Thursday Thirteen #25: Easy Snacks For Diabetics

Thirteen Easy Snacks For Diabetics 1. Sugar-Free Hot Cocoa Sip a warm cup of rich-tasting, sugar-free hot cocoa to beat the munchies. One cup of fat-free milk blended with one envelope of sugar-free cocoa mix makes a great snack — and is a good source of calcium and antioxidants! Look for a sugar-free dark-chocolate cocoa mix because dark chocolate is the richest source of these nutrients. Then relax and savor the flavor. 2. Baked Chips and Salsa If you want an easy-to-prepare, crunchy snack with delicious flavor, you will love this dynamite duo. A serving of vitamin C-rich salsa (two tablespoons) combined with a one-ounce serving (about 10 chips) of low-fat, potassium-rich baked potato chips might be the perfect combo to satisfy those afternoon cravings. 3. Popcorn Popcorn is the king of comfort foods! This high-fiber, crunchy snack tantalizes the taste buds as the kernels begin to pop. Select a low-fat variety that can be microwaved or air-popped — a healthy choice will give you just 45 to 60 calories and only one to two grams of fat in a serving of two to three cups 4. Thin Wheat Crackers, Hummus, and Tomatoes Hummus is a delicious, creamy spread made from chickpeas, sesame tahini, and garlic. It has a nice combination of flavors and nutrients. For a snack, spread one tablespoon of hummus evenly over 12 thin, high-fiber crackers. Serve the crackers with two slices of firm red tomato for an extra vitamin boost — tomatoes are high in vitamin C. 5. Mini Crackers and Veggies Select a great-tasting, low-calorie baked snack cracker when your energy (or blood sugar) levels dip — one ounce (about 25 small crackers) makes an ideal snack. You can increase your cracker options by trying a variety of flavors and shapes — for instance, pick one made from real cheese. Crackers complement any fat-free, low-calorie veggie. They taste delicious, for example, with a one-cup serving of cool, crisp cucumber slices. 6. Peppers and Low-Fat Garden Dip You can really indulge with this one! Slice one cup of sweet-tasting yellow, red, and green bell peppers into strips for a crunchy, vitamin-packed snack. Dunk them in a quarter cup of a creamy, low-fat garden vegetable dip to complete your treat. You can buy a ready-made dip or make your own by mixing a prepackaged blend of seasonings with low-fat sour cream or low-fat cottage cheese. Anyway you slice it, you'll enjoy the satisfying flavors in this snack. 7. Nonfat Fruit-Flavored Yogurt A one-cup container of sugar-free, fruit-flavored yogurt is a nearly perfect snack — it's a sweet treat that is also nourishing. Yogurt provides a balanced intake of protein, carbohydrates, and fat, while the fruit adds vitamin C and fiber to your diet. A serving of yogurt can also provide 30 percent of your daily calcium needs, and the live-active cultures it contains aid the absorption of calcium and also help keep your digestive system healthy. Do you need any more reasons to enjoy this snack? 8. Frozen Juice Bars Cool your cravings with a sugar-free frozen fruit pop. This refreshing snack is perfect on a hot afternoon — or anytime, really! It's fat-free and low in sodium. Try a variety of fruit flavors to mix it up for your taste buds, and look for juice bars that have 70 calories or fewer. Or make your own pops by freezing six ounces of unsweetened juice in Popsicle containers; then add your own Popsicle sticks. 9. Peanut Butter and Jelly on a Whole-Grain English Muffin Spread a tablespoon of heart-healthy nonhydrogenated peanut butter on half of a high-fiber, whole-grain English muffin and voilà! — you have a wholesome, nourishing snack. Top it off with a tablespoon of sugar-free jelly and then delight in the sweetness of a PB&J that is not only satisfying but truly good for you. 10. Cantaloupe and Cottage Cheese Low-fat cottage cheese enhances the natural sweetness of cantaloupe in this snack. Slice half a melon into thirds and top with two tablespoons of low-fat cottage cheese. The melon is a good source of vitamins A and C and folate, and the low-fat cottage cheese adds calcium to the snack. Add a sprig of mint for color and added flavor — you'll be pleasantly surprised. 11. Chocolate-Covered Strawberries Strawberries are fat-free and rich in vitamin C, and their natural sweetness when they're ripe makes this snack taste rich and decadent. Dip them in dark chocolate (it has the least added sugar) to create a thin coating — this added dimension of flavor will have you savoring each bite. Two medium to large strawberries is all you need for a snack, so don't go overboard! 12. Sugar-Free Gelatin With Fat-Free Whipped Cream A sparkling, fruit-flavored gelatin (go with a half cup) topped with whipped cream is refreshing and pleasantly satisfying. You can make this snack completely guilt-free by choosing a sugar-free or fat-free gelatin. Top it with two tablespoons of fat-free, sugar-free whipped topping to add some sweetness. Again, be sure to try a range of gelatin flavors so your snack time will never be boring. 13. Frozen Yogurt Enjoy this cool, creamy, low-cal snack anytime — just be sure to buy a frozen yogurt that is fat-free and sugar-free, and remember that a snack portion is a half cup. To add variety, try different flavors and feel free to top the frozen yogurt with a few small berries or a teaspoon of chopped nuts — this will add even more flavor and texture. --From Everyday Health

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