May 14, 2008
Meal Planning, Food and Diet
advertisement
Question from Boston, Massachusetts, USA:
On your Fast Food Nutrition Facts page, what is meant by “exchanges?”
Answer:
From: DTeam Staff
An exchange is an accounting method to compare foods or beverages that have similar amounts of carbohydrate, protein, and fat. For example, a fruit exchange typically consists of a food or beverage that has 15 grams of carbohydrate, 0 grams of protein, and 0 grams of fat. So, 1/2 cup of orange juice can be “exchanged” for 17 grapes since they both are one fruit exchange. Other categories of exchanges consist of dairy exchanges, meat exchanges, fat exchanges, and starch exchanges. You can always ask a registered dietitian for a booklet named “Exchange Lists for Meal Planning,” which will guide you through the meal planning process.
JMS
