A diet to lose weight

To lose weight, low calorie, high fiber carbohydrate foods should be used (e.g wholemeal bread, pasta and cereal, fruit and vegetables) and fatty foods should be avoided. Patients should attempt not to exceed the following amounts:

Meat and fish
• Maximum cooked portion of 85 g meat or 110 g fish. Visible fat should be removed; food should not be fried.

Cheese
• Hard cheese, e.g. cheddar, blue cheese: 110 g/week
• Low fat cheese, e.g. Tendale, Shape: 170 g/week
• Cottage cheese, curd cheese: any quantity

Eggs
• Three per week, not fried

Milk
• Low fat milks have the same amout of carbohydrate as ordinary milk, only the fat is removed.
• Whole milk: 0.25 L/day (fresh, dried or long life)
• Skimmed: 0.5 L/day

Fats
• Avoid cooking with fat or eating any fried or greasy food
• Any oils: very little/week
• Butter, Flora, Krona, margarine: 110 g/week
• Low-fat spread, e.g. Delight, Outline: 225 g/week

Alcohol
• All alcohol is high in calories. Non-alcoholic, sugar-free drinks should be used

Sauces and dressings
• Rich sauces and dressing should be avoided, e.g. mayonnaise, salad cream, French dressing. Lemon juices, natural yoghurt or vinegar can be used instead.
• Patients are also advised on regular exercise; they should weigh themselves weekly at the same time of day in the same clothes and aim to lose about 0.5 kg a week. Overtreatment of episodes of hypoglycemia contributes substantially to poor glycaemic control and weight gain.