Home
|
Money

This Week In Money Banking Budgeting Cash Management College Consumer Protection Credit Cards & Repair

Credit Scores Debt Earning Money Expenses, Family Finances General Advice Houses: Buy/Sell Investments IRA's

Legal Issues Miscellaneous Mortgages Retirement Savings Taxes Working Working Women
|
Food

This Week In Food & Groceries Alternative Food Sources Appliances Babies Beverages Breakfast & Dairy Children & Family Convenience Foods & Alternatives Cooking Cooking Tips Coupons

Diets Food Expenses Food Safety Freezing Foods & Freezer Meals Fruits & Vegetables Health Foods Kitchen Tools & Organization Leftovers Lunches Making the Most of Food Meals & Meal Planning

Meats & Poultry Meals on the Go Organizing Recipes & Coupons Pantry & Food Storage Price Books Recipes Restaurants Saving Time Shopping Tips & Tricks Snacks & Desserts Warehouse Clubs
|
Home & Auto

This Week In Home & Auto Air Conditioning Appliances Automobiles Buying Cleaning Consumer Protection Crafts Debt

Energy Finances Furniture Gardening Home Decorating Home Equity Home Repair Houses: Buy/Sell Insurance Investments Mortgages

Natural Living Organization Pests Plumbing Property Management Recycling Space Management Taxes Time Management Utilities
|
Lifestyle

This Week In Lifestyle Beauty Buying Canadian Interest Charity Christmas Cleaning Tips Clothing College Coupons Crafts

Furniture Gardening General Advice Groceries & Food Health Hobbies Holidays Home Decorating Insurance Medical Care Miscellaneous Natural Living

Organization Parties & Entertaining Pets Recipes Recycling Refunding Single Living Space Management Time Management Vacations Voluntary Simplicity
|
Baby Boomers

This Week In Baby Boomers Finances Funerals Health

Insurance Investments IRA's Legal Issues Medical Care

Mortgages Moving Retirement Savings Taxes Vacations
|
Family

This Week In Family Automobiles Babies Budgeting Cash Management Children Christmas Clothing College Crafts Daycare Debt

Dentistry Divorce Earning Money Education Expenses Family Activities Gardening Health Holidays Homeschooling Investments Marriage Medical Care

Miscellaneous One Income Families Organization Parties & Entertaining Recipes Romance Savings School Single Parents Taxes Time Management Vacations
|
20 Somethings

This Week In 20 Somethings Appliances Automobiles Budgeting College Consumer Protection Credit Cards and Repair Credit Scores Credit Unions

Earning Money Education Family Activities Finances General Advice Home Decorating Home Equity Home Repair Homeschooling Houses: Buy/Sell Insurance

Investments IRA's Marriage Mortgages Moving Retirement Savings Space Management Taxes Weddings Working
|
In Critical Condition

This Week In Critical Condition Automobiles Banking

Budgeting Consumer Protection Credit Cards and Repair

Credit Scores Debt Emergencies Taxes Working
|

Needs Healthy Snacks

Healthy Frugal Snacks

Healthier Snacks

Snack Ideas

Needs Healthy Snacks

I was diagnosed with hypoglycemia. If I follow the diet of a diabetic I'm fine. However, my problem is that if I don't eat something every 2 to 2 1/2 hours, I get a massive headache (the hangover kind!). I need cheap, healthy ideas for portable snacks.

If I leave the house right after breakfast, I can't afford to buy a snack at 10:00, lunch at 12:00, and more snacks at 2:00 and 4:00 before I head home for dinner.

The best kind of snacks would be finger foods (I'm on the go) and healthy. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.
Laura

Carbs and Proteins

The key to feeding hypoglycemia is to always mix complex carbohydrates with protein and a little fat. Plain carbs metabolize into sugar quickly and will cause you to feel very tired, as your body must pump out excessive insulin to manage the higher blood sugar.

Here are some snack ideas:

Celery sticks with peanut butter and a few raisins
One slice of whole grain bread with peanut butter, low fat cheese, or lean meat (or half a sandwich)
A medium piece of fruit with a scant handful of nuts or a piece of beef or turkey jerky
A small bagel (or half a large one) with cream cheese

For emergencies you can keep nuts and raisins or other dried fruit in the car. Carry a water bottle to make sure you are well hydrated.
Terry

Prepackage to be Prepared

When you come home from grocery shopping, repackage your snacks such as nuts, popcorn, rice cakes etc. into small plastic baggies. Put these packages into a convenient place and when you are about to leave the house grab a few of these to take with you. Also when ready to leave the house you can grab a carton of yogurt, an apple, whole-wheat crackers and cheese etc.
SH

Workable Combinations

There are actually quite a few good, cheap, healthy things you can do.

