The ADA Plate Method — In Your Pocket

Finally, a diabetes app that teaches you what to eat — not what to avoid.

Build balanced meals visually, see how food affects your glucose, and learn the same plate method recommended by the American Diabetes Association. No carb counting required.

ADA Plate Method
No CGM required
Data stays private
Today's Lunch Balanced ✓
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25%
25%
🥦 Broccoli
🍗 Grilled Chicken
🍚 Brown Rice
Glucose Response Stable
The Problem

Diabetes management shouldn't feel this complicated.

Just Diagnosed?

You're probably overwhelmed. Conflicting advice everywhere. Apps that want you to track every gram. Lists of foods you "can't" eat anymore. And a dietitian appointment that's weeks away.

Here's the truth:

You don't need to count carbs obsessively. You don't need to eliminate your favorite foods. You need to learn how to balance your plate.

How It Works

Three steps to balanced eating.

1

Build Your Plate

Follow our simple visual guide to compose balanced meals. Fill half with non-starchy vegetables, one quarter with lean protein, one quarter with quality carbs. No counting required.

50%
25%
25%
2

Track Your Response

Log your glucose before and after meals and see exactly how your plate performed. No CGM? No problem — manual logging works great.

Before 105
After 128
3

Learn What Works For You

Over time, discover which combinations keep your glucose steady. Weekly insights help you spot patterns and make confident choices without obsessing over numbers.

💡 Your lunch plates perform best!
Features

Everything you need to eat with confidence.

The Plate Builder

Build balanced meals in under a minute. Choose your protein, add quality carbs, load up on vegetables, and see your balance score instantly. The app suggests complementary foods so you never have to wonder "what goes with this?"

Glucose Response Tracking

Finally understand how your meals affect your blood sugar. Log glucose before and after eating, and we'll show you the response in plain language: "Stable — this plate worked well."

The Learning Center

10+ lessons covering the Plate Method, carbohydrates, protein timing, fiber, eating out, snacking, and more. Learn at your own pace with practical examples that connect directly to your meal history.

Weekly Insights

See which meals performed best, which times of day are trickiest, and get personalized tips based on your actual data. Share summaries with your healthcare provider.

180+ Foods

A focused database covering all major food groups — foods people actually eat, not just "diet" foods. Add custom foods if you can't find something.

Privacy First

Your health data stays on your device by default. CGM integration uses Apple HealthKit, keeping your glucose data under your control. We never sell personal data.

Why BalancedPlate

Built on the method diabetes educators actually teach.

Most Diabetes Apps BalancedPlate
Complex carb counting Simple plate method
Overwhelming data entry Build a plate in 60 seconds
Requires CGM for value Complete experience with finger pricks
Lists of "forbidden" foods Guidance on how to balance any food
Tracking-focused Education-embedded
Designed for power users Designed for newly diagnosed
Built on the ADA Diabetes Plate Method
Developed with certified diabetes educators
No CGM required — manual logging works great
Who It's For

Designed for people who want simplicity, not complexity.

Primary

Newly Diagnosed Type 2

You don't need another app that makes you feel overwhelmed. You need clear, simple guidance on what to eat — and confidence that you're doing it right.

Within a week, you'll feel confident building balanced meals without second-guessing every bite.

Prediabetes

Caught it early? The plate method can help you prevent progression to Type 2. Learn the habits that keep blood sugar stable — before you need medication.

Gestational Diabetes

Managing diabetes during pregnancy requires quick learning and confident decisions. Get up to speed on balanced eating in days, not weeks.

Type 2 with CGM

Already using a CGM? See exactly how your meals affect your glucose curves. Discover patterns, optimize your plates, and share insights with your care team.

Pricing

Start free. Upgrade when you're ready.

Core education is always free. No tricks, no paywalls on learning.

Free

$0 forever

Everything you need to start eating balanced.

  • Full Plate Builder with all foods
  • All 10+ educational lessons
  • Manual glucose logging
  • Response tracking
  • Basic weekly insights
Join Beta
For Healthcare Providers

A digital extension of what you already teach.

Your patients need reinforcement between appointments. BalancedPlate delivers the Plate Method education you provide — digitally, daily, and at their own pace.

  • Reinforces the Plate Method you already teach
  • Gives patients practical guidance immediately after diagnosis
  • Exportable reports make follow-up conversations more productive
  • Evidence-based content developed with diabetes educators
  • Free for patients to start; no upselling on core education
Contact Us About Provider Partnerships
Diabetes Educator Approved
FAQ

Common questions

What is the Diabetes Plate Method?

The Diabetes Plate Method is a simple, visual approach to meal planning recommended by the American Diabetes Association. It works by filling your plate in specific proportions: half non-starchy vegetables, one quarter lean protein, and one quarter quality carbohydrates. This balance naturally controls portions and helps manage blood sugar without counting carbs.

Do I need a CGM to use BalancedPlate?

No! BalancedPlate is designed as a "manual-first" app. You can get full value by logging glucose with a standard finger-prick meter, or even skip glucose tracking entirely and focus on building balanced plates. CGM integration (via Apple Health) is available as an enhancement for Premium users.

Is this a replacement for seeing a dietitian?

No. BalancedPlate reinforces and extends the education you receive from healthcare providers — it doesn't replace professional guidance. The app is built on the same Plate Method that diabetes educators teach, making it a perfect companion to your care plan.

What makes BalancedPlate different from other diabetes apps?

Most diabetes apps focus on tracking and require CGM data to provide value. BalancedPlate is built entirely around the Plate Method — teaching you how to build balanced meals visually rather than counting every carb. It's designed for newly diagnosed patients who want simplicity, not complexity.

What foods are in the database?

We have 180+ foods covering all major food groups, with a focus on foods people actually eat (not just "diet" foods). If you can't find something, you can add custom foods, and we're constantly expanding based on user feedback.

Is my data private?

Yes. Your health data stays on your device by default. We use Apple's HealthKit for CGM integration, which keeps your glucose data under your control. We do not sell personal data.

Get early access to BalancedPlate

BalancedPlate is currently in beta. Sign up to be notified when it launches and get exclusive early access.

We'll notify you when BalancedPlate is available. No spam, ever.