pan with nonstick. Cook 1 cup of spinach and 8 sliced button mushrooms in pan until softened. Pour egg whites over vegetables. Allow to cook until set.	70 65 77 80	292
Breakfast smoothie 1/2 cup oatmeal with cinnamon	Combine the following in a blender until smooth: 8 ounces skim milk 2 tablespoons chia seeds 1/2 cup frozen blueberries 1 cup raw kale 1 cup raw spinach 1 tablespoon cocoa powder A few drops of stevia or other non-caloric sweetener	217 83	300
Open face breakfast sandwich 1/2 cup fresh berries 6 ounces unsweetened nonfat plain Greek yogurt	For the breakfast sandwich: Toast 1/2 English muffin Spread with 1/4 avocado mashed with a squeeze of lemon juice. Add one slice Canadian bacon and a poached egg. Top with 1/4 tomato, chopped	214 40 90	344
Breakfast burrito 1 orange Coffee or tea	For the breakfast burrito: Spray a nonstick pan with cooking spray. Over medium heat, saute 1/2 chopped onion and 1 cup chopped zucchini until soft. Add 3 egg whites, whisked together, to the pan and scramble together. Add 1/4 cup salsa and cook until warmed through. Put egg mixture on top of a warmed 6" whole wheat tortilla. Sprinkle with one ounce fat-free cheese.	230 70	300
1/2 medium avocado, two tablespoons removed from center 1 egg 1 ounce shredded cheddar 1/2 grapefruit 1 piece whole wheat toast	Remove pit from avocado. Scoop a few spoonfuls from the center of the avocado to make the hole large enough to accommodate an egg. Crack the egg into a ramekin and carefully transfer it to the avocado. Bake at 425 for 15 to 20 minutes. Top with shredded cheddar and broil until cheese melts.	90 72 45 60 77	344

Lunch

Each lunch is around 400 calories.

Food	Details/Instructions	Calories	Total
Chef's salad	Combine 1 cup spinach, 1 cup arugula, and 1 cup romaine lettuce. Add 2 ounces of chopped roasted skinless chicken breast and one chopped hard-boiled egg. Add 5 cherry tomatoes, halved, 1 sliced carrot, and 1 sliced cucumber. Add 1/4 cup cooked quinoa. Toss and top with 4 tablespoons fat-free ranch dressing.	404	404
1 red pepper, sliced 1/2 cup zucchini, sliced 4 tablespoons prepared hummus 1 ounce pita chips 1 peach, sliced 6 ounces plain nonfat yogurt	Dip vegetable slices and pita chips in hummus. Top yogurt with sliced peaches.	46 10 108 130 40 82	406
Turkey rollups 1 ounce baked potato chips 1/2 banana	Layout six large pieces of kale. Top with six slices deli turkey. Mix six tablespoons of cream cheese with one teaspoon of horseradish and spread on top of each of the turkey slices. Place 1 cherry tomato, halved and 3 or 4 pieces of baby spinach on top of the cheese. Roll each piece of kale into a roll.	240 130 65	435
Taco salad 1/4 medium cantaloupe	Toss together: 2 cups shredded iceberg lettuce 3 ounces 93 percent lean ground beef, cooked 5 cherry tomatoes, halved 3 green onions, chopped 1 ounce baked corn tortilla chips Top with 1/4 cup prepared salsa combined with four ounces plain, fat-free Greek yogurt	371 50	421
Ham and veggie pita 8 ounces skim milk 1 apple	Spread 1/2 whole wheat pita with 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard Add 3 ounces turkey-ham, 1/4 cup chopped spinach, 5 sliced cherry tomatoes, and 1/2 cup spicy sprouts.	210 80 116	406

Dinner

Each of these dinners is around 400 calories.

Food	Details/Instructions	Calories	Total
3 ounces grilled salmon 2 cups steamed broccoli 1/2 baked sweet potato topped with 6 ounces plain, nonfat yogurt 1 teaspoon sriracha	Combine sriracha and yogurt before topping potato.	175 35 60 90 25	385
Chicken lettuce wraps 1 cup watermelon chunks 8 ounces skim milk	Select three large pieces of romaine lettuce. Roast 3 ounces of skinless chicken breast. Toss with 2 tablespoons soy sauce mixed with 1/4 teaspoon grated ginger. Steam 1/4 cup brown rice. Chop four scallions and julienne 1 large peeled carrot. Divide chicken, vegetables, and rice among three lettuce leaves. Top with 1/2 cup bean sprouts, divided evenly, and roll like a burrito. As you eat it, use 3 tablespoons sweet chili sauce as a dip.	325 20 80	425
3 ounces grilled shrimp Couscous with peppers 2 cups green beans	To make couscous: Heat one tablespoon olive oil in a pan. Add 1 red pepper, chopped, and 1/2 onion, chopped. Add 1/2 cup cooked couscous.	101 269 44	414
Open-face hamburger 1 cup steamed spinach 1/2 medium pear	For the hamburger: Heat 1/2 tablespoon of olive oil in a pan. Saute 1/2 onion, sliced, and 1/2 cup mushrooms, sliced. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Toast one slice of whole wheat bread Top with a 3 ounce patty made from 93 percent lean ground beef, and 1 slice fat free cheddar. Top hamburger with onions and mushrooms.	312 30 50	392
3 ounces grilled halibut 1 cup steamed carrots 1/2 medium potato, baked 1 ounce shredded fat-free cheddar 1/4 cup plain, non-fat yogurt 1/4 medium honeydew melon	Top potato with fat-free cheddar and plain yogurt. Season with salt and pepper.	119 54 65 45 27 110	420

Snacks

Choose one 100-calorie snack per day.

Food	Details/Instructions	Calories	Total
Ham wrapped honeydew	Remove rind from one 1/4 inch wedge of honeydew melon and cut in half. Wrap each wedge with one thin slice of deli ham.	100	100
1/2 ounce almonds	Raw almonds are a great way to get healthy fats.	84	84
1/2 small jicama, sliced 1/2 cup salsa	Dip jicama slices in salsa.	70 30	100
1/4 medium avocado	Slice avocado	80	80
1 artichoke, steamed Dipping sauce	For the dipping sauce combine: 4 tablespoons fat-free mayo 1/4 teaspoon lemon juice 1/8 teaspoon minced garlic	64 40	104

Staying Healthy

One of the best ways to manage your diabetes is by eating a variety of healthy foods, with vegetables making up the bulk of the foods you eat. Always talk to your doctor before starting a new diet. By eating according to ADA guidelines and limiting calories to 1200, you may be able to lose weight while managing your diabetes.