Yeast Free Living

Let’s be honest.  It is hard to find tasty snacks on the Candida Diet.  So what are we to do?  Must we give up snacking?  While I do not think that we need to give up snacking we do need to reevaluate what we snack on.  Most snacks that have we have chosen prior to starting the candida diet are characteristic of the other processed, sugar/salt laden,  and carbohydrate heavy foods that we once ate.  It may be difficult to resist that box of cookies, box of cheese crackers and potato chips.  There are some delicious snacks that you can still enjoy while following the candida diet.  The following are 10 of my favorites: 

Air Popped Popcorn
Invest in an air popper and you can continue to enjoy this terrific snack in a much healthier way.  Add a small amount of clarified butter and sea salt and I promise that you will enjoy this more than the microwave varieties.  Ready-to-eat Air Popped Popcorn can also be found in various stores such as Whole Foods or CVS, just make sure to read the label carefully to avoid any prohibited ingredients.  Some  microwave varieties may be okay but again just make sure to read lables carefully.  Popcorn is high in carbohydrates, so be sure not to consume too much in one sitting. 
 

Brown Rice Crackers
There are many different varieties of brown rice crackers and not all are good.  There will be a little trial and error to find the ones that you like. I like the Hol Grain variety and often eat these with a can a tuna, egg salad and chicken mixed with homemade mayonnaise.

Hummus
I love hummus!  I eat it with raw veggies, tortilla chips or a sliced warm brown rice tortilla.  A lot of the varieties in the store are preserved with citric acid so you may not find a candida friendly commercial brand in your supermarket.  I buy Trader Joe’s garlic hummus.  It has all candida diet approved ingredients.  Alternatively, you can find a recipe and make it from scratch.  Hummus is actually very easy to make.   

Nuts
Both of my daughters are allergic to several different types of nuts so for a while I did not keep them around much.  Now that they are old enough to know why they can’t eat them I do keep some around.  Nuts are a “superfood” of sorts.  They are packed with monounsaturated fats, protein, fiber, vitamin, nutrients and antioxidants.  Additionally, they have cholesterol lowering effects. 

Rice Cakes
Even before I went on the candida diet I enjoyed rice cakes only I loved the sugary apple cinnamon or caramel ones.  I am actually pretty shocked that I have come to really enjoy the plain no salt type.   This make a great bread substitute for a quick sandwich.  Another idea is to spread them with nut butters.  They also taste pretty good plain. 

Salsa
There are many varieties of salsa in the supermarket.  Unfortunately many of them are not compatible with the candida diet.  There are some like Whole Foods 365 brand salsa.  The most common ingredients that trip us up here are vinegar and citric acid.  If you are having trouble finding a brand that works find a simple salsa recipe and substitute any troubling ingredients.  I usually enjoy my salsa with store bought or homemade tortilla chips. 

Tortilla Chips
These are high in carbohydrates so you must limit your intake but if you have the willpower a few of these make a tasty snack.  Garden or Eatin, the brand featured in the picture are one of my favorite varieties, although a little pricey.  I buy them because they are all natural.  There is a new brand, Sage Valley that I have been purchasing lately at Shoprite.  They too are all natural and not as expensive.  You can also make your own with this homemade Tortilla Chip Recipe.  Enjoy them with salsa, hummus or plain. 

Vegetables
 Vegetables have become such an important part of the candida diet for me.  I was accustomed to cooking everything or rather overcooking everything.  To actually eat a vegetable in its raw form is not only healthy but suprisingly tasty.   

 It took me a little while to be able to enjoy yogurt plain.  I used to really enjoy the once with the fruit at the bottom.  Blueberry was actually my favorite.  Plain yogurt however is a very good candida snack.  Yogurt contains live and active cultures that help to restore the balance to you digestive tract.

Yogurt