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Dietary Exchanges

Bread/Starch  - Vegetable - Fruit - Protein - Milk - Fat - Free - Other Carbohydrate 

Bread/Starch Group<bread/starch>
Each food in this group supplies approximately 15g carbohydrate, 3g protein and 80 calories.  Some vegetables that are very starchy are in this group instead of the vegetable group.  I was very rebellious about this idea to begin with, but I have come to accept it as a necessary part of following the exchange plan. 

The following items are equal to 1 Bread/Starch exchange:

Breads

1 ounce slice of whole wheat bread

1 ounce whole grain roll

3 tablespoons whole wheat bread crumbs

1/2 a whole wheat English Muffin

1 ounce whole wheat pita bread, 6-inches

1 small whole wheat flour tortilla, 6-inches

2 small corn tortillas

2 crisp taco shells

2 slices high fiber, reduced-calorie bread

1 reduced calorie, high fiber hamburger or hot dog bun

.

.

Cereals

1-1/2 cups puffed brown rice or whole wheat or kasha or millet

3/4 cup of unsweetened cold cereals

1/4 cup Grape Nuts

1/2 cup cooked oatmeal

1/4 cup dry oatmeal or oat bran

1/2 cup cooked white or yellow grits

3 tablespoons dry white or yellow grits

2 tablespoons of Farina or Cream of Wheat

1 large shredded wehat biscuit or 1/2 cup of the smaller type

1/2 cup bran cereal

3 tablespoons wheat germ

6 tablespoons raw wheat bran

Grains & Pastas

3 tablespoons bleached or unbleached white flour

3 tablespoons whole wheat flour

3 tablespoons self-rising flour

3 tablespoons bread flour

3 tablespoons rye flour

1/2 cup cooked wild rice

1/3 cup cooked brown rice

1/3 cup cooked white rice

1/2 cup cooked wheat berries

1/2 cup cooked bulgur

1/3 cup cooked barley

1-1/2 tablespoons dry barley

1/2 cup cooked cornmeal

3 tablespoons dry cornmeal

1/2 cup cooked whole wheat macaroni

1/2 cup cooked whole wheat egg noodles

1/2 cup cooked whole wheat spaghetti

1 oz (dry) whole wheat lasagna (1 average noodle)

1/4 cup millet

1/3 cup couscous

Starchy Vegetables

1/2 cup mashed potatoes

4 ounces raw potato

1/2 cup sweet potatoes (with no added sugar)

1/2 cup corn

1 small corn on the cob (6-inches long)

1/2 cup peas

1/2 cup lima beans

1/3 cup baked beans

Snacks

3 cups plain, air-popped popcorn

3 square whole wheat graham crackers

6 saltine crackers

3/4 ounce baked potato chips

3/4 ounce baked tortilla chips

3/4 ounce pretzles

24 oyster crackers

4 rye crisp crackers (Wasa)

2 rice cakes, any flavor

1 cup low-fat croutons

5 reduced fat Triscuits

8 animal crackers

3/4 oz whole wheat matzoh

The following items are equal to 1/2 Protein exchange and 1 Bread/Starch exchange.

1/2 cup cooked dry beans (kidney, pinto, etc.)

1/2 cup cooked dry lentils or split peas

Vegetable Group<vegetable>
Items from the vegetable group contain approximately 25 calories, 2g protein and 5g of carbohydrates.  Be sure to eat at least 4 servings of vegetables everyday.  The measurements apply to cooked, raw, canned or frozen vegetables, unless otherwise stated.

The following items are equal to 1 Vegetable exchange:

1/2 cup artichokes

1/2 cup asparagus

1/2 cup green beans

1 cup fresh bean sprouts

1/2 cup beets

1/2 cup broccoli

1/2 cup Brussels sprouts

1 cup raw shredded cabbage

1/2 cup cooked cabbage

1/2 cup carrots

1/2 cup cauliflower

1 cup celery

1 cup sliced cucumbers

1/2 cup cooked egg plant

1/2 cup green onions or scallions

1/2 cup cooked greens (collards, turnip, etc.)

1 cup raw greens

1/2 cup cooked mushrooms

1 cup raw mushrooms

1/2 cup okra

1/2 cup chopped onions

1/2 cup pea pods

1/2 cup bell peppers

1 cup radishes

1 cup salad greens 

1 cup lettuce

1/2 cup sauerkraut

1/2 cup cooked spinach

1 cup raw spinach

1/2 cup summer squash

1/2 cup tomatoes

1/2 cup tomato sauce

1/2 cup tomato or vegtable juice

1/2 cup turnips or rhudabagas

1/2 cup zucchini

1/2 cup water chestnuts or bamboo shoots

Fruit Group <fruit>
Each food in the Fruit Group supplies your diet with 15g carbohydrate and 60 calories. 

