Vegan Food

diabetic friendly snacks

Diabetic Friendly Snacks That Can Be Eaten without Worrying about Sugar Levels

It feels great to binge on sweet and savoury snacks that go perfectly well with tea or coffee. Not all these go-to-snacking choices are good for health. In fact, the fried and sugary snacks are unhealthy for normal people, let alone the diabetics. With sugar as a big “NO” for the diabetics, the snack choice becomes pretty limited to them. Fortunately, they still have a wider variety of snack ideas for their mid-meal cravings. These sugar-free varieties are equally good for the non-diabetics as well. Remember, one of the keys to stay healthy is to avoid sugary, fried and spicy foods.

In this article, we will talk about some common diabetic-friendly snacks that you can take bites off without worrying about your blood sugar level and overall health.

Hard-Boiled Eggs

Hard-boiled eggs are high in protein content and an excellent snack for diabetic patients. Protein works against blood sugar spike and keeps your craving at bay. Hence, it helps to control your weight as well. No preparation time and just a few minutes of cooking, that’s it!

Avocado

 Avocado is loaded with nutritional benefits. It is rich in fibre but low in carbohydrates. It regulates your blood sugar level and helps to manage weight as well. It has the best combination of healthy fats that help in regulating your cholesterol levels (condition largely present in association with diabetes) and your overall health and nourishment.

Almonds

Almonds are called superfood for the diabetic patients. Packed with nutritional ingredients, almonds help regulate and prevent diabetes. Several studies claim that almonds protect cardiovascular health in patients with type-2 diabetes. Diabetic people often suffer from magnesium deficiency. Taking almond, which is a rich source of magnesium, can address the problem in them.

Black Bean Salad

Black bean is another superfood for diabetes management. It offers several benefits. They have a good amount of magnesium and low glycaemic index, both of which help stabilise blood sugar. The rich fibre and protein content in them is good for your gut health. Beans have a versatile use. You can prepare salads or soups and also a comforting side dish with black beans.

Black bean salad is a great delicacy. Toss black beans, carrots, cucumbers and tomatoes in a small bowl.  Season it with your favourite salad dressing and enjoy! A salad full of colours is  a quick fix to satiate your cravings anytime!

Protein Bars

 Protein plays an important role in managing both weight and diabetes. In addition, protein-rich foods also boost up your energy level. Protein bars are an easy-to-go snack option whenever you feel like enjoying some goodness of crunches. Make sure to read the label as many protein bars use unhealthy ingredients only as flavour and taste enhancer. Avoid artificial sweeteners in your protein bars! Hence, be a little choosy when buying one.

Trail Mix

So easy to make and so delicious to taste! Prepared with super healthy elements such as, nuts, seeds and fruits, trail mix is a great source of protein. It is one of the best high-protein vegan snacks. There are glowing evidences from several studies that protein-rich foods lower blood sugar level and insulin dependency.

Wrapping Up

So, you see ‘No Sugar’ never takes sweetness away from your daily life. Diabetic foods, contrary to commonly believed notions, are not tasteless at all. They just score high on parameters of nutritional benefits while making sure to present themselves as healthy temptations for your taste buds.

Pro Tip: Do not stay hungry if you are a diabetic. Do not resort to quick energy bites too! High protein and high fibre snacks would be your saviours!

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vegan food

Vegan Eating: Not Bland and Boring

When someone talks about vegan diets, many people give him/her a peculiar stare as if the person grazes on fields for food. Just dropping meat and fish from your daily diet does not make it any less tasty and healthy. It’s true that in bygone days, vegans had only a few options. But this is not the scenario any more.

There is a variety of options to tease and appease your jaded taste palate. Personally, many people love salad prepared with colourful vegetables, fruits or a mix of both. Colours are so much fun when it is served on a platter. A simple WOW moment for almost everyone! Fruit salads are an eye teaser. Apart from their look, they taste delicious, fill your tummy and load the right kind of nutrition in your body. There are protein-rich greens like kale, broccoli, lettuce, healthy vegan snacks and the list simply goes on.

While the variety may feel tempting for those already on vegan diets, the carnivores will think or scream, “Yuk, bland food”.

In many dinner parties with their relatives and the strangers, many vegans are subjected to both curiosity and teases for their dietary choices. “Cutting protein is not good for health”, “You are almost starving” – these are some common refrains many vegans have been used to hear from their well-wishers. There are millions like them. It is high time to bust some long-nourished myths about vegan food.

Myth #1: Vegan Food is Not Tasty

When people say bad things about vegan varieties, it is really surprising why they gorge on bhel puri, pani puri, papri chaat, dahi vada, dhosa, paratha and many other tasty snacks. They munch on potato chips, popcorns and don’t prefer burgers or biryani while watching an engaging movie or a riveting match. They go crazy about paneer tikka, cauliflower curry, jackfruit gravy and many such dishes in their lunch menu. They have no love lost for samosa, noodles, and so many chaats.

So, you see the range of options. Now vegan versions of many non-vegan foods such as, biryani are also available. These add to the already umpteen choices. Vegan cheese and vegan ice cream are already in the market.

Don’t you love fruit jams plastered on breads? Then, how can you call vegan foods not yummy? The matter of fact is, you cringe at the word “Vegan” but love the foods that come under the category. An amazing paradox!

Myth #2: Vegan Food is Boring

An interesting variety of vegan foods have already found a mention above. And it’s just the tip of the iceberg. You cannot deny that on any day, these are divine delights. The sumptuous vegan spreads on table are not made of some weird ingredients. You can whip up magic with a simple twist. Do you know a little passion for magic can turn banana into ice cream, peanuts into curd, chickpea water into whipped cream, jackfruit into vegan meat? And the list just goes on. These are not bland in taste; so, how can they be boring?

Myth #3: Vegan Food is Not Healthy

Vegan foods are packed with necessary vitamins, minerals and other ingredients for your good health. Tofu, chickpea, lentils, peanuts, almonds etc are rich in protein. There are vegan protein bars to meet your daily protein quota. Rice, millet, bread, sweet potatoes, beats, apples, dates, mango, pineapple, bananas fulfil your necessary carbohydrate intake. For vegans, nuts and seeds are a good source of necessary fat, protein and fibre. So, you see, you won’t miss out anything!

Pro Tip: Try to be a vegan for 7 days, and notice a change in your moods too along with a fitter body!!

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