Exchange Lists for Meal Planning, a grouping of foods in which the carbohydrates, fats, proteins, and calories are similar for the serving sizes listed. The lists, published by the American Dietetic Association and the American Diabetes Association, are used in meal planning for various diseases as well as for weight reduction. Foods are divided into three different groups or lists: carbohydrates, meat and meat substitutes, and fats. The carbohydrate group is subdivided into lists of starch, fruit, milk, other carbohydrates, and vegetables. A dietitian can create an appropriate dietary program prescribing the number of calories and units of each exchange category to be consumed daily, as well as a plan for when they should be eaten. The patient selects preferred foods from the lists. Other countries such as Canada use similar lists, for example, Food Choices.
