Snacking For Diabetes

Snacking For Diabetes

To maintain healthy blood-glucose levels, meals and snacks should be balanced to provide a mixture of carbohydrates, fats and proteins. Because people with diabetes need to eat fairly often to maintain a healthy blood sugar, developing healthy snacking habits is particularly important. Check out these helpful tips and snack ideas that are sure to help keep your blood sugar, and overall health, in check.

(Adapted from Magic Foods for Better Blood Sugar and Foods That Harm Foods That Heal)

Craving a little something sweet? While fruits are the way to go, too much natural sugar can also be a challenge for diabetics.

Nuts for Peanuts

30 g (1 oz) peanuts

Calories: 165

The bargain lover in you will appreciate the dense, filling nutrition you can get from a relatively small serving of peanuts. Full of protein and good fats, the nuts actually appear to help people lose weight. Feel free to substitute peanuts for a palmful of almonds. Nuts are full of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, which are good for the heart and also slow the digestion process, helping to stabilize blood-sugar levels.

So Cheesy

30 g (1 oz) fat-free string cheese

Calories: 80

Whoever invented string cheese was on to something: These portable snacks are tasty and full of protein; and low-fat cheese will make you feel full. If you prefer, you can simply cut your favourite low-fat cheese into small strips and take them with you; cheese can be enjoyed on its own or as part of a veggie-based snack. The calcium and vitamins in cheese are very beneficial for your overall health.

Cinematic License

4 cup air-popped popcorn

Calories: 100

Who says popcorn is only for the movies? Take popcorn out of the multiplex and enjoy it as a light snack. Why not? It’s low in calories and high in fibre, which has been shown to improve glucose metabolism in people with diabetes.

A Call to Grapeness

20 seedless grapes

Calories: 100

Grapes are full of water, which makes them automatically low in calories. Twenty grapes registers in your brain as lots of separate items, and popping them into your mouth one by one makes you feel that you’re getting more food than you really are. Grapes also contain vitamins and antioxidants that zap dangerous free radicals.

Veggie Variety Pack

1 to 2 cups sliced raw vegetables 

Calories: 35

Think of vegetables as sociable foods: They hate to be alone. Even when you snack, you’ll have a livelier time if you throw veggies together and let their tastes mingle. Soft and crunchy, watery and dense, this combination makes for a pleasing mix. Vegetables are an excellent source of fibre, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. They are one of the healthiest snacks for people with diabetes, providing a good balance of carbohydrates, and fibre.

Aside from choosing healthy snacking items, it’s always a good idea to have a plan. Bring some almonds and grapes to work; that way, you won’t be temped to go to the vending machine for a sugar-filled treat. By following these wholesome-snack tips, you’ll be well on your way to maintaining a healthy blood-sugar level.

Link   http://www.readersdigest.ca/veggies/snacking-diabetes