Diabetes: Healthy Daytime Snacks

Snacks help prevent low blood sugar levels and provide energy between meals. Typical snacks contain 15 to 30 grams of carbohydrate. Below are some low-fat snack ideas to try.

Snacks containing 15 grams of carbohydrate:

• 1 medium apple or orange
• 18 small pretzel twists
• 2 popcorn cakes
• 1/2 small bagel with fat-free cream cheese
• 3 cups air popped or low-fat microwave popcorn
• 8 oz. or 1 carton light yogurt
• 4 to 5 vanilla wafers
• 5 to 6 saltine crackers
• 1 1/2 graham crackers
• 1/2 cup low-fat ice cream
• 2 Tbsp raisins
• 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 1/2 cup sugar-free pudding
• 1 fruit roll-up
• 1 fruit juice bar

Snacks with 30 grams of carbohydrate:

• 1 small bagel with fat-free cream cheese
• 1 oz baked tortilla chips with 1/4 cup salsa
• 1 low-fat granola bar
• 1 large banana or 2 pieces of fruit
• 4 oz individual fruit cup and 1 cup skim milk
• 1 cup Cheerios with 1/2 cup skim milk
• 1/4 cup dried fruit
• 2 caramel corn cakes
• 1 cereal bar
• 15 baked potato chips
• 14 animal crackers and 1/2 cup skim milk
• 2 fig cookies and 1 cup skim milk

Special Suggestions

• Encourage your child to eat fresh fruit rather than juice as a routine snack (unless blood sugar is low).
• Add sugar-free flavorings (such as sugar-free cocoa or milk flavorings) to milk, if needed.
• If your child is still hungry after the snack, offer water, popsicles made with diet pop or Kool-Aid, or carrot sticks or celery in a dish with cold water and ice cubes.
• Don't make issues of food jags or eating crazes. They usually pass.
• Insulin should be taken to balance the carbohydrates. Ideally, insulin should be taken 10 to 15 minutes before the snack.
• If low blood sugars happen repeatedly at the same time of day, or if your child exercises for a long time, a snack may help prevent low blood sugar.

Two Good Summer Daytime Snacks

Yogurt Creamsicles

Combine 1/2 cup plain skim milk yogurt (1/2 carb) with 1/2 cup fruit juice concentrate, undiluted (3 carbs). Freeze in popsicle molds until solid. This snack equals 3 carb choices.

Fruit popsicles

Blend 1 cup fresh fruit: berries, peaches, or bananas (2 carbs) with 1/2 cup apple juice concentrate, undiluted (3 carbs). Freeze in popsicle molds until solid. This snack equals 5 carb choices.