Lately I’m convincing myself that I need to adopt a low glycemic diet. Not keto, not low-carb, but low GI. This collection of low-GI snacks for stable blood sugar is just the first step. And, yes, I’ve been watching a lot of the Diary of a CEO podcasts. Have you noticed that the CEO, whoever it is, seems to be all over the place? Sometimes it’s politics, then dating, then being broke as a mouse, then Armageddon and then finally, we’ve got some episodes on sugar, health, brain and something. Bingo! That’s the ones I’m more interested in.
So there was one guest, maybe over a year ago, his name is Dr. Lustig (which btw in German lustig means funny – so I already like him). So he convinced me that I need to really cut back on simple carbs and high glycemic foods. Because why? Well, because I don’t want to spike my blood sugar, but more importantly, I want to reduce insulin resistance and to keep my insulin levels under control. Because last time I did blood work my levels weren’t great. Everyone in my family over the age of 35 is diabetic or pre-diabetic and if I don’t do something, I might join them in that.
So here’s the first step I’m taking. I’ve been sharing recipes for many years now and I decided to create kinda like a collection of my favorite things to eat that won’t cause a sugar crash. These are some of my favorite healthy and low glycemic snacks that can keep your blood sugar stable and are going to be suitable for diabetics, pre-diabetics and anyone else. Some of these require some prep, others you can make ahead and then some don’t require any work from you.
5-10 Minute Low-Glycemic Snacks
- Avocado Chicken Salad. All you need to do here is mash the avocado, add some chopped vegetables, herbs and cooked or leftover chicken and enjoy!
- Spicy Cashew Sauce with peppers or cucumbers. You can prepare the most amazing dip/sauce using cashews, herbs, garlic and pickled jalapenos. Dip with peppers, cucumbers or carrots for a filling snack.
- Cucumbers, Carrots or Peppers with Tzatziki and Olives. You can make tzatziki in 5 minutes and you can use raw vegetables instead of fries to transport it into your mouth.
- Cucumbers, Peppers, Carrots Or Cauliflower with Guacamole. Same for guacamole, when you change the vehicle, you change the glycemic response.
- Hummus and Vegetables. Same! You can have chickpeas and beans on a low glycemic diet, as long as you don’t go SUPER crazy and don’t eat them with a loaf of bread, they will not affect your blood sugar.
- Avocado Cucumber Salad. I know it’s a salad, but I usually have a small amount of it as a snack.
- Curried Chickpea Lettuce Wraps.
- Yogurt With Berries and Nuts. This is like an almost no-prep snack and probably my favorite thing to have when I need something sweet. I can handle sheep’s yogurt, so that’s what I have most often.
- Nut Butter and Apple or Pear Slices. When you don’t have sugar, this will seem like candy.
- Nori Veg Wraps. So this is something I’ve been making since last year, whenever I need something like sushi. I chop up cabbage, carrots, scallions and even lettuce thinly, then add in some avocado, tamari sauce and a little bit of wasabi. Mix it all together, wrap in a nori sheet, cut in the middle and – it’s a sushi for non-Japanese. My Japanese friend will slap me in the face with it. But I like it and I think you should try it if you’re looking for low GI snacks and want something like sushi. It’s SO healthy and super good! Here’s the recipe (make it to taste) and we’re continuing with the other snacks below.
Low-Glycemic Snacks For Stable Blood Sugar
Delicious and healthy low-glycemic snacks that stabilize your blood sugar and curb cravings including easy recipes and ideas for a healthier you!
Ingredients
- 1 cup lettuce, shredded
- 1 cup cabbage, shredded
- 1 carrot, grated
- 1 avocado
- 1 tbsp parsley or cilantro, thinly chopped
- 2 nori sheets
- 1 scallion, thinly chopped
- 1 tbsp tamari sauce
- 1 tsp wasabi (or to taste)
- 1 tbsp sesame seeds, toasted (optional)
- 2 nori sheets
Instructions
- Add the shredded cabbage, lettuce, carrot, avocado, scallions, tamari and wasabi to a small bowl and mix. Have a taste and add more tamari/wasabi if needed. You can also sprinkle some toasted sesame seeds.
- Place ingredients in the middle of a nori sheet and wrap rolling from one side to the other. Seal by tapping the last edges with some water. Cut in the middle and enjoy.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 117Total Fat: 9gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 326mgCarbohydrates: 10gFiber: 5gSugar: 2gProtein: 3g
Make Ahead Low-Glycemic Snacks
- Cottage Cheese Cheesecake (this is the dessert I made for my sister when she was pregnant and had gestational diabetes; it seemed to work!)
- Eggs and Sausage Muffin Cups
- Spinach Feta Muffins (these are SO good!)
- Chocolate Peanut Clusters – use dark chocolate and roasted peanuts or any other nuts to make these delicious bites!
- Roasted Red Pepper Dip With Feta – use similarly to the other dips
- Chia Pudding
- Easy Turkey Meatballs (have one or two if you need a more satiating snack, almost a full meal)
- Hard-Boiled Eggs.
No Prep Healthy Low GI Snacks
- Olives
- Nuts and Seeds
- Berries – Strawberries, Blackberries and Raspberries
If you haven’t yet, you can watch the episode with Dr. Lustig here. It’s only like, what, 2 hours? Who’s counting, pssshhh I have two hours. But he explains it so much better than me. I rewatch it in portions every now and then and I always learn something new.
I hope you enjoy the snacks you try!