The Best Protein Snacks for Adults to Have in The Cupboard

No matter how closely you follow your diet, a little bit of snacking is almost always necessary. Whether you didn’t have time to get breakfast in or the hours just seem to be dragging until dinnertime, a snack is a great way to quell your hunger until your next meal. It can also be a useful tool for hitting certain macronutrient requirements like protein!

Just because you’re following a diet or weight loss journey or have recently undergone weight loss surgery, doesn’t mean you have to skip out on snacking. That being said, it is essential for your diet and weight loss goals that your snacks be nutrient-rich and a reasonable number of calories. Snacks like potato chips, processed foods, or sugar filled sweets may give you temporary satisfaction, but the setbacks they can cause on your weight loss goals are never worth it.

We have assembled a thorough list of some of the best healthy snacks to have when following a diet. Some of these healthy snacks can be purchased online and others you can make yourself! They’ll fill your stomach enough to get to your next meal and help you fill out your dietary needs. The best weight loss snacks to have in your cupboard include:

• Protein Bars
• Roasted Chickpeas
• Protein Cookies
• Beef Jerky
• Protein Shakes
• Granola Bars

Protein Bars

A low calorie protein bar is a simple snack perfect to have in your cupboard. Not only are they tasty, but they have great nutritional value, mainly in terms of protein and fiber. Both are necessary nutrients to keep you on track with your weight loss goals.

Another great aspect to protein weight loss bars, similar to many other snacks you’ll find on this list, is the wide variety of flavors available to you. Whether you prefer chocolate, salted pretzel, or any flavor in between, there’s a product out there for you!

Protein diet bars are also individually wrapped making them perfect for on the go snacking. Throw a bar into your bag or purse before going to work or heading out and you’ll always have a healthy snack ready when the hunger hits!

Roasted Chickpeas

Roasted chickpeas are a delicious topping to a wide variety of foods. Better yet, roasting them along with some flavoring makes them delicious on their own. There are many different flavorings available so try them out and see what works best for you. Try this recipe out for a tasty snack filled with nutritional value!

Ingredients

For all flavors - 2 tbsp light oil

Cinnamon Sugar - ½ tsp cinnamon, 1 tsp brown sugar

Garlic Parmesan - 2 tsp garlic powder, 2 tsp nutritional yeast

Ranch - 2 tbsp ranch seasoning mix from packet

Buffalo - 1 tsp cornstarch, 2 tsp of favorite buffalo sauce

Directions

Preheat your oven to 400F. Rinse and drain the chickpeas in a strainer while removing the outer skin with your hands. Place the chickpeas on a paper towel and use another paper towel to gently roll over them.

Once dry, remove the paper towels and place the chickpeas on a sheet pan. Drizzle one tbsp of light oil and toss until thoroughly coated. Place them in the oven for 35-40 minutes. Be sure to stir them at least once during the baking process.

In a medium-sized bowl, mix one tbsp of oil with whatever flavor profile you decided on. Be sure to mix thoroughly to avoid any clumping within the mixture.

Once the chickpeas are done baking, combine the chickpeas with the seasoning mixture and toss. Be sure to do this while the chickpeas are still hot as they absorb the flavor better. Let them cool and enjoy!

Protein Cookies

High protein cookies are an easy way to satisfy your sweet tooth while staying in the boundaries of your diet! Image courtesy of Diet Direct

A difficult aspect to any diet is having to cut out sweets that are high in sugar and calories. Does switching to a healthier diet get rid of your sweet tooth? Of course not!

With protein cookies you can enjoy the sweet sensation of a dessert without cheating on your diet! Better yet, high protein desserts make a perfect addition to a diet as it can aid in removing the urge to find sugary snacks elsewhere and still contribute to hitting your macronutrient goals!

If cookies aren’t your dessert of choice, don’t fret! Other high protein desserts to buy online range from low calorie cakes, low carb cheesecake, sweet protein poppers, and many others. No matter how you like to satisfy your sweet tooth, there is a healthy alternative available and you can hardly taste the difference!

Beef Jerky

Beef jerky is a delicious weight loss snack perfect for those who enjoy animal-based products. The best part about beef jerky is the variety of flavors you can have. Since the base part of beef jerky is simply beef, additional spices and seasonings can make the same batch of beef jerky into a number of different flavor profiles.

Try making or buying beef jerky and then creating separate bags of different flavors such as buffalo, cajun, teriyaki, or plain (there are many other flavor profiles you can try so experiment and find what you like!).

If you plan on consuming them within the next couple days, feel free to store them in air-tight bags and leave them in the cupboard. If you’d like to store them for longer, simply throw them in the fridge!

Protein Shakes

Meal replacement shakes are an easy way to create a balanced diet. Perhaps your breakfast and lunch consisted of many vegetables, but lacked essential protein. Simply make a protein shake in between lunch and dinner and round out your diet!

Weight loss shakes may be the easiest way to hit your protein goals on any given day. They are also perfect if your goals are to not only lose weight, but put on some muscle! Having a good amount of protein per day will make you feel and look better!

On top of being useful in hitting protein requirements, shakes are also super convenient! Simply mix the powder with water and you have a tasty drink that you can consume at home or on the go. High protein shakes make a great addition to any diet so try out some different flavors and find the mixture perfect for you!

Granola Bars

Carbohydrates are an essential part to a healthy diet and maintaining your energy levels, but overdoing them can impede your weight loss goals. By portioning out high-carbohydrate dishes, you can still get the nutrients and energy you need without using too many of your daily calories. Try out this recipe for an easy to make snack that makes a great addition to any diet!

Ingredients

¾ cup low-fat butter

1 cup brown sugar

½ cup of honey

1 tsp of vanilla

1 tsp of salt

4 cups of oats

1 dash of cinnamon

½ cup of favorite add-in (low-fat chocolate chips, low-carb pretzels, chopped nuts, etc.)

Directions

Preheat your oven to 450F and melt the butter. Combine all of the other ingredients with the melted butter in a large bowl. The add-ins are where you get to be creative so try out a couple different mixtures and see what tastes best. Mix until you reach consistency.

Grab a 10x15 baking pan or desired size. Spread out the mixture into the pan evenly. Lightly drop the pan from an inch or two off the counter to get out any pockets of air that may be hiding under the surface. This also helps to spread out the mixture into an even layer.

Bake for approximately ten minutes but be sure not to overcook as the granola will burn quickly. Remove the pan and allow the granola to cool. Cut the granola into individual portions with a pizza cutter or sharp knife. Enjoy!

Hopefully you’ve found this list helpful in finding a healthy snack that’s perfect for you and your diet. They make the perfect addition to low carb, low calorie diets and are a useful tool in meeting protein requirements. By eating healthy snacks along with healthy meals, it puts you one step closer to meeting your weight loss goals and reaching the healthy body you’ve dreamed of!

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