Party Food Ideas for Kids with Type 1 Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes in children presents parents with several challenges.  Wrapping their heads around dietary changes is one of those challenges.  

Blood glucose is directly impacted by food. Knowing what and how much to eat is crucial for treating type 1 diabetes. A balanced and healthy diet can help in blood sugar control and lower the risk of complications. 

Parties or gatherings can become trickier because you’ll need to ensure your child can eat the food laid out. No parent wants their kids to feel excluded. 

So if your kid is going to parties often or if their birthday is coming up, you can rest assured that there are easy and tasty snacks and treats you can serve at the party or take with you to other kids’ parties.

It’s important to note that everyone treats diabetes management differently. Some parents will want to make big changes to their child’s diet, while others will want to let their child eat whatever they would normally eat. Both options are valid and encouraged. The following recipes are focused on lower-carb (but not no-carb!) alternatives to common snacks, which are generally easier to manage from a T1D perspective than high-carb, high sugar content snacks.

Snack Ideas for Kids with Type 1 Diabetes

The secret is to pick snacks that are rich in fiber, protein, and good fats. Snacking on nutrient-dense foods is also crucial not just for children with diabetes but for any child. Any snack that is low-fat, sugar-free, or both is optimal.

The recipes that follow don’t include nutritional information because that can vary greatly depending on the ingredients you use. It’s up to you to calculate the carb content of each of these meals and present it accurately.

Here are some snack ideas that are suitable for children with diabetes:

Spinach Pasta

Serving – 2

Preparation time – 10 minutes

Cooking time – 25 minutes

Ingredients

• Whole wheat Pasta – 1 cup
• Spinach – 1 cup
• Green peas – 1/2 cup
• Zucchini – 1/4 cup
• Onion- 1/4 cup
• Cooking cream – 2 tbsp
• Lemon juice – 1 tsp
• Garlic powder – 1/2 tsp
• Dried Italian herb Basil/ Oregano/ or Mixed Italian herbs – 1/4 tsp
• Butter – 1 tbsp
• Salt as per taste

Preparation

• Cook the pasta, then drain the water and set it aside.
• Put the butter in the pan first. Add the onion, zucchini, and peas and cook over medium heat.
• Sauté for 2 minutes, or until the zucchini is cooked to perfection and the onion turns translucent.
• Combine with the cooked spaghetti.
• In a pan, add the cleaned spinach and cook until they have wilted completely.
• Add cooking cream, cream cheese, dried herbs, and garlic powder.
• Mix well before adding lemon juice.
• Allow it to cool. Then place it in a blender and blend with salt until smooth.
• If it’s too thick, add water.
• Add this sauce to the pasta and veggies mixture.
• Turn on the heat and stir thoroughly. Add water to the sauce to change the consistency, if needed.
• Let the sauce bubble so it coats the pasta completely. serve and enjoy.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Popcorn

Serving – 2

Preparation Time – 10 minutes

Cooking Time – 10 minutes

Ingredients

• Popcorn kernels – 1/2 cup
• Natural peanut butter – 1/4 cup
• Dark chocolate (70% or higher) – 1/4 cup

Preparation

• Pop the kernels in an air popper and put the popcorn in a big bowl.
• Heat the dark chocolate in a bowl in the microwave for 30 to 45 seconds, stirring once halfway through. 
• Add the melted chocolate to the popcorn.
• Repeat the process by melting the peanut butter in a microwave-safe bowl for 20 to 30 seconds. 
• Sprinkle popcorn with peanut butter. Serve hot!

Chicken Lettuce Wrap

Serving – 2

Preparation Time – 5 Minutes

Cooking Time – 15 Minutes

Ingredients

• Ground chicken – 1 cup
• Romaine or butter lettuce – 1 head
• Olive oil – 1 tbsp
• Ginger – 1 tsp
• Garlic- 1 tsp
• Red bell pepper chopped – 1/2 cup
• Tomato paste – 2 tbsp
• Soy sauce – 3 tbsp
• Salt and pepper to taste

Preparation

• Heat the olive oil and cook the chicken.
• Add salt, pepper, and the minced garlic, ginger, and bell pepper and sauté for 5-7 minutes.
• Add the tomato paste and soy sauce. Reduce the heat and cook for 5 minutes.
• Place the lettuce wraps on a serving plate.
• When the chicken is ready, fill the lettuce with it.

Sweet Treat Ideas for Kids with Diabetes

You can fulfill your child’s sweet cravings with some diabetes-friendly dessert recipes and not have to worry quite as much about it raising their blood sugar levels.

The fact of the matter is that pretty much anything your child eats will have an effect on their blood glucose levels. When it comes to sweet treats, the idea is to avoid rapid-acting, highly processed sugars (like high fructose corn syrup) in favor of natural sugars, like those found in fruits, or artificial sweeteners that don’t affect BGL. 

Here are some recipes for sweet treats below.

Rainbow Fruit Skewers

Serving – 2

Preparation Time – 5 Minutes

Cooking time – 5 Minutes

Ingredients

• Strawberries – 4
• Green apples peeled and quartered – 1
• Kiwifruit peeled and quartered – 1
• Blueberries – 4
• Seedless grapes – 4

Preparation

• Take wooden skewers, and one by one, thread the fruits onto them.
• Serve and enjoy.

Sugar-Free Brownies

Serving – 4 

Preparation time – 5 Minutes 

Cooking time – 30 Minutes 

Ingredients

• All Purpose Flour – 1 cup
• Baking Powder – 1 tsp
• Unsweetened cocoa powder – 3/4 Cup
• Diabetes-friendly sugar substitute – 1 tbsp (Stevia is a good option)
• Butter melted – 1/4 cup
• Eggs – 3
• Vanilla Extract – 2 tsp
• Chocolate Chips, sugar-free – 1 cup

Preparation

• Prepare a square non-stick pan (9X9) and preheat the oven to 325ºF degrees. 
• Combine the flour and baking powder in a medium bowl. Mix gently and add the unsweetened cocoa powder.
• Then, in another bowl, thoroughly combine the melted butter and sugar substitute.
• Combine the dry and wet ingredients stirring carefully in between additions. 
• Then, while whisking gently in between additions, add the eggs, followed by the vanilla.
• Fold your chocolate chips in with a rubber spatula. 
• Spread the batter into your pan evenly and bake for 20 to 25 minutes.  
• Let them cool and cut the brownies into squares.

Tips for Planning a Diabetes-Friendly Party

Aside from the diabetes-friendly snacks and treats, you might want to consider these tips when hosting a party for kids with diabetes.

1. Provide Nutrition Information for All the Foods Served

Include information on carbs, protein, fats, and fiber so kids and their parents don’t have to wonder or worry about what is safe or isn’t.

2. If You’re New to Diabetes, Consider Working with a Nutritionist to Plan the Menu

Planning a balanced, healthy menu that also helps kids control their blood sugar levels might be difficult. For this reason, it would be a good idea to consider a registered dietitian or a certified diabetes educator who can assist you in developing a tailored menu that satisfies the kids’ unique nutritional requirements. 

They can also offer advice on serving sizes.

Some Final Tips For Parents

It can be difficult for parents of children with Type 1 diabetes to know what food to serve at parties since they must find choices that are both kid-friendly and suitable for the kids’ dietary requirements. 

As a general rule, select foods high in protein, fiber, and healthy fats, all of which have been shown to promote the maintenance of normal blood sugar levels. 

Also, kids may be more interested in visually appealing foods. So try to get creative when serving the food to catch the kids’ attention and encourage them to try it.