Day 5 -- What is a carb?

For general carb counting purposes, one carb serving (also called carb choice/carb exchange) is 15 grams of carbohydrate. This can be determined by reading nutrition labels on food. Carb counting is a skill that can be acquired, but sometimes needs to be refreshed.

Common 1 CHO options include:

1 slice of bread
1 small apple
1/2 of a banana
1/2 of a grapefruit
15 grapes/cherries

1 cup whole strawberries

1 small baked potato
1/2 cup mashed potatoes
1 cup milk
15 chips/pretzels (those these usually come in a pkg, so read the nutrition label for specifics)

The amount of carbs that each person should eat in a day varies, but my doctor and dietician have recommended that I eat 3-4 carbs (as in 45 - 60 grams) for each meal and have two to three 1-2 carb snacks. Give carb counting a whirl and you'll be surprised how quickly they add up!!