According to carbohydrate counting, how many carbohydrate choices does the following menu consist of: 3-oz grilled, skinless chicken breast, ½ cup of green beans, ½ cup of mashed potatoes, one small roll, 3 tsp of margarine, one small piece of angel food cake?

When using carbohydrate counting, the key is to identify foods that are significant sources of carbohydrates. In the provided menu, you will analyze each item for its carbohydrate content.

The grilled, skinless chicken breast and the margarine do not provide carbohydrates; they are protein and fat sources, respectively. Green beans contain a small amount of carbohydrates, but they are typically not counted in a standard carbohydrate count because they are primarily fibrous vegetables with minimal carbs.

The mashed potatoes, however, are starchy vegetables and are counted as one carbohydrate choice. A common serving (½ cup) of mashed potatoes typically contains around 15 grams of carbohydrates, which is a standard serving size in carbohydrate counting.

The small roll is another significant source of carbohydrates and usually contributes approximately 15 grams of carbohydrates as well. Finally, the small piece of angel food cake is also considered a carbohydrate source, often containing around 15 grams, depending on the portion size.

By adding these contributions together, there are three carbohydrate choices: one from the mashed potatoes, one from the roll, and one from the angel food cake. Thus, the total comes to three carbohydrate choices for the menu.