24 High Protein Snacks

Nut Butter Boat

Try loading a few celery sticks with a serving of any nut butter (like almond, cashew, peanut) topped with a few raisins. If you’re not a fan of celery, try scooping out the middle of an apple and filling it with 1-2 tablespoons of your nut butter of choice. 2 tbsp natural nut butter with 1 cup apple or celery slices: 8.3 grams protein

Jerky

Be careful to avoid sodium and sugar-filled brands, but low-sodium, natural, or lightly-flavored options are a great source of protein. This chewy snack is also keeps fresh for months when packed properly and is highly portable for storage at the office or in your car. One single-serving pack: 10 grams protein

Mixed Nuts or Trail Mix

Mixed nuts provide an easy way to get a delicious dose of protein in a convenient, shelf-stable package. Try a mixed bunch for variety and a combo with dried fruit for some added sweetness. The best bang for your protein buck? Almonds and pistachios. They're higher in protein than their nutty peers. 1 tbsp each almonds, pistachio nuts, sunflower seeds, walnuts and raisins: 6.5 grams protein

Deli Roll-ups

Consider it a sandwich without the bread! This savory snack packs in almost double the protein of a hardboiled egg, and sneaks in a few vegetables to boot! Remember to stick to a lower-salt variety of meat to reduce sodium intake. 2 slices deli turkey rolled up with 1 slice cheese and 1 slice tomato: 11.9 grams protein

Pumpkin Seeds

Those orange gourds aren’t just for carving. Pumpkin insides, scooped out to make room for spooky faces, can actually make a healthy little snack full of fiber and immunity-protecting zinc once they’re washed, dried, and nicely roasted. 2/3 cup pumpkin seeds, rinsed and coated with 1 tsp curry powder and a pinch of salt, roasted at 300 degrees for 20 minutes: 8 grams protein

Chunky Monkey Shake

If protein powder is just not your thing, there are plenty of alternatives to creating a high-protein beverage, including this banana-y pick-me-up, bulked up with chocolate milk and peanut butter, which provides both healthy fat and cardiovascular benefits in addition to protein. It’s time to get funky, monkey! 1 medium banana, 1 tablespoon of peanut butter, and 1 cup of low fat chocolate milk blended with 1 cup of ice: 15 grams protein

Shake it Up

While getting your protein from whole food sources is ideal, an occasional dip into the protein powder canister is also convenient when your protein intake is low, and when it comes to protein shakes, the combinations are endless! Pour yours into a portable tumbler for a sippable snack on the go. 1 scoop vanilla whey protein powder, 1 cup orange juice, and 1 cup ice blended until smooth. 18 to 32 grams of protein, depending on brand.

Mini Bean-and-Cheese Quesadilla

It might take an extra minute to prep, but combining these two high-protein treats is totally worth it, especially when the result boasts both fiber and calcium too. Cook it in a dry nonstick pan until the cheese is melted and tortilla is lightly browned, then wrap it in foil and stick in a plastic baggie for easy transport. 1/2 cup black beans, 1 tablespoon salsa, and 1 slice cheddar cheese in a small whole wheat tortilla: 17.9 grams protein

Edamame Poppers

The only thing more fun than how much protein you can get from a serving of edamame is getting to eat these little beans out of their bright green pods. Buy them fresh and steam, or use the pre-cooked frozen variety and briefly microwave to defrost before chowing down. Portion size matters! 1 cup edamame pods sprinkled with sea salt: 15 grams protein

Hummus Dippers

How’s this for an unconventional use of a travel coffee mug? Put a few dollops of your favorite hummus in the bottom of the container, stick a handful of vegetable sticks (carrots, celery, and snow peas are a great mix) vertically in the hummus, screw on the top, and throw in a purse or gym bag for an easy, on-the-go, super-healthy snack. 1/3 cup hummus with 1/2 cup mixed vegetable sticks: 6.7 grams protein

Greek Yogurt

Along with a higher level of protein than regular yogurt, the Greek stuff provides plenty of calcium and probiotics. Look for plain versions to reduce sugar intake. 1 single-serving container yogurt: 16 grams protein

Portable Cheese Platter

Who doesn't love a classy cheese plate? Make yourself a mini version (or fill a Tupperware box) with a cheese stick along with some whole-grain crackers for crunchy carb action, and a few almonds for an all-around protein, healthy fat, and fiber upgrade. 1 stick 2-percent string cheese with 3 whole-wheat crackers and 10 almonds: 9.6 grams protein

Mini PB&J

Downsize this lunch box favorite to make it perfect for snack time—just make sure you use all-natural peanut (or almond!) butter and a fruit-juice sweetened jelly to avoid trans fats and extra sugars. 1 slice whole-wheat bread with 1 tbsp natural peanut butter and 1 tsp all-fruit jelly: 9 grams protein

