Food Exchanges Chart

Food Exchange	US Unit	Metric	Comments
Starches (6 or more exchanges)	80 Calories		15g Carb., 3g Protein, 1g Fat
bread breads, other tortilla crackers cooked cereals dry cereals dry cereals, unsweeted dry flour or grain pasta rice corn popcorn potato (small) potato, mashed sweet potato squash, winter cooked beans, peas, lentils (add 1 meat exchange)	1 slice 1 oz 1 (6") 4-6 (3/4 oz) 1/2 cup 3/4 cup 1/2 cup 3 Tbsp 1/2 cup 1/2 cup 1/2 cup 3 cups 1 (3 oz) 1/2 cup 1/3 cup 1 cup 1/2 cup	1 slice 30 g 1 (15 cm) 4-6 (20 g) 125 ml 175 ml 125 ml 45 ml 125 ml 125 ml 125 ml 720 ml 1 (85 g) 125 ml 80 ml 250 ml 125 ml	Most starches are a good source of B vitamins Choose whole grain foods such as 100% whole wheat bread and flour, brown rice, tortillas, etc. for nutrients and fiber. Combine beans (starch & meat) with grains (starch) for their complimentary proteins and fiber Combine grains (starch) with milk (milk) or cheese (meat) to compliment proteins. Add 1 fat exchange for starchy foods prepared with fat.
Vegetables (3-5 exchanges)	25 Calories		5g., 2g., Protein
raw vegetables cooked vegetables tomato or vegetable juice	1 cup 1/2 cup 1/2 cup	250 ml 125 ml 125 ml	Choose more dark green leafy and deep yellow vegetables such as spinach, broccoli, carrots, and peppers.
Fruit (2-4 exchanges)	60 Calories		15g Carb.
fresh fruit melon (cubes) canned fruit dried fruit fruit juice	1 small 12 oz (1 cup) 1/2 cup 1/4 cup 1/2 cup	1 small 360 g (250 ml) 125 ml 60 ml 125 ml	Choose whole fruits for fiber Choose citrus fruits such as oranges, grapefruits, or tangerines
Meat & Substitutes (5-7 exchanges)	35-145 Calories		7g Protein, 0-13g Fat
meat, poultry, fish cheese cottage cheese egg peanut butter tofu cooked beans, peas, lentils (add 1 starch)	1 oz 1 oz 1/4 cup 1 1.5 Tbsp 4 oz (1/2 cup) 1/2 cup	30 g 30 g 60 ml 1 22 ml 115 g (125 ml) 125 ml	Choose leaner meats such as chicken, fish, and lean cuts of meat; add fat exchange for higher fat meats and substitutes. Remove skin from poultry. Limit frying or adding fat. Have 2 servings of fish per week for Omega 3 fatty acid.
Milk (2-3 exchanges)	80-150 Calories		12g., Carb., 8g., Protein, 0-8g., Fat
milk yogurt	1 cup 1 cup	250 ml 250 ml	Choose lower fat milks; add fat exchange for higher fat milk.
Fat (use sparingly)	45 Calories		5g. Fat
oil mayonnaise cream cheese salad dressing peanuts avocado butter or margarine higer fat exchange additional)	1 tsp 1 tsp 1 Tbsp 1 Tbsp 10 1/8 1 tsp 1 exchange	5 ml 5 ml 15 ml 15 ml 10 1/8 5 ml 1 exchange	Eat less fat. Eat less saturated fat such as animal fat found in fatter meat, cheese, and butter. Also eat less hydrogenated fat. Check Nutrition Facts on food labels; 5 g Fat = 1 Fat exchange.
Sweets (use sparingly)	Calories vary		15g., Carb., Protein &Fat varies
ice cream cookies syrup jam or jelly sugar pudding muffin or cupcake	1/2 cup 2 small 1 Tbsp 1 Tbsp 2 Tbsp 1/4 cup 1/2 small	125 ml 2 small 15 ml 15 ml 30 ml 60 ml 1/2 small	Choose sweets sparingly because they are high in fat or sugar. Can be substituted for a 1 Starch, Fruit, or Milk exchange. Add 1 or 2 Fat exchanges for sweets containing fat.

Food Exchanges

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