Need diabetics snack ideas for on the go? Here are ten great travel snacks for diabetics.
While meal planning is generally one of the top areas patients educate themselves on when diagnosed with diabetes, becoming familiar with diabetic snack ideas is equally important. Snacks throughout the day have several benefits, including helping you reduce the portion sizes of main meals, and helping you better control your blood sugar throughout the day.
The key to finding ideal choices is keeping an eye out for low glycemic foods and low carb snacks for diabetics. Tracking carbohydrates is crucial for patients, and making sure some protein is involved in snack choices is essential as well. Protein helps to control spikes in sugar and slows down the rate in which glucose is absorbed.
If you need a few snack ideas to get you through the work day, or are searching for great travel snacks for diabetics, check out these ten suggestions:
- Raisins with Nuts and Seeds – This is the perfect pick me up with a combination of protein from seeds and nuts, and a splash of sweets and carbs from the raisins. Consider using sunflower or pumpkin seeds, or salted almonds for the protein!
- Fruit and Nut Butter – Craving something sweet but don’t want to risk a blood sugar spike. Try a few slices of banana, apple or pear with 2 tablespoons of nut butter (peanut, soy, almond or cashew). The protein from the nut butter will slow down the absorption of the natural sugar in the fruit.
- Edamame – Fresh Edamame is the perfect pick-me-up. Shelled soybeans contain 11 grams of protein, 9 grams of fiber and only have 120 calories in a half-cup serving.
- Cottage Cheese – Another ideal option to hold you over between meals, cottage cheese paired with peaches or carrots offers low carbs, proteins, and numerous vitamins!
- Veggies and Hummus – Want to fill up on something healthy that won’t spike blood sugar. Just grab 1/3 cup of hummus, and add some slices of bell peppers, broccoli florets, carrot sticks or cucumber slices.
- Hard-boiled eggs – Hard-boiled eggs make great travel snacks for diabetics, and you can mix it up a bit by creating egg salad (just add a teaspoon of low-fat mayo per egg). Because eggs pack such a protein punch, you can include a hint of sweet to this snack with a petite serving of grapes.
- Greek Yogurt – Another great snack for traveling, home or work, take non-flavored Greek yogurt and add some raisins, granola and sliced almonds for the perfect combination of protein, carbs and antioxidants.
- Whole Grain Crackers and Nut Better – Find your favorite whole grain cracker (or bread) and top with a nut butter of your choice (peanut, soy, almond, cashew, etc.) You will enjoy protein and crabs, and a snack that will keep you feeling full without raising your blood sugar high.
- Tuna and crackers – Tuna is a protein-lovers dream, with a small can containing up to 35 grams! Top whole grain crackers off with your favorite tuna brand and you have an ideal diabetic snack idea.
- Shrimp Cocktail – Yes, you might think of this as a party appetizer, but it also makes a great low carb snack for diabetics with 5 grams of protein and zero crabs in just four shrimp!
Finding smart diabetic snack ideas is easy with so many healthy and delicious options to choose from. To discover tasty diabetic snack recipes and other helpful information on the disease, visit www.BetterHealthKare.com