Protein Explained

Protein is a macronutrient that is essential to supporting your muscles and bones. Macronutrient means that it provides energy or calories. Protein has little effect on raising blood glucose levels – in fact, it’s helpful when combined with carbohydrates and helps to prevent post meal blood sugar spikes. Therefore, we recommend protein with meals & snacks to help support healthy growth and tissue repair and to help manage your blood glucose levels. If you’re looking for some guidance, it’s recommended that ¼ of your plate contains protein from sources listed below. However, as always, see your dietitian or diabetes educator for more specific recommendations for YOU!

Protein sources:

  • Lean meats such as beef, pork
  • Poultry such as chicken, turkey, duck
  • Fish & seafood such as white fish, salmon, crab, prawns, mussels
  • Eggs
  • Dairy such as milk, cheese, & yogurt
  • Nuts and seeds such as almonds, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, pistachios, cashews
  • Legumes and beans such as black beans, pinto beans, white beans, chickpeas, lentils
  • Tofu, soybeans, tempeh
Danielle Kennedy, RD, CDCES, LDN

Danielle Kennedy, RD, CDCES, LDN

Danielle Kennedy is a Licensed and Registered Dietitian and a Certified Diabetes and Education Specialist (CDCES). Danielle is currently the lead diabetes educator at the Diabetes Foundation and provides personalized and curriculum-based Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support education to people living with diabetes. Danielle teaches group classes as well as one to one sessions on diabetes management, nutrition education and other areas of diabetes and prediabetes care. Danielle’s passion is educating people to help them achieve their goal(s) and improve their quality of life while living with chronic disease.

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