Many of us are snackers! But if you have diabetes, you must be careful. Choosing non carb snacks can be the best option to prevent blood sugar spikes.
However, sometimes choosing low carb snacks is difficult. You might have tried to pick some snacks but you are still craving for some carbs.
To help you stay on track, here we have listed the top non carb snacks for diabetics.
Low Carb Snacks That Are Diabetic-Friendly
Egg Muffins
Egg muffins are a simple snack that is made of vegetables and egg mixture. They are mixed and backed in the muffin tin.
Egg muffins become a favorite of many people because it is easy to make, especially if it is diabetes-friendly.
What makes egg muffins great is the protein and fiber from the eggs and veggies. Eating egg muffins will keep your blood sugar level stable. Typically, egg muffin is a combination of onions, spinach, and bell peppers with seasonings and also hot sauce. It is delicious and satisfying.
Peanut Butter Celery Sticks
Celery sticks are delicious. A unique way to eat celery sticks is by dipping them in peanut butter. It is healthy for people with diabetes.
Don’t worry about the calories, because celery sticks only provide 14 calories per 101 grams. You can manage your weight while controlling your diabetes.
Furthermore, the celery sticks are rich in antioxidants which are great for helping the body in fighting free radicals.
To get extra protein, add a tablespoon of peanut butter to your celery sticks. The protein and fiber will control the sugar level.
Homemade Protein Bars
Another great low carb snack is protein bars. The homemade version is better than the store-bought because it is loaded with a lot of sugar. The amount of protein in the snacks will be beneficial for your body.
The recipe is simple. It includes whey protein, peanut butter, and oat flour. You need to reduce the amount of honey to reduce the sugar content. Also, remove the chocolate chips.
Edamame
Edamame is the next diabetes-friendly snack that you can choose. These green soybeans are very nutritious. In a 155-gram of edamame, there are 18-gram of protein and 8-gram of fiber.
The correlation between edamame and a lower risk of diabetes is probably because of the isoflavones that help the body lower the blood sugar level as well as reduce insulin resistance.
Typically, edamame is steamed. If you like, you can enhance the flavor by adding seasonings.
Trail Mix
It is a combination of dried fruits, seeds, and nuts. a 28-gram of trail mix had 4-gram of protein, making it a fulfilling and satisfying snack to eat in your spare time. It controls the blood sugar level in people with diabetes.
Besides protein, trail mix contains fiber and healthy fats which come from seeds and nuts. both ingredients can reduce insulin and blood sugar levels.
To make a healthy trail mix, make sure to reduce the amount of dried fruit because it has a lot of sugar which can increase your blood sugar if you eat it too much. Also, avoid eating too much trail mix in one sitting because it is high in calories. It is suggested to eat just a handful of trail mix.
Black Bean Salad
It is a healthy and easy snack that you can make in minutes. Just mix the cooked black beans with some vegetables such as peppers and onions. After that, toss the mixture with vinaigrette dressing.
Black bean salad is rich in protein and fiber which is great for people with diabetes. It prevents the body to have blood sugar spikes and also lowers the insulin level. Besides, it can also lower cholesterol.
Energy Bites (No Bake Version)
Energy bites are fun and delicious. You just combine the ingredients into balls. Of course, the ingredients are your choice, but most people make energy bites from seeds, butter, and oats.
Energy bites mostly are high in protein and fiber. These two are well-known to lower blood sugar.
Energy bites are easy to make. You don’t need to bake and you can carry it on the go.
Chia Seed Pudding
Typically, chia seeds pudding is made of chia seed that is soaked in milk until it has a pudding-like consistency.
Chia seeds are good to stabilize blood sugar because it contains important nutrients such as fiber, protein, and omega-3 fatty acids.
Chia seeds work by slowing down the release of sugar in the blood. It also slows down the digestion process. You will also have lower triglyceride levels after eating chia seeds that reduce the risk of heart disease.
Popcorn
Popcorn is a healthy snack that is suitable for people with diabetes. It has lower calories than an 8-gram air popcorn has 31 calories.
