Written By Courtney McMahan, RD

Snacking on unhealthy foods between meals can be one of the quickest ways to sabotage a day of healthy eating. After you’ve taken the time to plan and prep healthy meals for the week, it can be hard to find the motivation to spend even more time in the kitchen preparing nutritious snacks. This can lead to reaching for low-nutrition options like chips or cookies. But what if I told you that snacking on healthy, filling, high-protein snacks could be just as simple as grabbing a bag of Doritos? Here are five healthy protein snacks for when the three p.m. snack-attack hits. 

Creamy: Chobani Complete Shakes

Made with only simple, whole-food ingredients, these Chobani yogurt shakes are great for a creamy protein snack when you are short on time but still want to get your protein from whole-food ingredients. They are lactose-free for those with lactose intolerance. They have twenty grams of protein, and they also have three grams of prebiotic fiber (the kind of fiber that feeds the good bacteria in your gut). 

Allergy-Friendly: OWYN Shakes

Another ready-made option, this shake has the benefit of being free of all eight major allergens, including dairy, soy, gluten, egg, peanuts, and tree nuts. The regular shakes contain twenty grams of complete protein (meaning they contain all nine essential amino acids), while the Pro Elite version contains 35 grams of complete protein per bottle. 

Salty and Crunchy: The Only Bean Crunchy Roasted Edamame

Craving chips but don’t want the empty calories? This dried edamame comes in fun flavors like buffalo and sriracha so that you can satisfy your salty snack cravings while getting eleven grams of protein and four grams of fiber per servings!

Best Bar: RXBAR

Protein bars can be a super convenient way to boost protein between meals; it doesn’t get much easier than keeping a box of bars in your desk drawer. But so many bars can be full of added sugars or highly processed ingredients. RX makes their bars from only simple ingredients like egg whites, almonds, and dates.They have no artificial sweeteners, and each bar has twelve grams of protein and five grams of fiber.

Savory: CHOMPS Free Range Turkey Jerky

When you’re in the mood for something savory, these jerky sticks are a great pick. They are made with turkey, so they are lower in saturated fat than traditional beef-based jerkys. Each stick contains ten grams of protein and only sixty calories, so they are an efficient way to get a lot of protein for very few calories.

Incorporating healthy snacks into your daily routine can be a game-changer when it comes to maintaining a balanced diet. These five high-protein snacks offer a delicious alternative to unhealthy options like chips and cookies. From creamy shakes to savory jerky sticks, there is something for everyone. By choosing these healthier options, you can fuel your body with the nutrients it needs to stay energized throughout the day. So next time you reach for a snack, try swapping out your usual go-to with one of these options. Your body will thank you!