For a parent, it can be overwhelming and sometimes even heartbreaking to deny their child certain snacks and meals on account of a health issue (i.e., diabetes). When the children are young, it can be next to impossible to make them understand exactly why they cannot eat a food item and while patience and perseverance go a long way, finding alternatives is a huge help too.
You can start by finding alternate recipes for traditionally fatty and carb-rich snacks such as chips, pizzas, and pancakes will ensure your child doesn’t feel left out and can enjoy something delicious while remaining healthy. Healthy snacks need not be boring. You can combine items from the food groups to make snacking fun and colorful. Here are some ideas for late-night snacks for children and even adults with diabetes:
1. Snack pizza
Arrange biscuits from a 9.5 oz. pack of flaky refrigerator biscuits in a circle on a baking sheet. Mix ¼ cup tomato paste and 1 teaspoon oregano, and brush onto the biscuit base. Combine ¼ cup chopped onion and ⅓ cup of canned mushroom and spread over the tomato paste. Grate low-fat cheese and bake for 8 minutes in a preheated oven at 400º oven. Slice and serve.
2. Fruit sundae
Place roughly crushed meringue at the bottom of a tall glass. Then, add fruits that your kid likes, but ensure to go with those that do not have too much natural sugar. Place slices of fruits like paw-paw, banana, passion fruit, and berries that go well together. Mix 200 grams of fromage frais and about 1 tablespoon of sugar and sprinkle on fruits. Repeat layers until you reach the top of the glass. Enjoy this sweet treat with your child.
3. No-cooking pickle wraps
Spread low-fat cream cheese on dill pickles, patted dry. Wrap thinly sliced luncheon meat on every pickle. Slice the wrap into half and serve. This can be a healthy and easy snack before bedtime.
4. Pita chips
Cut 6 pieces of 6” pita bread into wedges and divide each into two making a total of 12 pieces. Add cooking spray and herbs of your choice. Bake for 375º for 5 minutes on one side, turn the pieces and bake for another five minutes. Serve with salsa, guacamole or dips that your child likes.
5. Applesauce muffins
Mix 1 large egg, 1 ¼ cup of unsweetened applesauce, 1 teaspoon grapeseed oil, and ¼ cup honey. Fold 1 cup whole-wheat flour, 1 cup all-purpose flour, 2 teaspoons of baking powder, ¾ teaspoon baking soda, ½ teaspoon cinnamon, and 1 cup blueberries and mix well. Fill the mixture in about 12 muffin tins. Mix ¼ cup oats and 1 tablespoon brown sugar and evenly spread over the muffins. Bake at 375º degrees for 20 minutes. Let them cool down for a bit before removing them from the muffin tins.
Involve your child in the cooking process. If you have more than one child, encourage all your children to have these snacks so that nobody feels singled out. You can cut the fruits and vegetables in different shapes to remove the monotony. You can sit with your child and plan the menu for two weeks or so, so that you have enough ideas for safe late-night snacks despite your child suffering from diabetes.
