You will need some high protein snacks for gestational diabetes to get through your pregnancy in a healthy way. (Which is totally possible – so you can do this!)
It’s about being prepared and making wise choices. So that’s what I’m here to help you do. I’m excited to share with you 25 healthy and simple snack ideas for gestational diabetes!
Why Eat Protein Snacks for Gestational Diabetes?
Why specifically protein? Great question! The National Institute for Health published a study in 2022 called “Increased Protein with Decreased Carbohydrate Intake Reduces Postprandial Blood Glucose Levels in Women with Gestational Diabetes.”
In other words, if you eat more protein and fewer carbs, your blood sugar is less likely to spike after you eat. And that’s the goal!
Plus, protein helps to keep you feeling full and satisfied after you eat. And it also plays an important role as an essential building block for your baby’s health as it grows and develops in the womb. I’ve also heard it can help curb nausea — added pregnancy bonus!
What is Gestational Diabetes?
So what is gestational diabetes anyway? Mayo Clinic does a great job of explaining it briefly:
Gestational diabetes is diabetes diagnosed for the first time during pregnancy (gestation). Like other types of diabetes, gestational diabetes affects how your cells use sugar (glucose).
People with gestational diabetes may experience insulin resistance, which causes high blood sugar levels also.
The symptoms of gestational diabetes, according to Medical News Today, may include:
- sugar in the urine that is detectable with testing
- tiredness
- nausea
- being unusually thirsty
- urinating frequently
- frequent bladder infections
- blurred vision
Personally, a major advantage to having my type of diabetes (type 1) is that you can’t be diagnosed with gestational diabetes during pregnancy! When I was pregnant with my daughter, type 1 was my pass to not have to drink that sugary orange drink I’ve heard women complain about.
This kind of diabetes (that I spoke of in my National Diabetes Month post) is specific to pregnant women. It affects up to 10% of pregnancies in the US. The good news is that it generally resolves after delivery.
It’s a good idea to work with your OB as well as an endocrinologist during pregnancy with gestational diabetes.
Why Control Diabetes During Pregnancy?
The first reason that comes to mind for me is a healthy mama and healthy baby. Of course you want to have a healthy pregnancy and delivery. A healthy diet will help control gestational diabetes, and that will certainly help ensure that hope and prayer becomes a reality.
Another reason is the size of the baby. Uncontrolled blood sugar levels can cause the baby to grow larger than with controlled glucose levels. And if you want to ensure a healthy delivery, you want to ensure the baby isn’t too large to deliver. (People with diabetes are known to need c-section delivery more often than others.)
Uncontrolled glucose can also lead to high blood pressure for the mom and pre-term birth. Also, that comes with its own potential complications, like breathing issues for the baby.
Minimizing stress on the body is yet another reason to control blood glucose levels. Pregnancy itself is a stress on the body, and we should work diligently to eliminate other stresses that we can.
There are other reasons, including several your health care provider can share with you. But these are the first ones that come to my mind personally, after having experienced a pregnancy and delivery myself. Plus, all of these ideas are backed by Mayo Clinic.
Foods to eat when you have Diabetes During Pregnancy
In addition to staying active and healthy overall during pregnancy, it’s important to be intentional about the food you choose while you’re pregnant. Everything I have seen (and what I know from managing type 1 for 30+ years now) is whole grains, lean proteins, healthy fats, and also fruits and vegetables.
WHOLE GRAINS include complex carbohydrates like brown rice, quinoa, oats, whole-grain bread or whole grain white bread, and sweet potatoes.
LEAN PROTEIN is in foods like chicken, eggs, tuna, salmon, turkey, and beans.
HEALTHY FATS can be found in avocado, olive oil, nuts, seeds, and more.
FRUITS AND VEGETABLES that are healthiest are fruits like apple slices and berries, and non-starchy vegetables like broccoli, green beans, peppers, spinach, carrots, and more.
Foods to avoid when you have Gestational Diabetes
In addition to foods you should focus on eating during pregnancy, there are foods to avoid as well.
Foods to avoid may include simple carbohydrates, sugary foods, refined or processed sugars, and beverages with added sugars (like fruit juice or soft drinks) also. People with gestational diabetes should limit added sugar as much as possible. The reason for this is that these kinds of foods can spike blood sugar quickly.
The Ultimate Goal is Steady Glucose
Your ultimate goal, having gestational diabetes during pregnancy, is to keep your blood sugar levels as steady as possible. While I am not a nutritionist myself, I have found a well-balanced diet of a variety of foods is what keeps blood sugar control at its best.
My approach, having had type 1 diabetes for 30+ years now, is to plan meals and healthy snacks with a balance of fat, fiber, and protein. The combination of those three things helps slow the digestion of the carbs I eat, and that helps to balance my glucose and avoid a spike.
Simple Protein Snacks for Gestational Diabetes
If you’re a busy person , I can totally relate to wanting just a few nutritious snacks that are super easy and quick. You want something you can grab on the go. If that’s you, here are several simple or make-ahead snacks to consider. So let’s dive into some of the best snacks for gestational diabetes!
Egg-Based Protein Snacks for Gestational Diabetes
1. omelets or egg-Based casseroles
I love this breakfast casserole with eggs and veggies. It’s so delicious and satisfying you’ve got to give it a try. I like to make it ahead and eat away at it for a few days.
2. Hard-boiled eggs
Boiled eggs aren’t just for salads anymore. You can boil a few at a time and grab them for a super quick and easy snack any time.
3. Egg Salad
Here’s another not-just-for-lunch idea. How about some egg salad on a whole grain cracker? That sounds like a delicious snack to me!
4. Quiche
Quiche is one of my favorites. For breakfast, for lunch, for whenever! It’s always an excellent choice. I love a good bacon and white cheddar quiche or one made of spinach and feta (pictured below).