The following items are equal to 1 Fruit exchange:

1 small apple

1/2 cup apple juice

1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce

4 fresh apricots

8 dried apricot halves

1/2 a large banana

3/4 cup  blackberries

3/4 cup blueberries

1/3 of a cantaloupe or 1 cup cubed cantaloupe

12 sweet cherries

1/3 cup canned low-sugar pie filling

1/2 cup canned sugar-free pie filling

1-1/2 cups reduced-calorie cranberry juice

3 dates

1-1/2 figs

1/2 cup canned unsweetened fruit cocktail

1/3 cup mixed fruit juice

1/3 cup grape juice (white or purple)

1/2 a grapefruit

1/2 cup grapefruit juice

3/4 cup grapefruit pieces

17 small grapes

1 cup cubed honeydew melon

2 small or 1 large kiwi

3/4 cup canned mandarin oranges

1 nectarine

1 orange

1/2 cup orange juice

1 peach

1/2 cup canned unsweetened peaches

1/2 large pear

1/2 cup canned unsweetened pears

1/2 cup canned unsweetened pineapple

1/2 cup pineapple juice

2 mall plums

3 prunes

2 tablespoons raisins

1 cup raspberries

1-1/4 cups strawberries

2 small tangerines

1-1/4 cups watermelon

.2 tablespoons dried, sweetened cranberries (Craisins)

1 tablespoon all-fruit jelly or jam

.

Protein Group <protein>
Each food with in this group contains approximately 55 calories and 3g fat.  These are referred to as lean meats.  Meats with a higher fat content will “cost” a protein exchange plus 1/2 to 1 fat exchange.  

The following items are equal to 1 Protein exchange:

1 ounce cooked or canned fish 

1 ounce cooked shell fish (clams, shrimp, crab, etc.)

1 ounce cooked chicken, light or dark meat

1 ounce cooked turkey, light or dark meat

1 ounce cooked lean beef, all visible fat removed

1 ounce cooked, drained & rinsed regular ground beef

1 ounce cooked extra-lean ground beef (10% fat)

1 ounce canned or cooked lean ham

1 ounce cooked lean pork, all visible fat removed

1 ounce cooked lean lamb, all visible fat removed

1 ounce liver, heart or kidneys

1/4 cup canned tuna packed in water

1 ounce reduced fat luncheon meat

1/4 cup cottage cheese, any type

1 ounce 97% lean lunch meat; ham, turkey etc.

2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese

2 ounces fat-free cream cheese

3 egg whites

1/4 cup egg substitute

1 ounce 95% fatfree frankfurter

1 ounce reduced fat smoked sausage

1 ounce cooked ground turkey

1 ounce Canadian Bacon

The following items are equal to 1 Protein exchange plus 1/2 Fat exchange:

1 ounce cooked corned beef, all visible fat removed

1 ounce lean ground beef (15 - 20% fat)

4 ounces tofu; 1/2 cup

1/4 cup tempeh

1 egg, any size

1/4 cup part skim ricotta cheese

1 ounce part skim mozzarella cheese (1/4 cup shredded)

1 ounce 2% milk hard cheese like cheddar (1/4 cup shredded)

1/4 cup canned salmon

1 ounce hot dog (3g of fat per ounce)

1 ounce chicken or turkey bologna or salami (1 slice)

1 ounce cooked lean turkey sausage

The following items are equal to 1 Protein exchange and 1 Fat exchange:

1 ounce or 1/4 cup shredded hard cheese (Cheddar, Swiss, Colby, American, etc.)

1 tablespoon peanut butter (sugar-free prefered)

1 ounce cooked & drained pork sausage

3 slices turkey bacon


1 ounce Neufchatel Light Cream Cheese

The following items are equal to 1/2 Protein exchange and 1 Bread/Starch exchange:

1/2 cup cooked dry beans (kidney, pinto, etc.)

1/2 cup cooked dry lentils or split peas

Milk Group <milk>
The foods in this group supply 90 calories, 12g carbohydrate, 8g protein and less than 3g fat per listed serving. 

The following items are equal to 1 Milk exchange:

1/3 cup instant nonfat dry milk powder

1 cup reconstituted dry milk

1/4 cup nonfat buttermilk powder

1/2 cup evaporated skim milk

1 cup fresh skim milk

1 cup fresh 1% milk

1 cup plain nonfat yogurt, homemade or purchased

1 cup nonfat buttermilk

1/2 cup fat-free cottage cheese (this can also be 2 Protein exchanges)

6 to 8 ounces artificially sweetened fruit-flavored nonfat yogurt

1 dairy shake, sugar-free (Alba, not Slim-Fast)

2 packets sugar-free hot cocoa (1 packet would be 1/2 a Milk exchange)

The following items are equal to 1 Milk exchange and 2 Fat exchanges:

1 cup whole milk or buttermilk or yogurt

1/2 cup evaporated whole milk

Fat Group <fat>
Fat exchanges contain 5g fat and 45 calories each.  By choosing reduced fat versions of common items like margarine, butter and mayonnaise, you can stretch out your fats to cover more territory.    

