As you review these snack ideas, I challenge you (if you don’t do this already), to forecast your meals and snacks this week.
You can find me doing this every Sunday afternoon, and hopefully, as a family, having the kids write the meal ideas on their little dry-erase board in the kitchen. This meal plan does not and should not be a black-and-white plan, it’s a draft to help you along with decision fatigue and planning as the week moves along.
As for snacks, while minimizing/avoiding them can have a number of benefits, including weight loss, better blood sugar control, and lower insulin levels, there are occasions when our meals are greater than 4-6 hours apart and a snack is beneficial.
On busy days, I will grab one of my fat-bombs to carry me over until dinner.
They are such a treat and require only a fraction of a dose of insulin. Try them out and let me know what you think. Recipe to Kelly’s Fat Bombs (GF, DF, Paleo).
Additional Snack Ideas:
- a cup of berries and spoonful of nut butter
- a green apple and chomps jerky stick
- 1 cup of shelled edamame, sea salt, and pepper – you can cook this from frozen or some grocery stores have roasted edamame in the chip aisle.
- 2 cups of popcorn with nutritional yeast (if you are dairy-free) or parmesan cheese
- Jilz Crackers and half an avocado. I get the portion-controlled crackers, as they are darn tasty and easy to overeat.
- 1/4 cup of spiced nuts. I love the portion controlled tin from California Almond; they sell it at wholesale and it’s a sure way to enjoy nuts in proportion.
- Seaweed snack and smoked salmon
- Kale chips – homemade or bought
- Roasted garbanzo beans
- Moon cheese and raw veggies
- A bowl of leftover roasted vegetables
- Rx bars
- Aloha bars
- Macro bars
- Epic jerky bars
- Dark chocolate (Hu is my go-to)
- Fat bomb packets
- Good Fats Bar
- Pork rinds
- A date with peanut butter in the middle – yum!
- String Cheese + Pear: Pair a stick of part-skim mozzarella string cheese (8g protein) with a small pear. The fiber in the pear complements the protein in the cheese, keeping you satisfied without spiking blood sugar.
- Greek Yogurt + Berries: A cup of plain Greek yogurt (15g protein) topped with a handful of mixed berries offers protein and antioxidants. Berries are lower in sugar than other fruits, making them ideal for blood sugar control.
- Cottage Cheese + Sliced Kiwi: Cottage cheese (14g protein) with sliced kiwi combines protein and vitamin C. The kiwi’s natural sweetness provides a great contrast to the tanginess of the cottage cheese.
- Hard-Boiled Eggs + Orange Slices: Two hard-boiled eggs (12g protein) with orange slices provide a nice balance of protein and natural fruit sugars. Oranges are rich in fiber and help keep blood sugar stable.
- Protein Shake + Strawberries: A scoop of protein powder (20g protein) blended with unsweetened almond milk and a handful of strawberries makes a quick and refreshing shake. Strawberries offer a good source of vitamin C without too much sugar.
- Almond Butter + Banana: One tablespoon of almond butter (4g protein) with a small banana gives a great mix of healthy fat, protein, and carbs. The banana provides potassium and natural sweetness.
- Tuna Salad + Cucumber Slices: Mix canned tuna (about 20g protein) with 1/4 avocado for a creamy snack. Pair with cucumber slices for a hydrating, low-calorie vegetable.
- Peanut Butter + Celery: A tablespoon of peanut butter (8g protein) paired with a few sticks of celery makes a crunchy, satisfying snack. This option adds protein, healthy fats, and fiber.
