Registered Dietitian Exam Prep

Answer: A - An advantage of using carbohydrate counting instead of food exchanges when following a diabetic diet plan is that carbohydrate counting permits greater flexibility in food choices. When using carbohydrate counting, 15 grams of carbohydrate from bread, fruit, or milk all serve as one carbohydrate serving, in contrast to the exchange system in which foods from different exchange groups contain varying amounts of carbohydrate. Use of carbohydrate counting still requires equal distribution of carbohydrate over meals and snacks, and attention to the amounts of “free foods” consumed.