Low Carb Snack Ideas

With having to shelter in place, many people find that they are snacking more often. This could be due to boredom, feeling more anxious about the future, having to work from home or having unlimited access to the cupboard.

However, if you have diabetes, the snacks you eat can impact your blood sugars.

Here are some mindful tips to think about when snacking:

• Before snacking, stop, take a few slow breaths, and ask yourself if you are really hungry. This can help you tune in with your body and hunger signals. It can also help you determine if you are eating for other reasons (boredom, stress, etc).
   
• Be mindful when snacking. Try to sit down at the table to eat your snack, rather than eating while driving, looking at the screen or talking on the phone. When you are distracted while eating, you tend to overeat.
   
• Choose a low carb snack with less than 15 grams of carbohydrate to prevent high blood sugars.
   
• Make sure your snack includes protein, healthy fats and fiber which can help you feel satisfied, prevent grazing and stabilize your blood sugar.
   
• Keep snacks in small zip lock bags or small plastic/glass containers, to help you with portion control and make it easy to grab and go.

Here are few healthy low carb snack ideas to try:

• Dried Seaweed with 1/4 cup cooked edamame and ½ cup raw veggies (peppers, carrots, celery).
   
• 4 tomato slices with 2 thin pieces of Mozzarella cheese from a big mozzarella ball (alternate tomato slice, cheese slice, tomato slice), sprinkle with balsamic vinegar and fresh chopped basil.
   
• 1 cup Cooked Broccoli/Cauliflower with 2 Tbsp. melted Mozzarella cheese.
   
• 8 Celery Sticks with 1-2 Tbsp. Natural Almond or Peanut Butter.
   
• 1/2 cup Cottage Cheese with ¼ cup of mixed berries (strawberries, raspberries, blueberries or blackberries).
   
• Fresh Yogurt Herb Dip with ½ cup raw veggies (Homemade veggie dip: mix 1/8 tsp of each: dried oregano, dried basil, garlic powder with 1/4c of lowfat Plain Greek Yogurt).

Veronica Monti & Katy McDermott are Registered Dietitian Nutritionists and Certified Diabetes Educators at the Braden Diabetes Center.