Eating Out & Party Planning

Everybody likes to eat out now and then. Sometimes there's no other option. How can you make sure your child is not blowing her meal plan when she goes to a sit-down or drive-thru restaurant? Believe it or not, it can be done. She can stick to her meal plan and eat healthfully at most restaurants. Here are a few tips to get started.

• Skip the fries and go with a salad for a side dish
  

• The best main course bets are going to be roasted, baked, broiled, or grilled poultry, fish, or seafood. Or look for vegetable dish, like vegetable lasagna or a grilled vegetable sandwich
  

• Avoid fat-filled condiments like mayonnaise, tartar sauce, and sour cream. Opt for lower-fat versions, if available, or try something else
  

• Gravy and other sauces can be served on the side
  

• Take it easy on the breadbasket (should be counted in meal plan)
  

• If your child wants something sweet for dessert, scan the sides or kids' menu for something like applesauce or a fruit salad. Low-fat frozen yogurt makes a great dessert as well (Your child's doctor or dietitian can usually help figure out how to work a scoop of ice cream into your child's meal plan without too many hassles. Stick to just one scoop and avoid the hot fudge sauce and caramel topping.)
  

• Look for the "nutritional facts" brochures in fast food restaurants. Many have these now, and they'll usually tell you the carb counts for every item on the menu. If you don't see one out, ask
  

• Get the facts. Need additional help? Try the American Diabetes Association's Guide to Healthy Restaurant Eating
  

• Whether your child is craving burgers, pizza, tacos, or bagels, this book has all the facts you need to make healthy decisions before you order.
  

Party Planning

Your child doesn't have to give up parties or birthday cake because of diabetes. But you both need to plan for those extra treats.

Before you can plan, you need to know what will happen at the party. What kind of snacks will be served? When will the kids eat? What other activities are planned? Depending on age, you or your child can ask these questions of the party's host (or the host's parents).

Your child has several options as you and she plan for the event. You may opt to increase her insulin dose slightly that day. Or she could exercise a little more than usual. If the party includes exercise (like roller-skating or laser tag), she may be able to eat a little more without taking extra insulin.

If the party is more centered around food and sit-down activities (like a pizza dinner, with birthday cake for dessert, then an evening watching videos and munching on chips and popcorn), your child may have to choose just a few treats to indulge in. Another option is to supply her with some healthy snacks to take to the party (make enough to share). She can munch on popcorn or reduced-fat chips instead of candy bars or regular chips. She may even find that her friends want to sample her snacks.

It's a good idea to check your child's blood glucose before she leaves for the party. Depending on how long the party lasts and the time of day, she may need to check at some point during the party. One option is to decide ahead of time how many treats (and what kind) she can have depending on her blood glucose level. (You may even want to jot down a "crib sheet" to remind her of her options.) Talk to a diabetes educator or dietitian for more on fitting special occasions into diabetes care.