Understanding carbohydrates

All foods can affect blood glucose levels, but carbohydrates affect blood glucose the most. Carbohydrate foods give you and your baby energy.

Carbohydrate foods should make up 40 to 45 percent of the total calories you eat each day.

The main groups of carbohydrate foods are:

• breads, cereals and grains
• starchy vegetables
• fruits
• milk and yogurt
• convenience and combination foods
• snacks and sweets.

Carbohydrate counting

Learning to count carbohydrates is a way to help you manage the amount of carbohydrate you eat each day at your meals and snacks.

A carbohydrate choice is a serving of food that contains about 15 grams of carbohydrate. Pregnant women need between 12 to 16 carbohydrate choices every day.

Remember: It is not healthy to omit carbohydrate foods to control your blood glucose. Our examples of carbohydrate choices worksheet (requires Adobe Reader) will help you choose a healthful variety of carbohydrate choices each day.

Free foods

A free food is any food or drink that contains fewer than 20 calories or five grams of carbohydrate per serving. Foods with a serving size listed below should be limited to no more than three servings at one time.

Carbohydrate-free beverages (such as club soda, Crystal Light®, calorie-free water, diet soft drinks, coffee, and hot or unsweetened teas) will not affect blood glucose.