Finding great tasting, low carbohydrate snacks can be a challenge sometimes. Being a type 1 diabetic myself, I know how hard it is to find snacks that don’t increase my blood sugar much and do not require me to take insulin.

Here are some ideas for good, nutritious snacks that won’t increase your blood sugar and are good for both type 1 and 2 diabetics and anyone else looking to improve their health by balancing their blood sugar.

Read More: Why You Should Eat Like A Diabetic

Healthy Snack Ideas for Optimum Blood Sugar Control

Raw nuts and seeds: Make up a mixture of sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, almonds, walnuts, pecans or whatever nuts and seeds you prefer. Keep them on hand for a quick healthy snack, you can either eat them raw or if you prefer you can lightly toast and salt them yourself (see the bottom of the article for a sweet and salty trail mix idea).

Cut up veggies with hummus: A healthy satisfying snack to keep on hand, make your own hummus for a healthier version. Hummus is simple to make in your food processor. Be careful though - although chickpeas do contain carbohydrates that can increase your blood sugar, a small amount is usually fine as the high fiber content slows down the sugar spike.

Olives & pickles: Yummy and salty, these snacks have very little affect on your blood sugar.

Avocados: Eat plain, or try them blended up with raw coco powder, stevia and a bit of almond milk for a delicious chocolate pudding that’s healthy and sugar free. Avocados can also be used as a base for a dip like guacamole; use to dip cut up veggies in it.

Kale chips: Try them roasted in the oven on a low temperature and sprinkled with natural sea salt or nutritional yeast. A perfect low carbohydrate chip alternative and easy to make, you can find many kale chip recipes online.

Nori: There are many different types of seaweed. I love the kind from asian supermarkets that are sold in a bag like chips and are flavored, just make sure they don’t include MSG. This is something I consider a treat and don’t eat often. But the raw unflavored kind can be enjoyed as often as you please. Not only are they a great low carbohydrate snack, but they contain many important minerals we are often missing from our diets. 

Celery: Sounds boring, but celery is excellent for lowering blood pressure and gives you that crunch that you might sometimes crave. Fill your celery stalks with nut butters for more flavor and added protein.

Here’s a quick and easy recipe for a sweet and salty trail mix. Great to keep on hand for a quick low glycemic treat, keep the dried fruit minimal in this as dried fruit has a high sugar content and can quickly raise blood sugar levels.

Sweet and Salty Trail Mix

In a jar (large or medium mason jars work well) add all the ingredients in the jar and mix it around; your snack for the week will be ready in less than 10 minutes.

• lightly roasted and salted almonds

• raw pecans

• raw walnuts

• raw pumpkin seeds

• raw sunflower seeds

• raw cocoa nibs

• minimal amount of dried fruit- goji berries, cranberries (sweetened with apple juice is best- check labels), organic apricots or dried fruit of your choice.

The amounts can be adjusted to your taste and to the amount you want to keep on hand.

Do you have any good snack ideas for optimum blood sugar control for diabetics; if so what are they?

Susanna Deering has a passion for nutrition and great tasting food.  As a type 1 diabetic herself, Susanna is deeply aware first hand how important the right foods are to our diets. Learning to live with diabetes after being diagnosed at the age of 28 grew Susanna’s passion for nutrition. Her journey into the field of holistic nutrition has not only helped her manage her diabetes, it has also inspired her to help others manage their health through nutrition as well.

Finding foods to match a client's needs is something Susanna loves to do.  She works with each individual client to find personalized solutions to assist in making positive changes which assists the body to achieving greater overall health.

For consultations with Susanna and more information, please visit- www.nourished-life.com

Susanna Deering