No Carb & Low Carb Snacks for Kids or Adults with Type 1 Diabetes Or Low Carb Eaters + Downloadable List

I had really only thought I’d be concerned with following a low carb diet for myself — however, with my almost 12-year-old son’s Type 1 Diabetes Diagnosis four months ago, I try to find no carb and low carb snacks for him that he can have between meals. He’s a snacker, which meant I had to change the contents of my fridge and pantry so he didn’t feel deprived. With his Type 1 Diabetes ratios, that means if his snack is 5 carbs and under, he doesn’t have to take insulin. Certain kids and adults with Type 1 Diabetes may have either lower or higher ratios for foods to insulin, so please use judgment if you are making these snacks for a Type 1 Diabetic child or adult (meaning if your child is supposed to get insulin for over 3 or 4 carbs, some of these snacks may not work). Read your labels and double check the portion sizes. This no carb and low carb snack list is a great list to have bookmarked! And if your child was just diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes, they are going to be hungry and they are going to want as many snacks as they can have, without getting an insulin shot — at least, my son did. I hope this list helps!N

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No Carb Snacks:

Cucumbers
Celery
Sugar-free gelatin
Pepperoni slices
Genoa Salami
Bacon (Turkey or Pork)
Salami
Deli Turkey
Roast Turkey
Roast Beef
Mozzarella Cheese Sticks
Mini Baby Bel Cheeses
Cheddar Cheese Sticks
Monterey Jack Cheese Sticks
Pickles
Olives (we send the small plastic containers of olives as a snack to school)
Hard Boiled Eggs
Scrambled Eggs (just use water or measure out the milk you use – if it’s a teaspoon or so, it may only add a carb or two).
Scrambled Eggs with Cheese
Green, Yellow, Orange, and Red Peppers

Low Carb

Cello Cheese Whisps (a serving is 23 cheese whisps for 1 carb – there are two servings per bag)
100 Calorie Packs of nuts (Can be either 3, 4 or 5 carbs depending on type or brand)
Ranch Dressing is very low carb – try Just Ranch for 2 carbs for 2 tbsps – I serve this with veggiesCaesar Dressing – we LOVE anything from Tessemae’s, especially their Caesar dressing
Guacamole (I buy the 5 carb mini packs) – my son will eat the guac on veggies
Peanut Butter (4 carbs for 2 tsp)
Hummus
Seaweed Snacks
Baby Carrots
Choc Zero – 4 carbs per square
Utz Mini Cheeseballs (.25 oz) – 4 carbs
Popcorn — watch the brands and ingredients, but a cup of homemade popcorn should be around 5 carbs. The store bought popcorn can be higher, look for 100 calorie brands.
Low Carb Shakes –  We also found these great shakes – EAS AdvantEDGE Carb Control Protein Shake Chocolate Fudge Ready-to-Drink, 17 g of Protein 11 fl oz Bottle – that are between 3 and 5 carbs and I send them to school almost everyday as my son’s morning and afternoon snack. You can get them widely, though Amazon has a 25% off coupon right now. These don’t spike my son’s blood sugar and keeps him in his low carb snack range.

A great book to use for carb counts is The CalorieKing Calorie, Fat & Carbohydrate Counter by Allan Borushek. It’s small enough to take with you and this is THE book. We were given a copy of the 2016 version in the hospital, which was lost, so we replaced it with this. You can use apps too — just remember they may not always be correct. This book is practically our bible. 

DOWNLOAD MY LIST HERE

Have I forgotten any? Please leave a comment with your favorite no or low carb snack!

This post contains affiliate links, I get a small percentage of the sale at no cost to you, the consumer. 

Note: I am not a doctor or have medical training. I talk about Type 1 Diabetes from a parent’s point of view. Always consult your endocrinology team if you have any questions. I advocate for my child until he can advocate for himself. 

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