Snack time is a sacred time – avoiding those mid-afternoon stomach rumblings is a crucial part of a good day. But fight the pangs with protein-rich snacks? Well, that’s a stroke of genius. By keeping protein-rich snacks at your desk (or on hand in your home office), you can make snack time work for you. you, refueling you quickly so you can resume your day as soon as possible.
In addition to the many bodily functions that protein supports (like maintaining muscle mass and keeping your immune system functioning, as SELF reports), eating enough protein helps keep you from feeling hungry 45 minutes after your snack. Indeed, the amino acids contained in proteins take time to be digested by your body, Rebecca Scritchfield, RDN, board-certified exercise physiologist and author of Benevolence of the body, says SELF.
Another benefit of high-protein snacks is that they can help you get over “three-and-a-half,” that pesky late-afternoon wave of lethargy. That’s why Scritchfield recommends eating sources of protein throughout the day, and not just in your main meals, although that’s also important, so that your energy levels can stay consistent throughout the day and sneaky three-thirty becomes a thing of the past.
However, to get the most out of your high-protein snack, it’s best to have one that includes other major macronutrients as well. According to the SELF columnist Jessica Jones, MS, RD, Certified Diabetes Educator and food heaven co-founder, it helps to pair your high-protein snacks with a solid source of fat and/or carbs. The most satisfying snacks usually contain at least two different food groups. (Plus, factoring in more nutrients will only make your snacking game more interesting.)
Finding healthy, high-protein snacks that can fit in your desk drawer can be tricky. (Listen, we all love Greek yogurt, but it’s not exactly shelf-stable!) Luckily, we’ve been hard at work coming up with some ideas for you. Here are 30 healthy and filling snacks that will satisfy all types of snacks, without the fridge.
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