The South Beach Diet lifestyle encourages snacking, particularly in Phase 1, because it stabilizes blood sugar, which minimizes cravings and ultimately helps you manage your weight. If you're accustomed to snacking on chips and pretzels, you probably like some crunch when you munch. Since those snacks may send your blood sugar soaring, it's better to select a nutrient-dense, fiber-rich snack. Nuts are a delicious and obvious go-to choice, but they're not your only crunchy snack option! Here are some other healthy, Phase-specific nibbles to add to your snacking repertoire:
Phase 1
- Raw veggies, including celery, green and red peppers, cauliflower, and broccoli florets
- Dill pickles (seek out the no-sugar-added variety and limit your consumption if you're watching sodium intake)
- Edamame (boiled soybeans — sold by the bag in the frozen foods section of most supermarkets)
- Sunflower seeds (count these toward your daily nut/seed allowance)
- Soy nuts
Phases 2 and 3: Everything above PLUS
- Carrot sticks
- Whole-wheat crackers
- High-fiber, low-sugar, whole-grain cereal
- Air-popped or microwavable popcorn (check the label to be sure it doesn't contain trans fats)
- Frozen grapes
- Apple slices with artificially sweetened, nonfat or low-fat yogurt dip
- Toasted whole-wheat pita bread, sliced into triangles, with hummus
