Lifestyle
Ten Easy And Appetizing Low Carb Snack Ideas
When watching carbs or calories to manage glucose levels, it helps to have a variety of tasty, appealing, and healthy snack foods on hand.
So, here are ten snack ideas that are big on flavor, texture, and nutrients—and take just minutes to prepare. They can also be used as part of a breakfast or lunch menu. Each snack idea has 15 to 20 grams carbohydrate:
- For something sweet and crunchy, spread a tablespoon of light cream cheese over two graham cracker squares, and top each square with 1/8 cup halved grapes.
- Tuna provides protein, and the omega-3 fatty acids so good for our heart. Mix 2 ounces drained water-packed light tuna with a teaspoon of light mayonnaise, and a teaspoon of Dijon mustard. Place the mixture on a couple rye crisps, or whole grain crackers.
- There’s plenty of vitamin A and C, plus some healthy fats in this crunchy snack. Dip 1/2 red bell pepper, sliced, and a half cup carrot sticks into a 1/4 cup of purchased (or homemade) guacamole.
- Slice half a banana and dip the slices in 1/2 ounce melted dark chocolate. Dark chocolate is loaded with antioxidants and has a low glycemic index rating. The flavonoids in dark chocolate keep blood vessels healthy, and may help lower insulin resistance.
- Pair a light cheese stick with a small pear, or half of a large pear. The cheese will help meet our calcium needs, and small pears have about 4 grams of fiber.
- Place a slice of tomato and one sliced mushroom on a round whole-grain sandwich thin. Sprinkle with two tablespoons shredded reduced-fat mozzarella cheese, and broil for one, or two minutes. It's a tasty warm treat—and just 100 calories.
- What could be easier than dipping 3/4 ounce of baked tortilla chips (approx. eight large chips) in 1/4 cup of a favorite salsa.
- Spread a couple rye crisps with 2 tablespoons light onion-flavored cream cheese; top with a quarter cup sliced cucumber. Besides being wonderfully crunchy, rye crisps are low in sodium, and fat free.
- Eight dried apricot halves are easy to carry in a small plastic bag or container, and the sweet, chewy treat will provide a vitamin A boost.
- Spread an 8-inch low carb tortilla with 2 tablespoons hummus (purchased or homemade). Top with four quartered cherry tomatoes, and 1/4 of a sweet red pepper, sliced. Roll up the tortilla and cut into bite size pieces. Bell peppers are a good source of minerals, and some B vitamins.
“I believe in a benevolent God not because He created the Grand Canyon or Michelangelo, but because He gave us snacks.” ~ Paul Rudnick, author
Sources: Diabetic Living; Fit Day; Nutrition and You
Photo credit: Apple and Pear Australia