6 Healthy Snacks with Protein

Snacks are an essential part of any healthy eating plan, to keep you satisfied between meals, and to avoid the temptation of sneaking chips and cookies. Which is why deciding what to eat when you’re hungry is a bad idea. The smarter strategy? Plan ahead! Aim to keep it around 250 calories (closer to 150 calories if you’re trying to lose weight), because this is a snack, not a meal. Say no thanks to refined carbs and added sugar (cough, granola bars), because you never need more of those in your diet. Say heck yeah to fruits and veggies! Because you always want more of those in your day, and fiber can help you feel full. Then add at least 10 grams of protein, to give your snacks even more staying power.

The formula is super simple: Just grab one piece of fruit or a baggie of veggies, and pair it with one small serving of protein. Here are just a few tasty options.

Fruit: Bananas, oranges, apples, pears, grapes, strawberries, blueberries

Veggies: Baby carrots, sugar snap peas, broccoli florets, cauliflower florets, mini bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, sliced cucumbers

Protein: nuts, nut butter, nut bars, part-skim mozzarella cheese sticks, plain yogurt, hummus, edamame, hardboiled eggs, deli turkey  

Got it? Still craving specific ideas? Here are six healthy snacks with a hit of protein that are super easy to grab and go.

1 small banana + 2 tablespoons peanut butter

279 calories
9 g protein
5 g fiber

1 cup blueberries & strawberries + ½ cup plain, low-fat Greek yogurt

155 calories
13 g protein
3 g fiber

1 cup baby carrots & sugar snap peas + ¼ cup hummus

144 calories
4 g protein
5 g fiber

1 cup mini bell peppers & broccoli florets + 1 part-skim mozzarella cheese stick

114 calories
9 g protein
2 g fiber

1 cup sliced cucumber & cherry tomatoes + 2 hardboiled eggs

163 calories
13 g protein
1 g fiber

1 cup sliced apple & celery sticks + 3 ounces extra-lean turkey

142 calories
17 g protein
2 g fiber

Becky Duffett

Becky Duffett is a contributing nutrition editor for Fitbit and a lifestyle writer with a passion for eating well. A former Williams-Sonoma cookbook editor and graduate of San Francisco Cooking School, she’s edited dozens of cookbooks and countless recipes. City living has turned her into a spin addict—but she’d still rather be riding a horse. She lives in the cutest neighborhood in San Francisco, spending weekends at the farmers’ market, trying to read at the bakery, and roasting big dinners for friends.