Fruit like grapes and apples make excellent snacks because the fiber in them makes the natural sugar release slower thus decreasing the chances of hypoglycemia.
Peanut butter crackers (just a little peanut butter per 2 crackers), or if you think you'll be hitting a real low, peanut butter on graham crackers.
Along the same line, slices of cheese on crackers (you can make them ahead of time and put them in a Tupperware like container).
String cheese in the package from the cheese aisle makes a good snack with a protein punch.
And then there's always rice cakes with peanut butter... or peanut butter on celery... actually peanut butter on anything portable!

Bix

Quick Ideas

This is for the person who asked for low-cost, yet healthy, snacks for someone who has hypoglycemia. I have this too, and here are the types of snacks that I bring from home and store at my desk at work in a small-insulated lunch bag:

5 saltines with 1 oz. string cheese
1 oz. wheat crackers with 1 tbsp. peanut butter or 1 oz. string cheese
carrots and celery sticks
1 piece of bread or 6" tortilla with either 1 tbsp. peanut butter, 1 oz. cheese, or small cupped handful of peanuts
1/2 banana with 1 oz. Crackers
1/4 cup brown rice with 1/4 cup beans (any type except baked beans or refried beans, unless it is the low or non-fat type)

Basically, it's a protein with a carbohydrate, and it's suggested to have a very small amount so the person doesn't eat too much between meals.
Nicole

Works for Me

I, too, have to follow a diabetic diet. I find that protein works best for me as a snack. I also find that avoiding highly processed foods (chips, snack mixes, sweets, etc.) is very helpful.

Some of the portable snacks I eat are:

cheese cubes
hardboiled egg
deviled egg, wrapped in plastic wrap
peanut butter (use a plastic spoon)
half of a sandwich (turkey, cheese, tuna, egg, etc. fillings)
yogurt cup with fruit
small container (save small margarine containers) with tuna and cottage cheese
small container of leftover taco filling with cheese
trail mix
nuts or nut mix

The more you fix the snacks and keep your eyes open to what you eat at home, the more creative you will become and before long you'll be coming up with a long list of varied and tasty snacks to keep you on track.
Jennifer

Very Healthy Ideas

Here are some snacks my family enjoys. Probably nothing out of the ordinary, but pretty healthy and good!

Any veggies or fruits are great and very portable! The trick to this (as with almost any snacks) is being prepared. Shop on the weekend and get everything ready for the week. We visit the local farm to get veggies/fruits and part of our Sunday ritual is to clean/chop/package everything in individual containers ready to grab during the week. If you don't like them plain, get those little packs of ranch dressing to dip or package up little containers of your own favorite dip. A little peanut butter is a good dip, too.

Examples:

carrot/celery sticks
cucumber slices
broccoli/cauliflower bites
apple sliced up in small container drizzled with orange juice
sliced seedless watermelon/cantaloupe/other melon
most fruit is ready-to-eat ....just wash and go.
bananas are probably the easiest to peel and eat!
A box of raisins
Yogurt & granola (only portable if you have ice packs to keep the yogurt cold).
Frozen grapes and blueberries
Leftover chicken/turkey
Whip up a smoothie and take in a thermos.
Pretzels/animal crackers
Nuts are a good snack & healthy
Your favorite healthy cereal.
Pickles. My family loves dill pickles and eats them as a salty snack.

Kate

Take the Next Step:

Check out our coupon page and save money on your favorite products. click here
For all things "Groceries & Food," please visit www.stretcher.com
Check health and beauty products at Cheapism.com before making a purchasing decision.
Check out our friends at The Hungry Wife for more great free recipes. You'll be glad you did!

Discuss "Healthy Snacks" in The Dollar Stretcher Community

Stay Connected with TDS

Subscribe to TDS Newsletters

Join over 250,000 other subscribers!

To subscribe, check the newsletters you wish to receive, enter your email address and then click Subscribe.

View the TDS privacy policy.

Money problems?
The Dollar Stretcher can help:

Afraid to lose your job?

Struggling with credit card debt?

Help for your mortgage?

Can't pay your debts?

Need some extra income?

Fighting bad credit?

What you need to know about bankruptcy?

Become money smart?

Trouble repaying student loans?

Looking for an answer to a frugal living question? Click here to ask a
Dollar Stretcher Stretchpert!

Contact the Dollar Stretcher at:
Dollar Stretcher
PO Box 14160
Bradenton FL 34280
941-761-7805

"The Dollar Stretcher, Inc." does not assume responsibility for advice given. All advice should be weighed against your own abilities and circumstances and applied accordingly. It is up to the reader to determine if advice is safe and suitable for their own situation.