May 29, 2009

Health Tip: Eating Out With a Diabetic Child

(HealthDay News) -- It's easy to monitor what your diabetic child eats at home when you're the one preparing the meals. But it gets trickier when the family eats at a restaurant.

The American Academy of Family Physicians offers these suggestions for dining out with a diabetic child:

• Ask questions about what's in a particular menu item, and how it's cooked.
• Ask for healthier substitutions. For example, swap out fries for a salad or vegetable.
• Look for dishes that are grilled, steamed, broiled or baked instead of fried.
• Skip high-fat salad dressings, sauces and gravies.
• Split a large dish with your child to limit portion size, or box up half and take it home.
• Teach your child how to make healthy decisions by involving the child in the ordering process.

-- Diana Kohnle

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