Dietary Focus Group August 2026 – Navigating Menus at Charlestown for your Health

Dietary Focus Group

Compiled by the membership

Following our July article focusing on pre-diabetes, we would like to present some meaningful ways to navigate menus while dining at Charlestown if you are diabetic. Whether you have had diabetes for a long time, are newly diagnosed, or prediabetic, we encourage you to consider some of these choices that your fellow residents who live with diabetes have offered. Every human body is different – please pay attention to your own responses, and consult with your physician or nutritionist if you have concerns. The Dietary Focus Group encourages every resident to ask questions, advocate on their own behalf, and use the resources we have to eat for health!

• Salads are a good choice, avoiding specialty salads that add dried fruit and candied They are typically high in sugar. Note that these salads may be ordered without the dried fruit and nuts. Salads with fresh fruit such as apples, oranges, and pears are another option that includes helpful fiber.
• Soups featuring beans, tomatoes, vegetables, and meat are usually another good Check My Nutrition for broth information.
• Handhelds, such as sandwiches, wraps, flour tortillas, burgers and hot dogs with buns are not the best choices due to white flour composition (high glycemic index).
• Protein is essential and doesn’t raise blood But be wary of sauces high in sugar, such as BBQ, and gravies that may be made with flour. You can ask for sauce or gravy to be served on the side.
• Sides like potatoes, white rice, bread stuffing and ..you might want to avoid or limit. Starchy vegetables (like corn or peas) that are high in carbs and can spike blood sugar depending on how they are prepared. Green veggies and simply prepared whole foods that retain their fiber are generally a good choice, and they can be ordered plain. Some overly creamy treatments (like coleslaw) may contain thickeners that could spike glucose levels.
• Brunch has many options with white flour, such as white or wheat toast, pancakes, waffles, muffins, biscuits, and These are all high in simple carbs which raise your blood sugar.
• Best beverages are water, non-sweetened tea, coffee, and diet Alcoholic beverages with low sugar content, such as dry white wine, can be factored into your all over evening meal plan, in limited quantities.
• Desserts hold many delightful Fresh fruit is always your best option. Beware of NSA [no sugar added] offerings, they can be deceptively high in simple carbs even without added sugar: pie has a crust that is white flour, and rice pudding has white rice which is very high in carbs.

Consider looking at the menu before going to dinner to choose your “better choice” meal options. Referring to My Nutrition is a valuable tool for meal planning. As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please speak to your restaurant chef. Our chefs are onsite and available to come to your table to assist you in your dining experience.