To snack or not to snack….that is a really good question.
Have you ever been told you HAVE to snack between meals and/or before bed, because you have diabetes? Or worse- have you been told you AREN’T ALLOWED to snack, because you need to lose weight and/or control your blood sugar?
I’m here to tell you that, like everything else when it comes to nutrition, there is no ONE right answer. Everybody is different. Personally, I snack pretty freakin hard, but I try to keep it to when I’m truly hungry.
My point is: Listen to your body. If it’s saying FEEEEED ME between meals, it’s snack time. In my experience, the secret to snacks that won’t wreak havoc on your blood sugars or weight loss plans is this- P L A N. T O. S N A C K. Denying yourself snacks between meals for the sake of blood sugar control and weight loss is silly, and it usually leaves you rummaging through the pantry at 3pm eating stale cookies and chip crumbs. Instead, planning to have a snack gives you the opportunity to shop for and/or prepare (and bring to work?!) items you can turn to when you are truly hungry and need something to get you through to the next meal.
Wondering how to think up these concoctions? Check out this formula:
Protein + Carb (preferably a high-fiber carb!) =
the ultimate filling, satisfying, and blood-sugar friendly snack!
Or, try out the tried and true snack combos below. Why reinvent the (snack) wheel? I’ll leave the portion sizes of these foods up to you- the goal is to eat enough to get you comfortably to the meal.
Hummus + carrots (baby carrots or sliced large carrots)
Cottage cheese + cubed watermelon
Trader Joe’s Greek yogurt spinach dip + whole grain crackers*
Plain, SF or low sugar Greek yogurt cup + berries
Pistachios + apple
Guacamole mixed with cottage cheese + carrots
Cottage cheese on top of whole wheat toast sprinkled with cinnamon
Stove-top popcorn (lightly salted, minimum butter) + low-fat mozzarella cheese stick
*my favorite are CrunchMasters Multi Grain Crackers
I hope you enjoy some of my favorite and most filling blood sugar-friendly snacks!
Need more guidance and/or meal/snack planning ideas? Schedule a free 15 minute discovery call with me! I’d love to work with you.
