Snacking

This information is for children and young people with type 1 diabetes 

A snack is a small amount of food eaten in between meals. Snacks contribute to our nutritional intake, providing energy (calories), protein, vitamins, minerals and fibre. The key is to pick healthier snacks where possible and have less healthy snacks as an occasional treat. 

Remember healthy eating and meal routine

Aim for three meals per day with only one to two small snacks throughout the day if needed. The foods you eat should provide all the nutrients needed to grow and develop, be a healthy weight and keep your heart healthy 

Try and leave a gap of at least two hours in between eating during the day. Try not to eat overnight. Having a balanced meal pattern with a period overnight without food is important for a healthy body weight.  

Leaving two to three hours between food also allows your glucose to return into range.

If you are snacking in between meals to maintain blood glucose levels (rather than because you are hungry) your insulin doses may need adjusting, please contact the diabetes team.   

What is a healthy snack?

There are five food groups that are essential to good health.    

You should eat more foods from the larger sections, but a variety of foods from across these five food groups will contribute to a healthy and balanced diet.  

Foods in the ‘Eat less often and in small amounts’ section eg. crisps, biscuits, chocolate, cakes, ice-cream, sweets or sugary drinks, are fine to have but should be considered a treat rather than a regular snack as they tend to be high in energy (calories), unhealthy fats, salt and sugar.