Choosing healthy lunches doesn’t need to be difficult. There are many healthy and tasty alternatives to the meals you love, whether you’re eating out or packing lunch. The American Diabetes Association states that even losing a few pounds can lower your risk of developing type II diabetes.

“The American Diabetes Association is committed to raising awareness and celebrating healthy choices. When it comes to any meal, if you are living with type 1 or type 2 diabetes, making the healthy choice is probably at the forefront of your mind, but it’s not always the easy choice. Remember that healthy choices for people with diabetes are the same as for everyone else: choose more vegetables, especially leafy greens, lean protein sources and whole grains in place of processed refined grains whenever you can,”Sacha Uelmen is the Director of Nutrition at American Diabetes Association.

A great place to begin is making healthier choices for lunch. Even little changes can make a big difference.

Check out these healthy alternatives below:

* Caesar Salad. This traditional salad includes romaine lettuce, Caesar dressing, croutons and parmesan cheese. Ask for the dressing on the side, and don’t use it too often. You can increase your intake of vitamins and minerals by adding more vegetables to your salad. Reduce or eliminate the use of cheese. Some restaurants now offer kale Caesar salad.

* Pizza. Pizza. It is better to choose between a slice of regular cheese pizza and vegetable toppings, or two small slices thin crust pizzas with side salad. What about soda? You can also try sparkling water, or still water with lemon.

* Italian sub. Choosing a sandwich with fries and a soda or sweet tea might satisfy a craving, but it’s also a lunch that is packed with calories. Grilled chicken breasts or turkey sandwiches on whole wheat bread, wraps or with lots of vegetables are great options. You can replace regular mayo by avocado, hummus or light mayonnaise. Ask for half the cheese. Fresh fruit, or small salad can be substituted for the fries. You can also substitute soda or sweetened tea for water, sparkling water or unsweetened, with a squeeze of lime.

You don’t have to make these decisions on your own. Instead, consider using a meal plan. NutrisystemD provides pre-portioned meals that can be used to manage diabetes and maintain healthy eating habits at every meal.

For more information, please visit www.nutrisystem.com.