Patient was educated on foods to avoid on a healthy meal as follows:
- Avoid or minimize food choices with added sugar such as, regular soft & energy drinks, sweet rolls, cookies, candy, pies, pastries, donuts, fruit punch, and ice creams. Consider using low calorie sweeteners, such as, Sweet N Low and aspartame, versus regular sugar, for your coffee and tea. Using low fat milk over regular whole milk can to cut on calorie consumption.
- Avoid or minimize food choices with added salt, as high salt consumption can result in poor BP control and compromised heart function. Avoid or minimize canned foods and boxed meals, as salt is added as a preservative. Avoid or minimize meats high in salt content, such as, sausage, ham and pork. Prefer low sodium alternatives with soups, sauces, and cheese versus regular. Avoid or minimize baked products high in salt content, such as, pretzels, pizza, and tortillas. Avoid having the salt shaker on your dinner table.
- Choosing freshly squeezed lemonade, sparkling water, kombucha, or diet soda against regular soda can help with meeting requirements for limitations on calorie intake.
- For dessert, you can depend on having some fresh fruit, such as, peach, plum, grapes, apple, banana, and pineapple. Apart from serving a good choice for dessert, fruit can also be good source for fiber, essential minerals, and other nutrients. Preferring desserts having honey, gelatin, pudding, or jam over cream-based cookies and cakes can help additional calorie intake control. Choosing low fat yogurt or low-fat ice cream over regular whole fat and avoiding milk and milk products with enriched fat can also help.
