Diabetes snack foods could be extremely important to diabetic health, if they are consumed correctly. According to Diabetes.org, research shows that eating “six small meals a day is more healthy for someone who trying to watch their cholesterol and their diabetes”. You can’t just add diabetes snack foods to your diet, however, without downsizing your regular meals. The websites suggest cutting each of your typical meals in half, and replacing those calories with small, healthy snacks. You should eat these diabetes snack foods every 3 hour, but stop eating about 3 hours before you go to bed. If you do this, you are likely to both eat less and pay more attention to the foods you are eating, according to the website.
Healthy Diabetes Snack Foods
The American Diabetes Association (ADA) states that eating diabetes snack foods gives you an opportunity to fit another serving of whole grains, fruits, or vegetables into your diet. Diabetes snack foods comprised of these ingredients will allow you to lower the amount of calories and fat that you consume, but also provide you the energy that you need to get through the day. Therefore, the following diabetes snack foods are recommended by the ADA:
- 5 baby carrots
- 5 cherry tomatoes w/ 1 tbsp. ranch dressing
- 3 celery sticks w/ 1 tbsp. peanut butter
- 1 cup cucumber slices w/ 1 tbsp. ranch dressing
- 1 hard boiled egg
- 1 cup salad greens and ½ of diced cucumber vinegar and oil
- ¼ cup blueberries
- 1 cup of light popcorn
- 1 frozen sugar-free popsicle
- 16 green olives
- 10 gold-fish crackers
- ¼ of an avocado
- ½ cup almonds or other nuts
- ¼ cup dried fruit and nut mix
- 1 small apple
- 1 small orange
- 1 cup vegetable, chicken noodle, or tomato soup
- 1/3 cup hummus w/ 1 cup raw fresh veggies such as green peppers or carrots
- 1 cheese quesadilla made with a whole wheat tortillas and 1 oz. shredded cheese and ¼ cup of salsa (optional)
- 5 whole wheat crackers and 1 piece of string cheese
- ½ cup tuna salad and 4 saltine crackers
- ½ turkey sandwich made with mustard, 2 oz. turkey, and whole wheat bread
All of the diabetes snack foods listed above are said to contain about 5 to 20 grams of carbohydrates each, according to the ADA. You should always count your carbs, even when snacking, and always watch your portion sizes. In addition, enjoy your foods as you eat them. Eating slowly causes you to feel fuller. Also, the ADA and most other health organizations recommend avoiding mindlessly eating in front of the TV, or while reading, working, and driving, as this generally causes you to eat more and be less conscious of what you are consuming.
