A client with newly diagnosed diabetes refuses asparagus, broccoli, and mushrooms. Which substitutions on the food exchange list would be appropriate to replace these choices?

• A. String beans, beets, or carrots.
• B. Corn, lima beans, or dried peas.
• C. Baked beans, potatoes, or parsnips.
• D. Corn muffins, corn chips, or pretzels.

Answer: (A)

In diabetes meal planning, foods are grouped by similar carbohydrate impact. Non-starchy vegetables carry little carbohydrate, so when a client declines a non-starchy veggie, you substitute another non-starchy vegetable to keep the carbohydrate level steady. Substituting with string beans, beets, or carrots fits this approach because they’re non-starchy vegetables on the same exchange group.

The other options involve items that are not non-starchy vegetables: corn, lima beans, and dried peas are considered starchy vegetables (higher carbohydrate); baked beans, potatoes, and parsnips are also starchy; corn muffins, corn chips, and pretzels are grain/carbohydrate foods rather than vegetables.