Getting enough protein throughout the day can be one of those simple yet annoying things to do. One where you know what high protein snacks and meals are good for you, but the moment life happens and you get out of your routine, you completly forget what’s out there.
That’s where this list comes in handy!
And believe me, this is going to be super annoying with how simple it it. But sometimes we just need this reminder.
The more options and ideas you have in mind for when life happens and things come up that are out of your control, the better off you’ll be.
You put in all the work to build the muscle and strength you have, it’s good to make sure you’re supporting yourself with a high protein diet, even on the go and during stressful times.
So be sure to save this post for later when you need those reminders of what options you can have.
And if you want more support to change your relationship with food and not have to stress when your normal routine is thrown off, be sure to check out my blog post What to Do If You’re Tired of Counting Calories.
Now, let’s dive into my top 5 easy high protein snacks and to-go options!
1. Protein Shakes
I know, but hear me out! We aren’t doing the crazy nasty thing of just drinking the protein powder from a shaker bottle that smells like butt with just water. We’ve matured from our younger days! We all went through it, and now it’s time to enjoy it more!
Ok, well I will drink just Seeq protein powder in water, with ice though! Honestly, I’ve really enjoyed Seeq because it’s not just chocolate, vanilla, or something sweet along those lines. So I’d highly recommend trying that brand out if you want more of a flavored water drink.
Sometimes I just want a nice refreshing drink, but throw some protein in there! This has been such an easy way for me to get an extra 20 grams of protein in, and still having a “fun little drink”. I’m all about flavored water in order to drink more, because why be boring!
Next is the regular protein powder, whatever flavor you want, but in a smoothie. This one can be a little tricky, because I’m picky with my smoothie flavorings. But an easy one is frozen banana, spinach, peanut butter, chocolate protein powder, and sometimes with chia and flax seeds for extra nutrients. If you don’t like the texture of chia or flax seeds, which some days I don’t like either, just keep it out.
Chocolate peanut butter banana!? Yes please!
Or if it’s a tropical mix, vanilla protein powder works just fine, but I’d prefer an unflavored kind. Then it’s a tropical frozen fruit mix, spinach, protein powder, and chia or flax seeds if you’d like to add a little more to it.
But just get creative! Adding protein powder to a smoothie just helps you get your fruits and veggies in easier (which you’ll come to find out is my big theme: easy), and with spinach, you can’t taste it! I also prefer plant based protein powder when it comes to the sweet ones like chocolate or vanilla. I feel like they blend better too.
However, I have been enjoying Aldi’s regular protein powder they have. Sometimes the plant based ones are available, but their Whey Protein Blend is also very good! And with 30 grams of protein, you’re set!
However, if you’re busy and on the go, my favorite place to stop for, not only a protein smoothie but coffee as well, is Moka. It comes with their cold brew, protein powder, peanut butter and a banana. And it’s AMAZING!
I just got one today after playing Pickleball with my mom, but knowing that these exist have been a huge support on busy days.
So whether you have a Moka near you or not, be sure to check what coffee shops or smoothie places near you have to offer.
Check out Quick Post-Workout Protein Snack for more protein poweder ideas
2. Beef Jerky
I went through a phase in college where this was my main snack throughout the day. I’d get the cheap packs from Aldi and just snack on them throughout the day.
Now I’ve found Chomps and love to grab one while I’m doing grocery shopping. Because you need a treat for doing basic adult tasks. RIGHT!?
But whether it’s Chomps, your basic Jack Links, Vermont Smoke and Cure, or whatever your local grocery store or gas station has, it’s a great option to remember.
Again easy, hand held snacks that allow you to keep moving throughout your day without skipping a meal, the better.
Will it be as good as a normal prepared meal? no.
But is it better than not eating at all or just eating sugar instead? Absolutly!
Check out 8 Healthy and Lazy Meals I Eat On Repeat for some actual full meal ideas
3. Protein Bars
Now I don’t know about you, but when I was growing up in the bodybuilder college era, Quest bars were the thing! I would make cookies, cereal, sandwiches, anything out of those things! Maybe where my unhealthy approach to food started, because I couldn’t have any of those fun things unless it had protein in it! But now it’s just a fun thing to see how I can create ways to add more protein in, and I can eat whatever I want too.
Check out How to Stop Food Cravings in 3 Days
Anyways! Quest bars don’t sit well with me anymore, and I don’t like their blend of artificial sweeteners for the simple fact they don’t taste great to me.
I do however like the Barbell protein bars. I found a Pumpkin Spice one at Trader Joe’s this year and OH MY GOSH! That was amazing! But I waited too long and they sold out. So next year!
Otherwise, I went through a phase where that’s all I could eat in the morning, so I went through one a day during the work week. It’s just a super simple thing to take on the go and have at work or in between meals. Pretty simple.
What’s also nice about protein bars today is that ALL the varieties are at your local gas station now too. So if you’re on a road trip or just in-between things, stopping and grabbing a higher protein snack is pretty flexible and readily available now.
So don’t forget to check the gas station, grab a protein bar with 15-20 grams of protein, and some Cheez-Its for fun. Preferably the white cheddar if I had to recommend something.
4. Adult Lunchables
We need to have more fun in our lives! When did we decide cheese and crackers were silly!? Well, maybe we never did, we just changed what they look like.
But grabbing a little lunchable, or the fancy ones they have at Target or other grocery stores are awesome! Also, just making your own is simple.
All you really need is your favorite cheese to eat, a few good crackers, meat of your choice, and if you want to get really fancy you could add olives, nuts, little chocolate chips or even dried fruit.
And even just having a snack box with nuts, fruit and other fun snacks when you’re out and about is also a great idea.
I’ve actually made adult lunchables for my dinners when I didn’t want to cook before. Here’s a quick picture, but you could easily make a smaller version for a snack or one this size to share as well.
Sometimes I think the simple things get overlooked when it comes to healthy snacks. Or getting high protein meals means avoiding any other nutrients or non-protein foods.
If you want to live a balanced life, you need to find a way to make it all work. There’s no one specific food that’s bad for you (unless you have a medical condition of course).
But in the grand scheme of things, moderation is key and not cutting things out for an extended period of time. I talk more about this in Why Diets Don’t Work.
5. Peanut Butter Sandwich
To finally save the best for last, the OG of snacks and quick to-go ideas, we have the simple peanut butter sandwich. And yes, it deserves to be on this list!
You can easily make this a high protein snack with a higher protein bread (yes they’re out there and they taste just fine) and will regular peanut butter (we’re done with PB2 over here).
I can easily get a peanut butter sandwich to 20 grams of protein as a high protein snack. Will this be a super filling “snack”? Of course!
But you can also do a single slice of bread rather than 2 and easily get 10-15 grams of protein still.
When you’ve fallen into the health and fitness space for too long, it becomes easy to forget that this is a normal thing to eat. You aren’t bad or wasting away or making the wrong decision by eating something super simple or “not as healthy” as this.
But you really can.
Health is a lot more mental than it is physical. And I hope that you can see now that it doesn’t have to be anymore complicated than that.
But that’s my list of 5 high protein snacks and to-go options. Was it what you were expecting?
Health isn’t supposed to be hard or overtake your life. As I get older, I’m realizing I care more about how I feel and how the things I’m choosing to do in order to take care of my body make me feel day to day.
Some days will be harder, but I’ll no longer sacrifice my mental health and well being in order to hit a number on the scale.
I have too much life and good food to enjoy to be dealing with that!
If you did like this post, then be sure to check out the other blog posts I have linked above.
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Until then, thanks for being here, enjoy your high protein snacks, and I can’t wait to talk again soon!
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