A Must Try! 7 Fast & Easy Snack Ideas for People with Type 2 Diabetes
If you think that diabetes and snacking cannot go hand in hand, you need to think again. A little bit of indulgence is never going to be bad for you even if you suffer from type 2 diabetes. We are not saying this but the World Health Organization does say that free sugar should make up less than 10% of the daily calories that you consume.
Other than this, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, around 12 teaspoons of sugar per day which translates into 50 grams is safe for diabetics. But this might still be an overkill. The American Heart Association delves somewhere in the middle and suggests that 25 grams of sugar in a day can be considered safe for people with type 2 diabetes.
Let's not get confused over the right food for diabetics, especially items that contain sugar. All in all, a little bit of it is not going to harm you in the long run if you focus only on healthy snacks for diabetics. You just have to be mindful about its quantity and manage your calorie intake intelligently. The following recipes are easy to prepare and delicious. You may choose to add a bit of sugar to some of them for better taste but don't go overboard. After reading it through, you would make them a part of your diabetic meal plan instantly.
Healthy Snack Ideas for Type 2 Diabetes
1. Strawberries and Dark Chocolate Are Best Friends
Have you ever tried dipping full ripe strawberries into dark chocolate and feasting on them for breakfast? They are not just healthy and a great source of vitamin C but also have potent antioxidants making them awesome foods that lower blood glucose. You get around 13 grams of healthy cabs with this very easy recipe which translates into 120 calories.
2. Peanut Butter Loves Whole-Grain Muffins
We are not going for salted or sugary peanut butter at all. Choose something organic and without palm oil. Look for the ingredients label and if you find close to 90% of it made of just peanuts, make it your pick. You get around 3.5 grams of carbs and 4 grams of high-quality protein in 1 tablespoon of peanut butter. You can spread it on a whole grain or mixed grain muffin or bread slice. It can either be soft or slightly toasted as per your liking. Wash it down with a glass of almond milk with a pinch of cocoa powder and Stevia.
3. Potato Chips Can Do Salsa Too
Baked potato chips are a great addition to your anti-diabetes diet. All you have to do is wash your potatoes nicely. Do not peel them. Just slice them in the thickness you like and for flavor, you can add a bit of salt and oregano and lightly coat them with a dab of olive oil. Cook them in the oven at 220 degrees Celsius for around 20 minutes. You can check in between to see whether both sides are getting cooked or not. Take them out when they are crispy and serve them with a fresh serving of Salsa.
4. Hard-Boiled Eggs Are Perfect For You or Not
If you are not a fan of hard boiled eggs, soft boiled eggs is the ideal food for type 2 diabetes patients. Take out the eggs from the fridge and let them come to room temperature. Heat water in a medium-depth saucepan. Now immerse your eggs one by one into the water as you keep them on medium to high flame. When you notice the first boil, reduce the flame to medium-low and let them cook for 6 to 7 minutes.
After 7 minutes, scoop out the eggs and immerse them in ice-cold water so that the egg yolks remain soft. Peel them open, slice them the way you like, and season them with salt, pepper, oregano, and fresh parsley before you serve them. Three soft-boiled eggs should give type 2 diabetes patients around 33 grams of high-quality protein.
5. Too Much Love for Tuna Salad
Tuna salad is an underrated diabetic delicacy because it may lower blood sugar easily. All you need are around 3 ounces of canned tuna, a bowl of Greek yogurt, 40 grams of cottage cheese, half a bowl of spinach, and fresh coriander. Chop all the ingredients evenly before you toss them into a bowl. Add 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil along with rock salt, peri peri powder, and a little bit of dry fenugreek leaves. This is going to give you around 27 grams of high-quality protein along with Omega 3 fatty acids and antioxidants as well.
6. Oatmeal and Berries, a Fresh Start for Your Day
One of the most amazing breakfast recipes is this. A lot of people don't know that rolled oats when prepared with almond or soy milk taste even better. They are a great source of high-quality carbohydrates and protein as well. All you have to do is soak your oats in the milk of your choice along with chopped berries such as strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, and resins. Store them in a glass bowl and keep them overnight in the fridge. This is a delicious and healthy meal for people with type 2 diabetes and nothing can beat it in taste.
7. Mozzarella and Juicy Tomatoes Make a Great Combo
Low-fat mozzarella cheese goes amazingly well with freshly diced tomatoes. You can also add a tiny serving of low-fat cottage cheese to give the texture of the dish a variation. The total calories are going to stack up to around 150 and you are going to love the taste after you sprinkle a bit of salt, white pepper, oregano, lemon juice, and fresh cilantro.