The following items are equal to 1 Fat exchange:

1/8 of an avocado (1 ounce)

1 teaspoon bacon grease

1 slice bacon

1 teaspoon margarine

2 teaspoon whipped margarine or butter

2 tablespoons shredded unsweetened coconut

1 tablespoon cream cheese

1 tablespoon heavy cream

2 tablespoons half & half

1 teaspoon lard

1 teaspoon margarine

1 tablespoon reduced fat margarine

1 teaspoon regular mayonnaise

1 tablespoon reduced fat mayonnaise

1 teaspoon oil (any type)

2 teaspoons peanut butter

1 tablespoon commercial salad dressing

2 tablespoons reduced fat salad dressing

1 teaspoon vegetable shortening

2 tablespoons sour cream

8 to 10 large olives (green or black)

2 teaspoons Tahini

1/2 tablespoon 70% Vegetable Oil Spread

.

Free Exchanges<free>
Free foods have less than 20 calories and less than 5g carbohydrates each.  You don’t have to add them towards your exchanges. If a food has a specified serving size, limit yourself to 3 or 4 of these total, spread throughout the day.  This doesn’t mean you can eat 3 servings of sugar-free jelly and 3 tablespoons of fat-free mayonnaise, and 3/4 cup of salsa.  It does mean that you can have one serving of each of these items throughout the day.  Combined, they would add up to 3 servings total. Foods without a serving size listed, can be consumed as often as you like.

The following items are equal to 1 Free exchange:

1/2 cup unsweetened rhubarb

1/2 cup unsweetened cranberries

1 tablespoon fat-free cream cheese

2 teaspoons powdered creamer

1 tablespoon fat-free mayonnaise

Non-stick cooking spray

1 tablespoon fat-free salad dressing

2 tablespoons fat-free Italian salad dressing

1/4 cup salsa

1 tablespoon  Nonfat Sour Cream

2 tablespoons Whipped Topping

1 sugar-free hard candy

Sugar-Free or Unflavored Gelatin

Sugar-Free Jam or Jelly

2 tablespoons sugar-free syrup

Sugar Substitutes & Artificial Sweeteners

bouillon cubes & broth powders

1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder

Regular or Decaffeinated Coffee

Regular or Decaffeinated Tea

1 tablespoon Soy Bacon Bits

Sugar-Free Tang

1 tablespoon Barbecue sauce

2 tablespoons Sugar-Free Syrup

Diet soda pop

Sugar-Free Fruit Drink Mixes

1 tablespoon Ketchup

horseradish

lemon juice

lime juice

mustard

soy sauce

hot sauce

vinegar

garlic

Worcestershire Sauce

herbs & spices

pimiento

flavorings 7 extracts

sugar-free pickles

alfalfa sprouts

cabbage

green onions

lettuce

parsley

celery

cucumbers

mushrooms

radishes

spinach

zucchini

pimiento

Other Carbohydrates<othercarbs>
The main purpose of this exchange group is to give your diet greater flexibility.  Other carbohydrates are usually made up of sugar. Each exchange in this group must be used to replace a Bread/Starch exchange.  Foods in this group are not as nutritious or healthy as the Bread/Starch exchanges they replace.  For this reason I recommend you limit yourself to one per day.  Remember, you must omit one of your Bread/Starch exchanges, whenever you use the Other Carbohydrate exchange.

The following items are equal to 1 Other Carbohydrate exchange:

1 cup Sugar-free canned Spaghetti Sauce (Hunts Brand & others) 1/2 cup has less than 45 calories.

1 cup Reconstituted (prepared with water): chicken noodle, tomato, vegetable beef, & reduced fat cream soups

1 tablespoon White Sugar

1 tablespoon Brown Sugar

2 tablespoons Powdered Sugar

1 tablespoon regular Jam or Jelly

1 tablespoon Molasses

1 tablespoon Honey

2 tablespoons Low Sugar Preserves, Jam or Jelly

2 tablespoons Reduced Calorie Pancake Syrup

1 tablespoon regular pancake syrup

1 tablespoon real maple syrup

1 tablespoon granulated fructose

1 tablespoon Sucanat sweetener

The following item is equal to 1/2 a Milk exchange and 1/2 an Other Carbohydrate exchange.

1/2 cup sugar-free instant pudding,  prepared with reconstituted non-fat dry milk or skim milk

The following item is equal to 1/2 a Milk exchange and 1 Other Carbohydrate exchange.

1/2 cup regular instant pudding,  prepared with reconstituted non-fat dry milk or skim milk

These exchange lists are based on the Diabetic Exchange Plan produced by the American Diabetes Association.  There may be one or two small discrepencies due to typos or updates in the official plan.  Be sure to check with your doctor or dietician before following any eating plan, especially if you have been diagnosed with diabetes, insulin resistance or any other medical concern.


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GFCF = Gluten Free & Casein Free

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 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.  Use hospitality one to another without grudging.  As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.--1 Peter 4:8-10