Like other people, diabetics sometimes get hungry between meals. When that happens, full-sized meals are not appropriate. It is better for them to nibble on diabetic snacks which can keep their hunger at bay for a bit and help keep their blood sugar levels stable.
Diabetic Friendly Snacks
Diabetic snacks vary in nature, but they all have in common low fat and sugar levels, and low calorie counts. One example of a perfect snack for diabetes is a small carton of plain, low fat yoghurt topped with almond slivers and a few raspberries. This is a calcium rich snack, and thanks to the nuts and fruit, it also comes with vitamins and minerals. Other simple diabetic snacks include whole fruits or fruit salads: A diabetic can munch on an apple or pear for a snack. Alternatively, he or she can prepare a fruit salad consisting of pears, apples, berries, or peaches. These fruits are ideal because they do not send the blood glucose levels sky-high. Furthermore, their high fiber content facilitates digestion.
Crackers eaten with slices of low fat cheese are healthy snacks for a diabetic too. As long as one keeps the number of crackers low, there is no risk of exceeding the appropriate number of calories. It is also fine to eat sandwiches as long as the bread is made from wholegrain flour, and the spread and filling are appropriate for diabetics. Light mayonnaise is an appropriate spread. Almond butter and peanut butter are also appropriate as long as they are not artificially sweetened or processed with additional oil. Sliced tomatoes and lettuce make good filling for sandwiches. So do a few avocado slices. A couple of ounces of tuna are also great.
Among the safest foods for a diabetic to snack on are plain, raw vegetables. Munching on a few carrots or nibbling on broccoli is a great way to get some nourishment and keep the total number of calories ingested modest. Such vegetables are high in vitamins, minerals, water and fiber. So when all is said and done, consuming them does not result in excessive fat or carbohydrate intake.
If one is looking for an appropriate calorie limit for diabetic snacks, then 150 calories make a good number to work with. Keeping snacks at or below this number helps to ensure that they do not turn into full-fledged meals. Furthermore, assuming that one’s hunger-triggering mechanism is working just fine, it is important to snack only when hungry. Along the same lines, one should only eat major meals when hungry. This is a good way to ensure that one’s food intake corresponds to his or her nutritional needs.
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