Coming up with ideas for diabetic snacks can be both fun and creative, especially if you try pairing different foods together to come up with unique tastes. As with all snacks for diabetics, though, make sure the pairing is between a carbohydrate and a protein. That combination will give you a longer lasting benefit than if you paired a carb with a carb.

Snacks for diabetics are no different than snacks for non-diabetics: They are snacks — not meals. So keep the portions small. And remember, too, that diabetic snacks make up part of your daily calorie count.

Here are some suggestions for diabetic snacks that might put a smile on your face.

Peanut Butter Snacks

Peanut butter is a fun food that almost everyone likes. To make some interesting and tasty diabetic snacks, you could put peanut butter on:

• A Ritz whole wheat cracker topped with a banana
• A graham cracker topped with a banana
• Rice cakes
• A whole wheat mini-bagel

Popcorn Snacks

Popcorn is more than a diabetic snack. It’s an excellent way to get a good amount of whole grain. Why? Because popcorn is whole grain. Three cups of popcorn equals one slice of whole wheat bread, five whole wheat crackers or a little more than one whole wheat mini-bagel. Don’t pop the popcorn with oil, either, but with hot air. Then mix the popcorn with:

• A couple of tablespoons of Parmesan cheese
• Cajun spices or chili powder
• A couple of tablespoons of pumpkin seeds or chopped nuts

Dipping Snacks

Dipping foods make great diabetic snacks. You can buy the dip or, even better, make it yourself in order to control the quality of ingredients that go into it. Try pairing with these combinations:

• Tomato or tomatillo salsa with baked corn ships
• Hummus with whole wheat pita bread
• Low fat bean dip with baked potato chips
• Low fat tuna dip with low fat potato chips
• Low fat cottage cheese dip with celery or some other vegetable

Egg Snacks

Eggs are a great source of protein. But be careful not to overindulge because the yolks are high in cholesterol. When eaten in moderation, though, they make good diabetic snacks. You could eat them as:

• Hard boiled eggs
• Stuffed eggs
• Smoked eggs

Homemade Baked Snacks

Baking your own diabetic snacks at home is an excellent way to make sure they contain high-quality ingredients. Of all the home-baked snacks for diabetics, one of the best is bran muffins. You can make small ones and fill them with one or more of the following:

• Ground flax
• Chopped nuts
• Cinnamon
• Dried fruits

Diabetic snacks don’t have to be boring. If you use a little imagination and creativity, you can make snacks for diabetics that are worth smiling about!

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3. Easy Chocolate Graham Torte