Who says diabetics can’t enjoy sweets? Of course they can! It’s just a matter of choosing the right sweet treat. Here are a few treats that diabetics can enjoy to make their lives sweeter.
Greek Yogurt
Forget about your frozen yogurt treats with sugar-laden chocolate and crushed cookies on top. Instead, make it healthier. Look for a natural Greek yogurt and add some nutritious, healthy toppings of your own. For example, try chopped nuts and of course fresh fruit.
Yogurt contains trace minerals, B vitamins and calcium and if you choose natural Greek yogurt, you can benefit from the probiotics it contains. Probiotics are essential for gut health and the immune system. Nuts contain fiber and complex carbs that won’t cause blood sugar spikes. These nuts are also good sources of several B vitamins, zinc, magnesium, copper and potassium.
Fruity Ice Pops
You can make ice pops from almost all types of fruits and they’re super simple to make. Just place your chosen fruits into your blender and then pour into popsicle molds and freeze. Fruit is sweet, and if you make your own, you’ll be sure that there are no added sugars. The key here is to choose fruits that are already naturally sweet!
To make a different ice pop treat, add some Greek yoghurt to your fruit before pouring into the molds. These will be like having a frozen fruity yogurt or a creamy style ice-cream pop. Either way, your taste buds will enjoy the change.
Cookies with Barley Flakes
This is another home-made treat, but this one needs a bit more time to prepare as you’ll need to bake the cookies. Enjoying a cookie or two without harming your blood sugar levels is worth the extra time.
Your ingredients for this recipe include dried apricots, hazelnuts, sunflower seeds, dried dates and barley flakes. Dried fruits contain a higher ratio of sugar, compared to the natural fruit, so watch quantities. You’ll also need wheat flour, baking soda, canola oil and apple juice. Again, choose unsweetened apple juice.
Mix the apple juice with the canola oil and then pour into your dry mixture. Stir until all the ingredients have been moistened. Next place small spoonfuls onto a tray and bake. Bake for approximately ten minutes or until the biscuits turn golden brown.
Remember to limit your sweet treats to just one (or 2 if they’re really little), rather than a handful. Just because these biscuits are not full of sugar, it doesn’t mean they’re ultra-healthy or that you can binge.
Snack Ideas
A great snack to grab when you need it, that won’t hurt your blood sugar levels as it’s low GI, is a cracker with peanut butter. If you love peanut butter, this little snack will become a handy snack treat.
Another great snack is a dip made with avocado. Use celery or carrot sticks and dip them into your homemade avocado dip!
You can always enjoy a piece of fruit and/or small handful of nuts too.
These are just a few homemade sweet treats and snacks that diabetics can enjoy. Always remember that whenever you want to indulge in something sweet go for one that contains less carbs and less sugar. Focus more on sweets that are rich in fiber and nutrients. There are plenty of treats you can purchase for diabetics, you just have to read labels and look a bit harder.
