Treats for Valentine’s Day that won’t spike your blood sugar

Valentine’s Day = sweet treats, right? Finding sweet treats that are low in calories and added sugar can be a challenge when you have diabetes. But we’ve found a few delicious options to share with you – including many that you can make at home using just a few ingredients.

Dark chocolate for Valentine’s Day

Dark chocolate can be a healthy and delicious way to satisfy your sweet tooth – in moderation! Dark chocolate is commonly lower in sugar and contains more cocoa than milk chocolate. It also has more than twice as many beneficial flavonols than milk chocolate. So whether you’re sharing it with someone special or spoiling yourself, here are two of our favourite Valentine’s treats that won’t spike your blood sugar:

Chocolate dipped strawberries

Let’s face it, what would a Valentine’s treat be without strawberries? These heart-shaped, bright red fruits not only symbolise love, but they’re delicious and low in calories. Win-win! Strawberries are often thought to have more sugar than other fruits. But in reality, strawberries have the lowest amount of sugar per 1 cup serving when compared to popular fruits. Strawberries can be the perfect low-calorie solution for someone who doesn’t want to spike their blood sugar. (Not a fan of strawberries? Here’s our diabetic’s guide to fruit.)

For an easy yet decadent dessert, chop up a bar of 88% or 90% dark chocolate. Combine with a bit of coconut oil in a bowl and microwave, stirring occasionally until melted. Dip the strawberries in the melted chocolate and refrigerate or allow them to rest until the chocolate settles. And enjoy!

Berries drizzled in chocolate

Try drizzling dark chocolate over fresh strawberries, raspberries or blueberries. Get the added benefit of heart-healthy polyphenols when you use 70% cocoa. Berries also contribute healthful antioxidants, and are very low carb.

Greek yoghurt treats

Greek yoghurt has more protein, fewer carbs and fewer sugars than traditional yoghurt. Greek yoghurt can be an excellent snack option for people with diabetes. It’s best to opt for plain Greek yoghurt and sweeten it at home with your favourite fruits, along with a sprinkle of cinnamon or some chia seeds. Yoghurt is one of those incredibly versatile, easy-to-love dairy products – it can go on pretty much anything. Here are two dessert options to try out.

Frozen Greek yoghurt

Never mind ice-cream – you can also have Greek yoghurt as a frozen treat. All you need are three ingredients and a mixer. Simply mix the Greek yoghurt with a small amount of raw honey and vanilla essence, and freeze for 2 hours. You can serve with crushed almond nuts or frozen raspberries.

Whipped Greek yoghurt

Mix Greek yoghurt with heavy cream and whip until it forms stiff peaks. Add some vanilla essence for a hint of sweetness, and serve it with frozen berries or shredded coconut to give it some texture.

You can also stir in some cocoa for a chocolate-flavoured treat, or some fresh granadilla pulp for a tropical yoghurt dessert.

Heart-shaped fruit kebabs

Lastly, here’s a really easy and adorable idea that’s sure to impress your loved one. This is a super-easy way of turning all sorts of fruits into a truly memorable Valentine’s Day celebration… Use whatever combination of fruits you like (again, here’s our cheat sheet for how to eat fruit with diabetes!)

Here’s what to do: cut your chosen fruits into thick slices. Place the slices on a cutting board and use a small heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut out as many pieces as possible. Thread your heart-shaped fruit pieces onto a skewer starting at the bottom of each heart and poking through the top.

There are many healthy and nutritious sweet treats and snacks that you can enjoy as part of celebrating special occasions if you have diabetes. You just have to opt for foods that are low in sugar and high in protein, fibre, and heart-healthy fats. What treats will you choose today?

Photo by Charisse Kenion, Natalia Fogarty and Wesual Click on Unsplash

What to read next?

The basic diabetic pantry: Exactly what to add to your shopping list so you can eat a healthy diet.

Free Diabetes Food Guide: Not sure which foods to choose, and how much of them to eat? Here’s a simple guide.

Eat healthy for diabetes: The one article you need to read about diabetes and diet.