Modern lifestyles and a variety of other reasons are why the number of children affected by both type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes is increasing. This leads to multiple problems, with the most pressing one being about food. It can be overwhelming for parents to restrict children from eating their favorite snacks and many of the most popular items are simply out of bounds.

How do you console a child feeling left out and upset in this scenario? Parents can replace junk food with equally tasty alternatives or get innovative and create recipes for kids that do not affect their sugar levels. Involve them when you make your weekly plans, take them shopping, teach them what the labels mean. They can participate in preparing and assembling snacks. Here are some interesting, yet safe late-night snack ideas for diabetic children that you can make easily at home.

Fruits are very safe and are healthy snacks for all ages. However, it isn’t easy to get children to eat them every day. Eating the same thing can decrease their interest in food and they might even start eating less, which isn’t ideal, as starving or skipping meals is not an option for people with diabetes. Here are some ideas that hero fruit as a snack but present them differently:

• Dehydrated banana chips: Peel overripe bananas, slice thinly, dip each piece in lemon juice, arrange on a baking sheet on a tray, and bake for an hour.
• Watermelon salad: Mix small pieces of watermelon, finely chopped mint leaves, ginger, lemon juices, chaat masala, ground pepper, and salt. Serve this to them on whole-wheat crackers.
• Apples with caramel dip: Mix 2 tsp of creamy butter and 1 tbsp sugar-free caramel-flavored syrup in a bowl and melt in a microwave. Drizzle over sliced apples and serve.
• Low-carb banana milk: Pour ½ cup sugarless almond milk, coconut milk, or cashew milk, 1 cup water, 2 tbsp heavy cream, ¼ vanilla essence, and 5 drops of stevia into a blender. Add some ice cubes and blend well before serving cold. This is an ideal late evening snack.
• Fruit cup: Mix slices of melon, strawberries, grapes, and peaches. To this, you need to add lemon juice, some lime peel, 1 tbsp honey, and ½ tsp ground ginger. Top it with some toasted coconut for added texture and flavor.
• Dry fruit balls: Combine 1 cup chopped almonds, one cup dried figs, and one cup dried apricots and blitz them till they have a fine texture, but not a powdery one. Roll into balls and coat with shredded coconut powder.

Aside from fruits, it is essential that your child gets their fill of vegetables too. These make for equally safe and great late-night snack options for diabetics and can be mixed and matched for some amazing ideas.

• Sweet potato toast : Slice thick sweet potatoes lengthwise, and place in a toaster and toast it through. You can top it with the child’s favorite toppings – it can be a nut butter, or a fried egg, or an avocado. You can also use homemade fruit preserves with no sugar.
• Eggplant chips: Eggplants are a healthy vegetable but often not a favorite among children due to their texture. Cut thin slices (roundels) of an eggplant, season it with salt and pepper, and bake in an oven until the slices are crisp. Sprinkle with paprika and serve. You can serve it with a yogurt-based dip or hummus to make it a healthier snack.
• Mini pizza: Take a slice of bread or roll out the pizza dough and spread some sauce on it. Place thinly sliced zucchini and sliced tomatoes. Grate cheese over the veggies and bake in a preheated oven at 350º until the cheese melts.