Adding a robust collection of vegetables to your diet is a simple, effective way to manage your blood sugar levels. Vegetables are rich in vitamins and have high fiber and nutrient content, making them ideal for keeping you full longer, effective in stabilizing blood sugar over time, and wonderful for regulating your digestive system.
While vegetables are edible powerhouses, many people struggle to stomach the taste and texture of vegetables. Many men and women turn to dips such as ranch to make veggies more palatable. Unfortunately, many commercial dressings are filled with sugar, preservatives, and unnecessary additives.
Alternative Dipping Choices
Some dips not only provide a more palatable form of eating vegetables but add significant nutrient content of their own. These following options can be used as a quick snack but are powerful enough to function well as a full meal.
#1. Nut Butters
Nut butters pair perfectly with milder vegetables such as celery and cucumber, adding a creamy texture to the crunch of raw veggies. Nut butters are ideal because they contain fats and protein necessary to stay full and round out your nutrition needs. You can make your own nut butter using your nut of choice, salt and an oil such as coconut oil or you can purchase premade nut butters.
When searching for a premade nut butter, look for small ingredient lists. Ideally, your nut butter should only contain nuts, oil, salt, and some form of preservative.
#2. Hummus
#2. HummusHummus is a wonderful addition to your diet. Once again, hummus provides a good source of fat and protein. Typically made with lemon juice, sesame seeds or paste, salt, and chickpeas, hummus pairs beautifully with tart vegetables such as peppers.
Hummus is easy to make yourself or can be purchased in most grocery stores. Look for ingredients containing five items or less and experiment with different flavors, such as roasted red pepper hummus or avocado hummus.
#3. Greek Yogurt Dip
Greek yogurt dip falls in the middle of the mild-tart spectrum, combining the smooth texture of Greek yogurt with the bite of dill. Comprised only of garlic, dill, lemon juice, salt, yogurt, and olive oil, this dip is a great replacement for ranch and goes well with carrots, broccoli, and cauliflower.
Due to the presence of yogurt and olive oil, Greek yogurt dip is also high in fat and protein and is a great way to introduce more vegetables (and vegetable variety) into your diet.
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Web MD. Accessed 5/4/17.
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