Snacks & sweets

Better buys

• Fruit is an excellent snack.
• Vegetable sticks (with/without low fat dip).
• Wholegrain sandwiches and filled rolls (watch dressings and butter content).
• Wholegrain cereals.
• Low fat milk.
• Low fat yoghurt.
• Low fat wholegrain crackers/crispbreads/ biscuits.
• Small sized low fat muffins or scones.
• Oven baked pretzels.
• Sugar free chewing gum.
• Low fat mini or bite size fruit bars.
• Plain popcorn.

Good to know

• Fruit, popcorn, bread, biscuits, crackers, cake, yoghurt and potato/rice/corn based snacks are high carbohydrate foods.
• Eating too many carbohydrate snacks may raise blood glucose levels above desirable levels.
• Morning and afternoon tea snacks may not be necessary, ask your dietitian.
• Try mini or bite sized bars as a snack rather than full sized bars.

Label information

• Choose muesli bars with less than 10g fat per 100g and more than 6g fibre per 100g.
• Beware: Many low fat muesli bars are high in sugar. Choose a muesli bar with the lowest sugar content as well.

Watch points

• Chips, corn chips, other fried snacks, reduced cream and sour cream dips, pies and pastries are high in fat and energy.
• Lollies, chocolates, roll-ups, dried fruit and muesli bars are all high carbohydrate foods and can raise blood glucose levels above desirable, especially when eaten as extras.
• Chocolate (including ‘diabetic’ chocolate) and carob are high in fat and energy.
• Diabetic sweets may contain sorbitol or fructose,which, if eaten in large amounts, may cause stomach cramps and diarrhoea.
• Banana chips are often high in fat and sugar.