PCOS:
Healthy PCOS Snack Attack
Why are snacks important?
Snacks are important because they help keep your energy level up between meals so you can do the things you like to do. Eating small, well-balanced snacks between meals can also keep you from overeating at meal time.
What snacks should I choose?
Foods from the grain, fruit, vegetable, protein, and dairy groups are healthy snacks because they are packed with nutrients. Foods such as chips, cookies, and candy are not as healthy because they are loaded with refined grains and sugars that can raise your insulin levels. It’s okay to eat these snacks once in a while, but not every day. Remember to pick high–fiber, low sugar foods from the grain group and combine them with high protein foods. For example, try an apple or celery with peanut butter, whole wheat crackers and cheese, whole wheat pita or carrots and hummus, or yogurt and nuts.
| Easy Snack Ideas | |
| String cheese |
Cottage cheese |
| Popcorn (try the mini bag) |
Cheese and high fiber crackers such as Kashi TLC®, Ak–Mak®, Triscuit®, or WASA® (look for at least 2 grams of fiber per serving) |
| High fiber cereals such as Kashi®, Puffins®, and Shredded Wheat® (look for >5 grams of fiber per serving) |
Fruit salad |
| Nuts |
Sugar–free Jello® with fruit |
| Fruit such as an apple, orange or grapes |
Soy nuts |
| Energy Bars, such as Balance®, Lara®, or GNU Foods® (look for <25 grams of carbohydrates per bar) |
Raw vegetables (such as baby carrots) with reduced–fat ranch dressing or yogurt dip |
| Peanut butter and celery, apple, or crackers | Celery with low–fat cream cheese |
| Yogurt with granola or fruit |
Sunflower seeds |
| Yogurt smoothies | Whole wheat bread or English muffin with cheese |
| Next: Sample PCOS-Friendly Menus |
Updated: 11/28/2011


