Winter is on its way, and with it the holiday season and the parties and meals that come along with it. Most of us find we indulge a little more in holiday snacks and treats – and these are often sugar and carb laden. One of the major stresses of managing type 1 diabetes (T1D), particularly for people who are newly diagnosed, can be meal planning and both how it will affect blood glucose levels and how much insulin you or your child might need.
But with a little planning and preparation, you can and should enjoy time with family and friends – including holiday dinners – with confidence.
Thank you to Beyond Type 1 for these traditional holiday meal carb counts to help guide your decisions this holiday season.
Beyond Type 1 has a full page of resources to make navigating the holidays a little easier: https://beyondtype1.org/celebrations-holidays/
Managing T1D is a challenge any time but can be made easier when you’re armed with information to help you plan accordingly.
So, raise that glass, make a toast and relax and enjoy all the holiday season has to offer!
* Please note that your portion sizes may vary, and your carbohydrate counts will need to be adjusted accordingly.
Mains
| Item | Amount | Carbohydrates |
|---|---|---|
| Turkey | Any | 0g |
| Ham | Any | 0g |
| Beef | Any | 0g |
| Chicken | Any | 0g |
| Duck | Any | 0g |
| Goose | Any | 0g |
| Lasagna | 1 Cup | 30g |
| Brisket | 1 oz. | 0g |
Sides
| Item | Amount | Carbohydrates |
|---|---|---|
| Mashed Potatoes | 1 cup | 30g |
| Roasted Potatoes | 1 cup | 28g |
| Sweet Potato | 1 Med. | 28g |
| Potato Latke | 1 Med. | 10g |
| Candied Yams | 1/2 cup | 45g |
| Sweet Potato Casserole with Mini Marshmallows | 1/3 cup | 30g |
| Green Beans | 1/2 cup | 4g |
| Green Bean Casserole | 1 1/2 cup. | 9g |
| Corn | 1/2 cup | 9g |
| Sauerkraut | 1 cup | 6g |
| Glazed Carrots | 1/2 cup | 25g |
| Brussel Sprouts | 1/2 cup | 4g |
| Cheese | 1 oz. | 0-1g |
| Stuffing | 1/2 cup | 20g |
| Cranberry Sauce | 1/4 cup | 25g |
| Gravy | 1/2 cup | 5g |
| Dinner Roll | 1 | 20g |
| Biscuit | 1 | 25g |
| Cornbread | 1 piece | 28g |
| Challah | 2 oz. | 30g |
| Matzo Ball | 1 | 10g |
| Matzo Ball Soup | 1 cup | 15g |
| Noodle Kugel | 2″ Square | 23g |
| Apple Sauce – Sweetened | 4 oz. | 23g |
| Apple Sauce – Unsweetened | 4 oz. | 12g |
| Sour Cream | 2 tbsp. | .5g |
| Olive Oil | 1 tbsp. | 0g |
Desserts
| Item | Amount | Carbohydrates |
|---|---|---|
| Sweet Potato Pie | 1/8th Slice | 35g |
| Minced Meat Pie | 1/8th Slice | 55g |
| Pumpkin Pie | 1/8th Slice | 35g |
| Apple Pie | 1/8th Slice | 45g |
| Pecan Pie | 1/8th Slice | 60g |
| Meringue Pie | 1/8th Slice | 50g |
| Fruitcake | 1/8th Slice | 26g |
| Christmas (Plum) Pudding | 2 oz. | 30g |
| Sticky Toffee Pudding | 2 oz. | 25g |
| Bread Pudding | 2 oz. | 20g |
| Trifle | 1 2 oz. | 15g |
| Ginger Snap Cookies | 4 (1 oz.) | 23g |
| Shortbread Cookies | 4 (1 oz.) | 21g |
| Chocolate Chip Cookies | 2 | 20g |
| Peanut Butter Cookies | 2 | 20g |
| Sugar Cookies | 2 | 22g |
| Meringue Cookies | 6 | 15g |
| Rugelach | 1 oz./pc. | 17g |
| Sufganiyot (Jelly Donut) | 1 | 25g |
| Cheese Blintz | 1 | 12g |
| Chocolate Gelt | 1 oz. | 17g |
| Cheesecake | 1 pc. (1/6) | 20g |
| Candy Cane | 1 | 15g |
| Vanilla Ice Cream | 1/2 cup | 16g |
| Chocolate Ice Cream | 1/2 cup | 18g |
| Brand Butter | 2 tbsp. | 15g |
| Whipped Cream (Unsweetened) | 2 tbsp. | 2g |
Drinks
| Item | Amount | Carbohydrates |
|---|---|---|
| Eggnog | 1/2 cup | 30g |
| Hot Cocoa with Water | 1 cup | 15-20g |
| Hot Cocoa with Milk | 1 cup | 30g |
| Spiced Apple Cider (Non-Alcoholic) | 1 cup | 30g |
| Hard Apple Cider | 12 oz. | 15-30g |
| Wine (White or Red) | 5 oz. | 4g |
| Champagne | 5 oz. | 3g |
| Regular Beer | 5 oz. | 12g |
| Light Beer | 12 oz. | 6g |
| Spirits | 1 oz. | 0g |
