Which of the following is the basis of the cereal exchange list?

Appeared in: RUHS, Jaipur, PB B.Sc Nursing Entrance-2021

Explanation

The food exchange system standardizes portion sizes of common foods to have a similar amount of carbohydrates, protein, and fat.
According to this system, one cereal or starch exchange is defined as a portion of food that contains approximately 15 grams of carbohydrates.
This standardization is crucial for carbohydrate counting in diabetic meal planning, allowing patients to substitute foods within the same group while maintaining consistent macronutrient intake.
A single cereal exchange also provides about 2-3 grams of protein, a trace of fat (0-1 gram), and totals around 70-80 calories.

Option B: 20 gm of CHO is not the standard for a cereal exchange; it would lead to an overestimation of carbohydrate intake.
Option C: 10 gm of CHO is too low for a standard cereal exchange and would cause underestimation of carb intake.
Option D: 25 gm of CHO is significantly higher than the standard 15 gm for a single cereal exchange.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Nutritional value of a cereal exchange in diet planning as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses use the exchange list to educate patients with diabetes on meal planning, helping them achieve glycemic control by managing carbohydrate intake.
This system empowers patients to have variety in their diet by 'exchanging' or swapping foods from the same list, which promotes long-term adherence to the dietary plan.
What if? If a patient consumes a food item with 30 grams of carbohydrates (e.g., a large banana or a cup of cooked rice), the nurse must teach them to count it as two exchanges (either two fruit or two cereal exchanges) and adjust their insulin dose accordingly.

How to Approach the Question

Identify the core question: The question asks for the fundamental unit ('basis') of the 'cereal exchange list'.
Recognize the concept: This is a factual recall question related to dietetics and diabetes management.
Recall the standard values: Access your knowledge about the food exchange system. The key value for a starch/cereal exchange is the carbohydrate content.
Evaluate the options: Compare the given carbohydrate amounts (10, 15, 20, 25 gm) against the standard value.
Select the correct standard: The established standard for one cereal exchange is 15 grams of carbohydrate. Select this option.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Nutrition Kumud Khanna 2e pp. 43-45, 42-44, 38-40

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