Game day is fast approaching. Here are six diabetes-friendly healthy snack recipes that are all sure to be instant crowd pleasers.

Are you ready for the big game? Whether you're a raving football enthusiast, solely a fan of the commercials, or just around for the food and comraderie, it's impossible to deny that the Super Bowl is a big deal. It's important to make sure you'll stay healthy while helping yourself to a few delicious bites.

“Traditional Super Bowl snack foods are less than ideal, even if you aren't living with diabetes,” says Heather Hanks, a certified nutritionist and medical adviser at Medical Solutions BCN. 

Hanks acknowledges that it's always a challenge to eat healthy on Super Bowl Sunday. “The key here is to find snacks that contain no refined sugars and fewer carbs, a good source of protein, healthy fats, and fiber to keep you full and stabilize blood sugar levels.”

Diabetes-friendly snacks for game day

Bearing these pointers in mind, we have six low-carb finger food options, from cheese dips to buffalo-style cauliflower bites. These healthy snack options will have you partaking in the party without feeling too full or weighed down.

Pimento Cheese

Celebrity chef and television personality Sam Talbot, who has type 1 diabetes and also serves on The Diabetes Research Institute Foundation (DRIF) National Board of Directors, shares a delectable low-carb healthy snack with the diaTribe community. This recipe is not only super quick (less than 10 minutes) but also very versatile; spread it atop low-carb bread or pair it with your favorite vegetables for a tasty snack.

Ingredients

• 2 cups kewpie mayonnaise

• 1 (4-ounce) jar diced pimentos, drained

• 1 teaspoon tamari soy sauce

• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

• 1 teaspoon finely grated onion

• 2 teaspoons chili paste, such as sambal oelek

• 8 ounces extra-sharp cheddar cheese, finely shredded

• 8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, finely shredded

• 4 ounces white cheddar, finely shredded

Instructions

1. In a large bowl, mix the mayonnaise, pimentos, tamari, Worcestershire sauce, grated onion, and chili paste together until combined.

2. Using a spatula, stir in all of the cheeses, making sure to scrape all the mayonnaise mixture up from the bottom. Serve and enjoy.

Sweet Pepper Spinach and Artichoke Poppers

Since spinach and artichoke dip is already a winning combination, this fun twist on the classic appetizer will be a hit at your Super Bowl party. Kayla DiMaggio of The Fresh Fig makes it a bit easier to get your daily share of vegetables by using sweet peppers, which are full of vitamins A, C, and E, as well as folate, potassium, and vitamin B6.

Ingredients

• 1 pound mini sweet peppers

• 6 ounces marinated artichoke hearts

• 1 package (16 ounces) frozen chopped spinach

• 1 teaspoon garlic powder

• 1 teaspoon onion powder

• 1/2 teaspoon crushed red chili flakes

• 8 ounces vegan cream cheese

• 1 cup vegan mayonnaise

• 1/4 cup vegan parmesan (optional)

Instructions

1. Slice mini sweet peppers in half and remove the seeds.

2. Drain the artichoke hearts, reserving 2 tablespoons of oil.

3. Transfer the reserved oil to a pan over medium heat, add the frozen spinach, and sauté until thawed. After spinach has thawed, add the artichoke hearts, garlic powder, onion powder, and red chili flakes and stir to combine. Add the vegan cream cheese, vegan mayonnaise, and the vegan parmesan (if using), then stir to combine.

4. Using a spoon, fill each pepper half with the spinach and artichoke filling. Serve and enjoy.

Crispy Chickpeas

Mary Jones of Cooky Mom shares a crispy (and lightly salted) chickpea recipe that is sure to take game day to another level. They're a delicious, high fiber healthy snack that can be made in just 20 minutes. Enjoy them alone as a tasty snack for an app-time crunch, add them to a spread with nuts, or put them in a salad for extra texture and a punch of flavor.

Ingredients

• 1 15-ounce can unsalted chickpeas, rinsed and drained

• 1/2 tablespoon toasted sesame oil

• 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika

• 1/8 teaspoon salt

• Cooking spray>

• 2 lime wedges

Instructions

1. Spread the chickpeas atop a sheet of paper towels; top with more towels, rolling the chickpeas until they are completely dry.

2. In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine the dried chickpeas with the sesame oil, smoked paprika, and salt. Toss to combine.

3. Transfer the chickpea mixture to an air fryer basket coated with cooking spray. Cook the chickpeas in the air fryer at 400ºF until golden brown and crispy, about 12-14 minutes. Make sure to shake the basket occasionally.