Perfect Parfait

In a transportable container, alternate layers of plain low-fat or nonfat Greek yogurt with a handful of fruit (either fresh or frozen works great!). Then top with a drizzle of honey and a sprinkling of toasted oats to add crunch to this protein- and probiotic-packed treat. 1/2 cup nonfat Greek yogurt with 2 tablespoons oats and 2 tablespoons berries: 12.9 grams protein

Gobble, Gobble

This comforting combination of deli meat, cheese, veggies, and dried cranberries includes a bit of every food group, and the protein-packed final product is guaranteed to hold you over for a good few hours! One piece whole-grain bread,sliced lengthwise, topped with 2 slices roasted turkey, 1 slice Swiss cheese, 1 lettuce leaf, 1 slice tomato, 1 teaspoon mustard, and 1 teaspoon dried cranberries: 20.4 grams protein

Tuna and Crackers

Along with protein, canned tuna adds some vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids to your mid-afternoon munchies. Scooped up with a few whole wheat crackers, it’s a mini-meal that’s both simple and satisfying. 1 single serving (3-ounce) pack of wild albacore tuna salad plus 11 whole grain crackers: 12 grams protein

Basic Burrito

When the mid-afternoon slump calls for something spicy to wake you up, try this bite-sized flavor fiesta. The bulk of the protein comes from the black beans and cheddar, while a spoonful of salsa adds a small but powerful dose of cancer-fighting lycopene. If you want to make it vegan but equally protein-rich, just replace the cheese with extra beans. 1 small whole wheat tortilla, 2 tbsp mashed black beans, 2 tbsp shredded cheddar, 1 tbsp salsa: 8.4 grams protein

Toasted Quinoa

Try this unconventional way to enjoy the gluten-free superfood: lightly sweetened, and toasted to crunchy perfection. Pack it in a container on top of yogurt, or like we tend to do with our favorite granola, eat it by the handful! 1/3 cup quinoa mixed with 1⁄2 tbsp ground flax, 1 tbsp shredded coconut, and 1 tbsp maple syrup, toasted at 425 degreesfor 10 minutes: 9.4 grams protein

Protein Bites

No baking required, only four ingredients, portable, and tastes like dessert? This is our kind of quick-fix treat! Nut butter acts as the binder as well as the source of most of the protein in this recipe, while oats and dark chocolate chips give it its cookie-like quality while adding both fiber and antioxidants. 1 1/2 tbsp nut butter, 3 tbsp oats, 1/2 tbsp honey, 1/2 tbsp dark chocolate chips, rolled into balls: 8 grams protein

Grape-and-Cheese Sticks

Dice a half-inch thick slice of cheddar cheese into squares (you should end up with about 6 small pieces), and alternate the cubes with grapes onto toothpicks. The sweet and savory contrast of the cheese and fruit is super sophisticated (and delicious), and a little bit goes a long way to fit your protein needs. 1 ounce cheddar cheese with 6 grapes: 7.1 grams protein

“Cheesy” Popcorn

When it’s not doused in butter and artificial flavorings, popcorn can be a super healthy snack, thanks to being a fiber-rich, satiating whole grain. Ratchet up its protein content by dusting the kernels with nutritional yeast, the vegan, B vitamin-packed answer to parmesan cheese. 3 cups air-popped popcorn coated with 2 tbsp nutritional yeast and a sprinkle ofsalt: 8.9 grams protein

“Cheesy” Kale Chips

The ultimate in salty cravings, potato chips are one of the easiest snacks to overdo it on. Next time you need a big pile of something crunchy on the go, swap out the store-bought spuds for a baked bunch of homemade kale chips instead. While just as crisp as regular chips, this two-cup serving comes with the added benefits of giving you over 40 percent of your daily value of vitamin A and C, plus a hefty dose of protein from the nutritional yeast topping. 2 cups kale leaves coated with a spritz of olive oil cooking spray and 2 tbsp nutritional yeast, baked at 325 degrees for 15 minutes: 9 grams protein

Homemade Chia Pod

This one requires some advance planning since it needs to be chilled for at least 4 hours, but we promise the effort is minimal and the wait is well worth it. Soak the chia seeds in non-dairy milk right in a portable container so that all you have to do is grab and go for a snack that’ll give you more than 30 percent of your daily value for calcium, iron, and magnesium. 1/4 cup chia seeds, 1 cup unsweetened almond milk, 1/2 tbsp honey: 7 grams protein

Roasted Chickpeas

There’s so much more to chickpeas than hummus, and one of the tastiest ways to enjoy these cholesterol-lowering beans is also the simplest. Roast them with some basic seasonings for an extra crunchy, nutty bite, and carry them in a ziplock or small container to pop a handful when you feel hunger coming on. 3/4 cup chickpeas roasted for 20 to 30 minutes with 1 tablespoon each olive oil, salt, and cayenne pepper: 9 grams protein

The medical and/or nutritional information provided by Blue Mesa Health is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.