Whether it’s after a workout, to stave off boredom in the middle of the day, or as a way to tide you over to your next meal, healthy snacks are an important part of a healthy diet. Of course, when you think of snacks, you probably think of cookies, potato chips, and other vending machine goodies, but those simply don’t work for someone on a candida diet.

Don’t panic! There is a way to enjoy snack time while still keeping your body in prime condition to eliminate candida overgrowth with candida snack ideas.

As someone with a candida condition, it is very important to remove all foods that increase yeast from your diet. Foods to avoid include overly processed foods as well as foods that contain sugar and white flour. These foods fuel the yeast problem and lead to more severe symptoms.

Instead, focus on natural, whole foods and look for candida recipes. Protein is a great way to build your body through nutrition. Also, low-glycemic vegetables and fruits contribute a lot to the candida diet with important vitamins and minerals, which strengthen the system and are important weapons to have while fighting candida.

Some power-hitters to keep in your arsenal when you’re considering healthy, candida-friendly snacks include plain, sugar-free yogurt — which supports healthy bacteria in your body, plus garlic and cayenne pepper to boost your immune system.

An important aspect of adhering to the Candida diet—all snacks and meals included—is to always be prepared when hunger strikes. When you’re so hungry you can eat anything in sight, you probably will. But if you have healthy, fungi-friendly foods on hand, you’re less likely to binge on any sugar-laden food that might be hanging around the pantry or office break room.

For ultimate success, consider making a candida snacks list and purchasing all the items needed for a snack-packed week. Then, when you have the urge to snack, you’ll have enticing options that fit into your candida diet.

Here are some candida snack ideas to help you compile this list:

Blended coffee with cream

ingredients:

2 Tbs heavy whipping cream

2 whole eggs, raw (or crushed whole eggs)

4 oz. Chilled strong coffee

2 T. sugar-free syrup (vanilla or caramel are great flavors)

cinnamon (optional)

3 ice cubes + extra ice for pouring the shake

Combine all ingredients in a blender and serve over ice. Experiment with different flavors and combinations to suit your taste. Another great option is to replace the coffee with 1.5 teaspoons of sugar-free jelly mix dissolved in 4 ounces. Boiling water. Makes a refreshing fruit smoothie.

trail mix

ingredients:

almonds

pecan

pumpkin seeds

Sunflower seeds

Unsweetened carob chips

Unsweetened shaved coconut

Mix it all together, put it in a baggy bag and you have a great energy-boosting snack for the car, after a workout or on your desk at the office.

Cheese and vegetable crackers

ingredients:

Any grated cheese (cheddar is a great choice)

Vegetable slices (celery, peppers, cucumbers, cauliflower, etc.)

Place small piles of grated cheese in a hot frying pan and fry until brown and crunchy. Remove the cheese and place on a plate lined with a paper towel to absorb excess oil. Allow it to cool and the cheese will become crunchy and a perfect alternative to traditional crackers or potato chips.

Don’t think just because you’re on a diet you can’t enjoy your food. With candida snacks, you can stay on track with your diet without feeling deprived.