A well-chosen snack is more than just a means to stave off hunger between meals. It’s a break from work or other tasks, a bit of pleasure and fun, and, of course, a source of nourishment. To make sure that you feel satisfied by your mid-afternoon nosh, choose a high-protein snack. Protein helps you feel full longer and gives you sustained energy. Too often, though, high-protein snacks are… less than tasty. Or they’re full of additives, sugar, and other less-than-optimal ingredients
We sorted through a sea of high-protein snacks to bring you the most delicious finds, from chewy, flavorful grass-fed meat sticks to super-creamy cottage cheese — and even something sweet, too.
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1. Paleo Valley 100% Grass-Fed Beef Sticks
Courtesy of Paleo Valley
Meat sticks have come a long way from their origins as preservative-laden gas station fare. Nowadays there are many options for sticks made from grass-fed beef, pastured poultry, and even game meats, in an array of flavors. One of our favorites? Paleo Valley Grass-Fed Beef Sticks with 6 grams of protein per serving. Made with grass-fed beef and organic spices, and naturally fermented without sugar or additives, they have a soft, chewy texture and come in flavors like Jalapeno, Garlic Summer Sausage, and Teriyaki.
Buy It: Paleo Valley 100% Grass-Fed Beef Sticks, $26 for 10 sticks
2. Good Culture Cottage Cheese
Courtesy of Good Culture
Grab a spoon; this is not your grandma’s cottage cheese. Fermented with live, active cultures and made with organic, pasture-raised milk, this rich, creamy snack comes in plain or lightly sweetened fruit flavors like Blueberry-Acai and Strawberry-Chia. Prefer to keep it savory? Add chopped cucumbers, lemon zest, and olive oil to it. All varieties are free of stabilizers, thickeners, and preservatives, and loaded with 14 grams of protein per serving.
Buy It: Good Culture Cottage Cheese, $5 for 16 ounces
3. Whisps Cheese Crisps
Courtesy of Amazon
Sometimes you want something cheesy, but also crunchy and salty. When that craving hits, grab a bag of these baked crisps. Made from cheese and a few spices, they’re satisfyingly crunchy and high in both protein (10 grams) and calcium. They’re also keto-friendly, and gluten-, lactose-, and nut-free. Plus, they make a great salad topper. Go for the cheddar flavor to get that classic, tangy bite.
Buy It: Whisps Cheese Crisps, $14 for pack of 3
4. Peckish Eggs & Dip
Courtesy of Peckish
Forget the rubbery packaged hard-boiled eggs you may have suffered through in the past. With these high-protein snacks, you get two perfectly cooked non-GMO, free-range, certified humane eggs with gloriously soft, golden yolks. On the side, Peckish offers a tasty, crispy dip for some fun flavor combinations. They’re keto-friendly and great for kids, too. They could even be an on-the-go breakfast with 13 grams of protein. All the flavors are delicious, but we especially love the Salt & Pepitas and the Fried Rice. But you really you can’t go wrong with any of them.
Buy It: Peckish Eggs & Dip, $4 per pack (available at Whole Foods)
5. The Only Bean Edamame
Courtesy of The Only Bean
The Only Bean’s edamame is crunchy and dry-roasted, like peanuts, but not. These little green beans make for a sweet-savory snack with 14 grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber. Crunchy edamame is a pretty tasty snack post-workout (along with a big glass of water). Choose among flavors like sea salt, Sriracha, or Buffalo.
Buy it: The Only Bean Edamame, $14.97 for pack of 10
6. Go Raw Organic Sprouted Pumpkin Seeds
Courtesy of Go Raw
There’s something a little different about the way pumpkin seeds taste when they’re raw and sprouted. Let’s say there’s an essential “pumpkinness” that comes through — both sweet and nutty. Enjoy as a snack on their own, or toss these seeds on top of your morning yogurt for an extra 8 grams of protein. Go Raw keeps it simple with a sea salt flavor, but seed lovers might like the mix of sunflower and pumpkin seeds.
Buy it: Go Raw Organic Sprouted Pumpkin Seeds, $13.99 for 14 ounces
7. HighKey Cookies Double Chocolate Brownie
Courtesy of HighKey
We’re not going to say sweets are the best source of protein necessarily., But, if you’re having a cookie emergency (totally a thing), these little bites from HighKey offer 5 grams of protein per serving, and they’re low-carb and sugar-free, too (they’re sweetened with a combo of erythritol, monk fruit, and stevia.). Other flavors are available, but this is the one highest in protein.
Buy it: High Key Double Chocolate Brownie Cookies, $4.50 per pack
8. Catalina Crunch Mix
Courtesy of Catalina Crunch
This brand makes what you might consider an updated version of a certain old-school cereal-based snack mix. Catalina’s salty-crunchy mixes offer nuts, chickpea protein-based pretzels, and the brand’s own high-protein cereal. Protein ranges from 7 to 10 grams per serving and flavors include spicy kick, cheddar, creamy ranch, and traditional.
Buy it: Catalina Crunch Mix, $27 for pack of 3
9. Siggi’s Icelandic Skyr
Courtesy of Siggi’s
Yogurt is hardly a revolutionary addition to this list, but Siggi’s version is an Icelandic skyr that’s thick, creamy, and low in sugar. Clocking in at 16 grams of protein for a 5.3-ounce portion, Siggi’s low-fat yogurt (they make a few different kinds) comes in a variety of classic and inventive flavors such as vanilla, guava, coconut and berries, and acai, among others — as well as plain, of course.
Buy it: Siggi’s Yogurt, $7 for pack of 4
10. Epic Maple Glazed and Smoked Salmon Bites
Courtesy of Epic
Epic’s salmon is 100 percent wild-caught and sourced sustainably from fisheries in Alaska. These chewy and soft salmon bites contain 9 grams of protein per serving and are a fun twist on the concept of jerky. Epic offers a wide variety of thoughtfully sourced high-protein snacks in this form, including venison, bison, or chicken. Flavor profiles include spicy, sweet, and savory, or just simply seasoned with salt and pepper.
Buy it: Epic Salmon Bites, $8 per pack
Read Next: 13 Flavorful High-Protein Lunch Ideas
