The diabetes plate method is a simple way to plan meals and manage the amount of carbohydrate you eat. Put non-starchy vegetables on half your plate. Add protein foods, like meat or meat substitutes, on a fourth of the plate.

This simplified way to approach meals is easy to customize to your food preferences. Start with a nine-inch plate and fill half with non-starchy veggies, one-quarter with lean proteins, and one-quarter with and quality carbs like starchy vegetables, fruits, whole grains, or low-fat dairy.

A diabetes plate is broken into three sections: half of the plate is for non-starchy vegetables, one-fourth is lean protein, and the other one-fourth is a whole grain, a starchy vegetable, or another source of carbohydrates, such as a legume.

Each section of the plate (based on a nine-inch plate) is for the following three food groups: vegetables, grains, and protein. Off to the side is dairy and fruit. These five food groups are the foundation for healthy eating. Fill 1/2 of the plate with non-starchy vegetables.