Diabetes Carb Choice Question: How many carb choices is a baked potato?
A friend and I are in disagreement. He says a baked potato is 1 carb choice. I say it is more, I even saw 1 example that a 1/2 large baked potato is 2 carb choices. What is the correct answer. His source is a diabetes education class 5 years ago and mine is from 1 web site.
How many carbs will depend on the size of the potato. A very small baked potato (like a redskin) might be 1 carb choice but a medium sized potato would be at least 2 carb choices. An entire large baked potato would be 4 carb choices.
Instead of asking questions about single foods, get a book with nutritional values for many foods.
Then you have the information you need.
Your question is a perfect example of why the “exchange” system doesn’t work. A small potato is about 15g of carb and therefore 1 starch/bread exchange. But what they consider a small potato is rare anymore because produce has gotten so big. Most restaurant potatoes are at least twice that size, therefore 2 exchanges. It’s just so imprecise, because even a difference of 5g carb makes a significant impact on your BG. Do yourself a favor and learn how to count carbs so you can dose yourself more accurately and control your BG’s better.