Snacking food with lower calories will control your weight as well as decrease your blood sugar. Besides, it also has fiber that an 8-gram of popcorn contains 1 gram of fiber.
Keep in mind to make popcorn on your own because most microwave popcorn is high in fat and salt.
Tuna Salad
Another non carb snack to know about is tuna salad. Just combine tuna, mayonnaise, and other ingredients (such as onions and celery).
It is a zero-carb snack that in a 5-ounce of can tuna gives 20 grams of protein. Besides, it is also rich in omega-3 fatty acids that are great to manage diabetes. It can lower the inflammation and also improve the blood sugar level.
You can mix tuna salad with yogurt or cottage cheese rather than mayonnaise.
Whole-grain Crackers with Cheese
You can make your cracker sandwich by topping it with cheese slices. Many people might think cracker sandwiches are high in carbs, but the fat in the cheese can prevent the body from blood pressure spice.
Some studies show that consuming cheese is related to a lower risk of diabetes.
Keep in mind to make your crackers because the store-bought one consists of refined flour and also sugar which plays an important role in blood sugar spike.
It suggested making “cracker sandwiches” from whole grains.
Cottage Cheese
A 112-gram of cottage cheese contains 4-gram of carbs and also 13-gram of protein. It is a type of food that can lower the blood sugar level due to its richness of protein.
You can combine cottage cheese with nutrients and also fiber.
Turkey Roll-up
It is a breadless sandwich wrap that consists of cheese, turkey breast slices, and veggies. Due to the high protein and low carb contents, this food help keep the sugar levels under control.
Furthermore, turkey roll-up also boosts your appetite while still preventing you from overeating. To make a healthy turkey roll-up, you can spread cream cheese (around 1 tablespoon) on the turkey. And then wrap it with cucumbers. You can also use bell peppers.
Roasted Chickpeas
It is incredibly healthy that a 164-gram serving of chickpeas contains 14.5 grams of protein and also 12.5 grams of fiber.
According to research, consuming chickpeas and other legumes can reduce the risk of diabetes and also controls blood sugar.
One way to make chickpeas taste more delicious is by roasting them. Roast them using olive oil and also add seasonings if you like.
Beef Sticks
Of course, it is because of the high protein and also the low carb contents in the beef sticks. A 28-gram of beef stick contains 6 grams of protein. Choose grass-fed beef because it has more omega-3 acids that will help your body control the sugar blood level.
A note to remember is that beed sticks are sometimes high in sodium. High-sodium food can lead to high blood pressure. Therefore, make sure to consume it in moderation.
Apples with Peanut Butter
Eating fruits as your snack is a great idea It is delicious and healthy. You can enhance the taste by pairing it with nut butter.
Apples are nutritious because it contains potassium, vitamin C, and also B vitamins. Meanwhile, peanut butter is rich in magnesium and vitamin E.
Combine a medium apple with 2 tablespoons of peanut butter to maintain blood sugar. The reason why apples are good for diabetes is because of the polyphenol antioxidants which are good to protect the pancreatic cells from damage.
FAQs
What are the best low carb snack foods?
Many food combinations are low carbs such as avocado, veggies and hummus, a handful of almonds, yogurt with berries, and hard-boiled eggs. The remaining lists are in the above explanation. Make sure to reduce sweet and starchy food as it can lead to blood pressure spikes.
What are foods to avoid when on a low carb diet?
There are several foods that you should limit when you are on a low-carb diet. Some of them are bread and grains, some fruits like bananas, raisins, and dates, starchy vegetables such as potatoes, sweet potatoes, and beets, pasta, cereal, beer, sweetened yogurt, juice, fat-free salad dressing, legumes, honey, and sugar, and chips.
What can I eat instead of bread?
There are many healthy alternatives to replace bread such as corn tortillas, rye bread, lettuce, and leafy greens.
How to cheat on a low carb diet?
You can eat keto-friendly foods if you are on a low-carb diet. Or, you can eat some carbs in small portions and make it rare. Try to avoid sugar to keep the blood sugar level stable.