5. Deviled Eggs
I often make deviled eggs for a special occasion, say, Easter or something. But why? Why are they just for that in my mind? Deviled eggs could be delicious any day! And they are a great low-carb pregnancy snack
6. Mini Frittatas
Wrapping up this egg category is a really adorable idea. Mini frittatas, courtesy of the Girl Who Ate Everything. This is a super versatile idea, also.
Cheese-based Protein Snack Options for Gestational Diabetes
7. Cottage Cheese
I feel like this one goes overlooked. But cottage cheese is a great source of protein. And you could even top it with some berries if you wanted to.
8. string cheese or cheese slices
What’s better than just cheese? My son asks me for cheese on the regular. (Like, for breakfast.) But that’s because it’s so delicious! If you want a more substantial snack, try a few whole grain crackers with a slice of cheddar cheese.
9. Parmesan Crisps
Now, these parmesan crisps are super tasty. They’re great to add to a salad too. Try making a wider mound of cheese when baking, and then letting it cool over an upside-down bowl. Then flip it over and you have a parmesan cheese bowl for your salad!
BONUS: How to Plan Easy Diabetic Recipes and Healthy Meals
Nut-Based OR Seed-Based Gestational Diabetes Snacks
10. Trail Mix
I love this snack idea because it’s a chewy, crunchy, keep-you-satisfied kind of snack that’s fun to eat! Choose a variety of nuts and seeds. Then toss in a couple dark chocolate chips. But go easy on the (high sugar) dried fruits.
11. celery and peanut butter (or almond butter)
Here’s a creamy, crunchy, salty snack that will help hold you over until your next meal. Add a couple raisins and call it ants on a log!
12. Energy Bites
Protein bites are all the rage at my house. First, they’re super simple to make. Also, there’s very little mess and no baking. Here are 15 different combinations to consider.
13. Pretzels and Nut Butter
This is something my husband LOVES as a snack. You can always tell he’s been in the peanut butter jar because there are thin pretzel marks all over the top of the peanut butter!
14. Chia Seed Pudding
A chia seed pudding (like this one) is full of protein — 25 grams of protein! — and can really keep you satisfied.
Yogurt-Based Protein Snacks for Gestational Diabetes
15. greek yogurt with berries/granola
This is one that never goes out of style. Good ol’ yogurt and granola. Be sure to check your yogurt food labels to monitor the protein and added sugars carefully. Then, enjoy!
16. protein shakes
There are tons of protein shakes on the market, or you could also make them at home. Either way, they are tasty and certainly full of good protein!
17. frozen yogurt bark
Frozen yogurt bark is extremely simple to throw together. After a few minutes in the freezer, you’ve got a cool and refreshing protein-filled snack.
18. Yogurt and Fruit smoothie
This is another food we make quite a bit at my house. Smoothies. Be sure to include milk, yogurt, and protein powder to pack it full of good protein. You can also very easily include veggies in addition to your fruits if you like.
BONUS: Diabetic Bedtime Snack Ideas for Stable Blood Sugar
Vegetable-Based Protein Snacks for Gestational Diabetes
19. Carrots and Hummus
Who doesn’t love a good dip? Baby carrots (or whatever vegetable you choose) are a wonderful veggie for dipping. And protein-rich chickpeas are the base for hummus, so enjoy!
20. Roasted Chickpeas
Roasted chickpeas are so much like eating popcorn. They’re small and flavorful and crunchy. And you want to just grab a hand full and pop them in your mouth!
21. Avocado toast and chia seeds
Crunchy and creamy avocado toast is a winner. Add great protein with a sprinkle of chia seeds, and you’re all set!
healthy Snack Ideas for When You’re Craving A Sweet Taste
22. High Protein Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars
These bars are some of my favorite treats when I’m craving something chewy and sweet. With no added sugars, the whole grains of the oats, and the protein in the peanut butter, they are a great gestational diabetes snack!
23. Protein Greek Yogurt Cookie Dough
Doesn’t this greek yogurt cookie dough just look delicious? It’s a super quick recipe to fix. Just throw it in a bowl and give it a mix. Also, it’s packed with 30g of protein!
24. Iced Mocha Shake
Here’s a much healthier take on a classic mocha with a twist. Made with chilled coffee, you’ll want to watch the caffeine, but it may be just what you need of a morning to get you going.
25. Cottage Cheese Cake
Guys. This right here. I absolutely love cheesecake! Creamy cream cheese and fruit on op? And this one is low carb and packed with protein? Then I’m in!
How to Plan a Diabetic-Friendly Meal
One of the things I mentioned above is that we should certainly try to eliminate any stresses we can. And one of those stresses we can get rid of is what to eat. We can do that by planning ahead a bit and having healthy choices on hand ready to go.
The American Diabetes Association recommends building meals off a “healthy plate” idea.
I would love to share with you 10 helpful tips on meal planning for balanced, blood sugar friendly meals. Plus, you can also download my free meal planning guide for printable meal plan templates to help guide you as you plan ahead (below).
Get Your Free MEAL PLANNING GUIDE:
NOTE: I am not a certified nutritionist or registered dietitian. Nothing here should be taken as professional medical advice. Any nutritional information provided should be used as a general guideline and estimate only. For the most accurate information, please calculate based on the specific ingredients and brands you use, as well as any changes you make to the recipe. Also, please consult your OB and/or endocrinology team for weight gain, risk factors, lifestyle changes, and other medical guidance after the diagnosis of gestational diabetes.
Was This Helpful?
If reading this was helpful to you, would you please let me know? Then I would love to hear from you!
If you want more Bible reading plans, devotions, and more, please join my VIP list and follow along on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram for the latest updates.
PIN FOR LATER
Related Posts