4. Squeeze lime over the chickpeas to finish. Serve and enjoy.

Buffalo Cauliflower Bites

A Super Bowl party isn't a proper one without buffalo wings. But for many low-carb eaters, a plate full of chicken wings can be a painful temptation. Emily Krill of Resolution Eats, who lives with type 1 diabetes herself, has a delicious cauliflower recipe that’s a perfect way to satisfy your buffalo wing craving without blowing your healthy eating plan. Plus, these crispy bites are low on calories and carbs and are a great way to work in more vegetables. This high fiber snack for diabetes is only a few ingredients away.

Recipe Note

To adapt this recipe for an air fryer, add the florets in one layer to an air fryer basket coated in cooking spray. Air fry them, shaking them halfway through, until just beginning to brown, about 12-15 minutes.

Ingredients

For the buffalo cauliflower:

• 7 ounces pork rinds

• 1 head of cauliflower, cut into florets

• 1/2 cup hot sauce

• 1/3 cup oat fiber powder

• 2 eggs, beaten

• Celery sticks and/or carrot sticks, for serving

For the ranch dressing:

• 1 cup mayonnaise

• 1/2 cup sour cream

• 1/4 cup heavy cream

• 2 teaspoons vinegar

• 2 teaspoons dried parsley

• 1 teaspoon dried dill

• 1-1/2 teaspoons dried chives

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

1. Preheat a conventional oven to 400ºF.

2. In a food processor or high-powered blender, pulse the pork rinds until they reach the consistency of panko breading.

3. In a large bowl, mix together cauliflower florets and hot sauce, making sure all pieces are completely coated.

4. Cover a large baking sheet with parchment paper and spray with cooking spray.

5. Set up a station with 4 bowls: one with the spicy cauliflower florets mixture, one for the oat fiber powder, one with beaten eggs, and one with pork rind breading. Roll the florets in oat fiber, dip them in the eggs, and then roll them in pork rinds. (It's easiest to hold the cauliflower pieces by their stem and just bread the tops.) Place the florets on the cookie sheets.

6. Bake until just beginning to brown, about 25-30 minutes.

7. To make the ranch dressing, combine all ingredients and stir until well incorporated.

8. Serve the buffalo cauliflower bites alongside ranch dressing and celery or carrot sticks.

Quick Low-Carb Queso

A party wouldn't be complete without dip, and this quick queso recipe from Emily Krill, the food blogger behind Resolution Eats, will hit the spot. Not only is it simple and fast, but it uses only three ingredients to make your shopping trip a breeze. The best part? It only has 2 grams of net carbs per serving. Pair it with your favorite veggies or low-carb chips, and you've got a winning game day snack.

Ingredients

• 1-1/4 cups heavy cream

• 8 ounces shredded cheddar cheese

• 1 (10-ounce) can diced tomatoes with green chiles, drained

Instructions

1. In a medium-sized saucepan, bring heavy cream to a near-boil over medium heat. Slowly add shredded cheese to the pan, stirring frequently, until all of the cheese has melted.

2. Add in drained diced tomatoes and chiles.

3. Serve and enjoy!

Snickerdoodle Protein Bites

These quick yet delicious bites developed by PBfit are the perfect way to get your sweet tooth fix in a hurry. The sugar-free PBfit Peanut Butter powder adds a subtle nutty flavor to these cookies while packing in 4g of protein per serving. Your family and friends will love them too! Not only will these become a celebration staple, but with their natural sweetness, they'd also make a great breakfast or after-dinner treat, too. 

Ingredients

• 1 cup sugar-free peanut butter powder, such as PBfit sugar-free powder

• 1/4 cup coconut flour

• 1/4 cup sweetener of choice

• 4-5 tablespoons water

• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

• 4 tablespoons sweetener of choice

Instructions

1. In a medium mixing bowl, combine peanut butter powder, coconut flour, and sweetener until mixed well.

2. Slowly add water and mix until dough forms.

3. In a second smaller bowl, combine sweetener and cinnamon.

4. Roll protein bites into the cinnamon mixture.

5. Refrigerate in an airtight container until firm.

6. Serve and enjoy!

Photo credits: iStock (game day spread images, pimento cheese, and chickpeas); Kayla DiMaggio/The Fresh Fig (pepper poppers); Emily Krill/Resolution Eats (buffalo cauliflower and quick queso); PBfit (protein bites).

About the authors

Lindsay Modglin

Lindsay Modglin is a nurse, writer, and digital marketing expert for the healthcare industry. She holds a professional certificate in Scientific Writing from Stanford University School of Medicine. As a... Read the full bio »