Answer
Jun 18, 2018 - 01:00 PM
Healthy snacks are important for children with diabetes, whether they are dealing with type1 diabetes or type 2 diabetes. Snacks provide a way for children to recharge, manage their blood glucose levels, and sustain energy until their next meal.
When deciding what snacks to give your child, try to incorporate a variety of foods. Snacks for kids should come from the bread, dairy foods, and fruits and vegetables groups. You can also ask your child's doctor or registered dietitian for healthy snack recommendations, as well as how to monitor the carbs in your child's snack.
Here are healthy snack ideas for kids from three food groups.
From the bread group:
1. air-popped popcorn
2. baked chips
3. breadsticks
4. graham crackers
5. low and no fat rolls, such as bagels (measure: half of a 3-inch bagel = 1 carb)
6. low-fat crackers
7. pretzels
8. rice cakes with fruit spread or all natural peanut butter
9. trail mix
10. vanilla wafers
From the dairy foods group:
1. frozen, low-fat, no sugar added yogurt or ice cream
2. fruit smoothies (made with non-fat yogurt, fruit, skim milk, and ice cubes)
3. low-fat cheese
4. low-fat cottage cheese or ricotta
5. low-fat milk
6. low-fat yogurt
7. string cheese
From the fruits and vegetables group:
1. apple wedges
2. baby carrots or carrot sticks
3. banana slices
4. celery sticks stuffed with low-fat cream cheese or natural peanut butter
5. cherry tomatoes
6. cucumber slices
7. grapes
8. melon balls
9. oranges and tangerine sections
10. peach or pear slices
11. raisins or yogurt-covered raisins
12. strawberry slices
13. tomato and vegetables juices
14. unsweetened fruit juices
When shopping for these foods, be sure to read the nutrition labels, and watch for phrases, such as "low fat"—that doesn't always mean low in calories. Also, sometimes sugar is added for taste, which adds to the carbohydrate count.
Note that fat and cholesterol should not be limited in children younger than 2 years old because they are necessary for growth and development. After age 2, you can start incorporating more low-fat dairy products and leaner meat servings. Your child's food needs will continue to change as they grow.
When deciding what snacks to give your child, try to incorporate a variety of foods. Snacks for kids should come from the bread, dairy foods, and fruits and vegetables groups. You can also ask your child's doctor or registered dietitian for healthy snack recommendations, as well as how to monitor the carbs in your child's snack.
Here are healthy snack ideas for kids from three food groups.
From the bread group:
1. air-popped popcorn
2. baked chips
3. breadsticks
4. graham crackers
5. low and no fat rolls, such as bagels (measure: half of a 3-inch bagel = 1 carb)
6. low-fat crackers
7. pretzels
8. rice cakes with fruit spread or all natural peanut butter
9. trail mix
10. vanilla wafers
From the dairy foods group:
1. frozen, low-fat, no sugar added yogurt or ice cream
2. fruit smoothies (made with non-fat yogurt, fruit, skim milk, and ice cubes)
3. low-fat cheese
4. low-fat cottage cheese or ricotta
5. low-fat milk
6. low-fat yogurt
7. string cheese
From the fruits and vegetables group:
1. apple wedges
2. baby carrots or carrot sticks
3. banana slices
4. celery sticks stuffed with low-fat cream cheese or natural peanut butter
5. cherry tomatoes
6. cucumber slices
7. grapes
8. melon balls
9. oranges and tangerine sections
10. peach or pear slices
11. raisins or yogurt-covered raisins
12. strawberry slices
13. tomato and vegetables juices
14. unsweetened fruit juices
When shopping for these foods, be sure to read the nutrition labels, and watch for phrases, such as "low fat"—that doesn't always mean low in calories. Also, sometimes sugar is added for taste, which adds to the carbohydrate count.
Note that fat and cholesterol should not be limited in children younger than 2 years old because they are necessary for growth and development. After age 2, you can start incorporating more low-fat dairy products and leaner meat servings. Your child's food needs will continue to change as they grow.
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