Good Snacks for Diabetics are low in calories, sugar, salt and fat. Diabetics must choose snacks in such a way that they get essential nutrients from the snacks. Snacks that give you fibre, minerals, protein, vitamins and those that make you feel full for longer are good.
This is because sugar, salt and fat are harmful for diabetics. Diabetes need to eat meals and snacks low in sugar, salt and fat.
High calorie snacks make you gain weight which is not good.
Foods high in sugar cause sudden spikes in blood sugar levels. Thus they are not good snacks for diabetics.
Salts in snacks can lead to high blood pressure. Thus such snacks are not good snacks for diabetics.
Foods high in fat can lead to weight gain. Weight gain can have many adverse effects and so fatty or oily snacks are not ‘good snacks for diabetics’.
Good Snacks for Diabetics
Any diabetic snack ideas must make sure the number of calories and the amount of salt, sugar and fat is low.
You must take care of such facts in every Diabetic Meal Plan. You can eat some cheese bars now and then but fresh fruit and vegetables make good snacks for diabetics.
Why do we need Good Snacks for Diabetics?
Diabetics have a typical symptom of feeling hungry soon after eating a meal.
This makes them more likely to grab a snack between meals.
It is important to have good snacks for diabetics handy as eating salty, sweet, oily and fatty snacks can be harmful for diabetics.
In general good snacks for diabetics include natural whole foods that are rich in nutrients and anti-oxidants.
Examples of best snacks for diabetics include cheese, fresh fruits and vegetables.
Cheese
Cheese being a milk based product is primarily rich in water and protein. It also provides you with many essential nutrients and minerals. Hence cheese makes a good snack for diabetics. There are many types of cheese. A diabetic can eat any cheese type but cottage cheese is widely accepted as the best for diabetics.
As cheese contains virtually zero sugar, you need not worry about spikes in blood sugar levels after eating cheese. This means a diabetic can definitely eat cheese for a snack. However, some experts consider cheese as a risk factor for cardio vascular diseases. Hence you may want to keep a tab on the portion size while eating cheese.
Vegetables
Vegetables like cucumber, carrot, lettuce, celery, and tomato etc. are very suitable for diabetics for snacking.
These vegetables are very low in sugar and high in nutrients and anti-oxidants.
Fruits have more sugars than vegetables. So vegetables are the best snacks for diabetics.
Healthy diabetic snacks include fresh vegetables like cucumber, lettuce and celery. A good Diabetic Diet includes plenty of fresh vegetables.
Fresh Fruits
Can diabetics eat fruit?
Fruits like apple, banana, pear, pineapple, plums, etc. are great diabetic snacks. So they are also the Best Fruits for Diabetics.
People say an apple a day keeps the doctor away. So you can definitely eat an apple for a snack if you are diabetic. It will improve your health.
Banana is very good for health. I often keep bananas handy to snack on.
Pear and Papaya are very diabetic friendly snacks for their low sugar and high fibre content.
But certain tropical fruits like pineapple and mango are very high in sugar. So a diabetic can eat tropical fruits only in limited quantities.
Dry Fruits
Fruits include both fresh fruits and dry fruits.
However doctors say one must prefer fresh fruits due to their higher nutritional value.
However if fresh fruit is not available, you can eat dry fruits. Dry fruits are healthy diabetic snacks as they are low in sugar.
Please bear in mind that dry fruit portions must be smaller compared to fresh fruit.
Moreover, a mix of fresh and dry Best Fruits for Diabetics can make great diabetic snack ideas and make a good Diabetic Meal Plan.
Can diabetics eat fruit? Yes diabetics can eat fresh fruit as well as dry fruit.
A good Diabetic Diet includes both fresh fruit and dry fruit.
Nuts
Nuts are very rich in nutrition and provide instant energy. Thus, diabetics can benefit from eating nuts. The best nuts are almonds, walnuts, pistachios, peanuts and cashew nuts.
How often can a diabetic eat snacks?
Diabetics can eat a small snack around every 2 hours or so.
So, it is important that good snacks for diabetics are always be available for diabetics.
This is because when the blood sugar level goes too low, a diabetic urgently needs to eat good snacks for diabetics.
