Low Glycemic Index Diet Snack and Dessert Ideas

Many people have difficulty choosing "healthier" snacks and desserts. This is particularly true when trying to make a transition to a low glycemic index diet since most snacks and desserts are high sugar, high-fat foods. Making this change doesn’t have to mean that you give up treats forever, though.

Get rid of anything in your pantry or fridge that is high fat or high sugar and stock up on these healthier options. Fruit makes a delicious snack between meals or can provide that after dinner sweetness. forever, though.

Snacks

• Mixed nuts: buy them premixed or make your own with nuts that you like
• Fruit: berries, apples, cherries, pears, grapes (also delicious frozen!)
• Pre-cut veggies: try carrots, broccoli, cherry tomatoes, celery (great with peanut butter) or mushrooms. You can even dip in a little hummus or guacamole for a change in flavor.
• Make chips from other veggies: kale, sweet potatoes, carrots, eggplant – all make good snacks. Simply slice thin (or tear kale into bite-sized pieces), toss with a little olive or canola oil and spread in a single layer on a baking sheet and bake in a hot oven until crispy. Add a little sea salt, parmesan cheese, or another seasoning — delicious!
• Edamame: so yummy with a little sea salt
• Sliced apples with peanut butter or cheddar cheese
• Low-fat cottage cheese with berries
• Air popped popcorn
• Sliced tomatoes with mozzarella cheese and basil
• Hard-boiled eggs
• Shrimp cocktail
• Tuna
• Pizzas made from portabella mushroom caps, tomato sauce, and mozzarella cheese. Preheat oven to 350 F. Brush stem side of mushroom with a tsp of olive oil and place stem side down on a baking sheet. Bake for approximately 10 minutes until mushroom is cooked through. Remove from oven and flip mushroom over so that stem is facing upward. Pile on the sauce, cheese, and other toppings and stick back in the oven until cheese is melted. So delicious!
• Greek yogurt with fruit
• Flavored pumpkin seeds

Dessert

• Frozen grapes or bananas
• Cut up fruit: top it with a spoonful of ricotta cheese or a nut butter for something different.
• Cooked fruit: dice up apples and/or pears and place in a greased baking dish. Add raisins, chopped walnuts or toasted oats and bake in a 350 F oven until the fruit is soft and cooked through.
• Small serving of dark chocolate. Enjoy on its own or dip strawberries or bananas in it for an elegant dessert.
• Rice pudding using brown rice or chia seeds.