need ideas for protein snacks that do not need refrigeration

sa993

Hi all, hope someone can help. I have a pretty long commute (about 2 hours), and then there are days like today, when due to weather, traffic and probably gremlins, my commute home was 3 plus hours long. I ate some grapes before leaving work, but part way home I stopped and got some fast food - I was ravenous.

Sometimes I will eat a little cheese, some yogurt, or some hummus for the protein plus some fruit or whole grain crackers before I leave work, but lately, it has become a problem on the way home. Anyway, I am looking for afternoon snack ideas that contain some protein so that they will satisfy me, and will prevent me from arriving home starving and keep me from stopping on the way. Preferably, no refrigeration needed, and portability is important.

Thanks all.
Sharon

hananah89

low sodium beef jerky. A serving is only about 80 calories. And its great if you don't have to closely watch your sodium intake. Also I do fruit like bananas and apples as my "tide me over until __" snacks. Then add a bunch of water (although you may have to drink slow with your long commute) to fill the rest of my stomach. Good luck, I know commuting can be a pain!

kate21797

Protein bars
Nut butter on whole wheat crackers
Nuts or seeds (toasted pumpkin seeds taste wonderful)

Or have you considered a small cooler? Fill it with an ice pack or two, stick the ice packs and snack (yogurt, cheese, etc) in the office fridge. On the way out every day, load the ice pack and snack into your little cooler, and it'll keep cold no problem. Maybe a little elaborate, but probably doable. An insulated lunch box would also work.

sa993

thanks! I have never tried jerky, but I am going to get some on the weekend. My husband bought me a cooler, and I got some ice packs for my lunches. I am going to try all of these suggestions.
I have been really stressed lately, and I think that has added fuel to my hunger fire. These ideas will surely help.
Thanks so much!

nitza53

roasted nuts, I am loving roasted edame ( soy beans) , fruit of course, but you asked for protein, turkey jerkey, cheese sticks if you use your cooler. Humas, with vegies sticks or crackers (you really don't have to look) just dunk and keep on trucking. hope this helped I'm a newbe and don't know much.

mscountrygirl39456

Almonds, they have all kinds of flavors, I like the blueberry ones and the toasted coconut flavored ones.....

JUDDDing

There are a bunch of those protein granola bar type things available now.

Fiber One has a really tasty almond one.

TeachTheGirl

I second the jerky. That stuff is delicious.

PlayerHatinDogooder

Some nuts.

Kassidi21

I do about two cups of milk with protein powder And i actually replace a meal with that, you could try it for breakfast on your commute! I use Body Fortress, it's cheap and has AMAZING delicious flavors (cookies and cream, chocolate peanut butter... yum!)

lee91356

protein bars (but make sure if you get the ones with the coating not to leave them in the car or someplace warm lol), roasted edemame or roasted soy nuts are also terrific, I also find nuts - almonds, and pistachios especially - to be a good on the go snack. If you need a sweet addition add some dried fruits in with the nuts or edemame.

Joehenny

Prottein shakes. Nuts are high in calories and so are bars.

LolBroScience

tuna.

lambchristie

Kind (brand name) bars ... yummy flavors and some are high in protein, some in fiber, just a lot of different varieties.

Capt_Apollo

why not have a small cooler bag? They can keep things cool for a few hours, like chicken strips.

ninnyfurr74

For non refrigeration nuts and jerky are your best bet. I like the chipotle almonds and the wasabi soy almonds that blue diamond makes. Both are found at walmart. My dad takes prepeeled hardboiled eggs in his lunch bag. You can also make your own trail mix by buying a variety of nuts and adding dried fruits. You can even season them by coating in melted butter, adding your favorite spice mix, toss and put in oven at 250 for 5 to 10 min then let cool. It's healthier then store bought trail mix with the added benefit of being able to add your favorite spices!

TahoeSki

You can easily sabatouge yourself by eating 300-400 calories worth of "small" snacks. Eat a sandwich before leaving work instead of grazing for a few hours.

mahanaibu

Prottein shakes. Nuts are high in calories and so are bars.

Not necessarily. It depends on if you're a volume eater. For one thing, nuts don't have as many calories as they have--which is to say, we don't absorb 20% to 30% of the calories in them. We're not calorimeters, which are the machines they use to measure calories in foods. We burn some foods more efficiently and thoroughly than others. But the key is the satiety. They're really filling--unless you're a person who just needs volume, in which case shakes are a better choice for you.

Quest bars, at 160 to 170 for the ones I like, and 20 grams of protein, are really filling, last nicely in their little pouches and taste terrific. (well, not all the flavors....) I have several in my backpack for longer hikes, a bunch in the car....

imabigvegan

Roasted chickpeas! yum!!! Like this:

"http://allrecipes.com/recipe/roasted-chickpeas/

nickyfm

Good protein bars. Quest bars, low carb ones (with minimal sugar), some Almonds, boiled eggs, canned tuna

Joehenny

Prottein shakes. Nuts are high in calories and so are bars.

Not necessarily. It depends on if you're a volume eater. For one thing, nuts don't have as many calories as they have--which is to say, we don't absorb 20% to 30% of the calories in them. We're not calorimeters, which are the machines they use to measure calories in foods. We burn some foods more efficiently and thoroughly than others. But the key is the satiety. They're really filling--unless you're a person who just needs volume, in which case shakes are a better choice for you.

Quest bars, at 160 to 170 for the ones I like, and 20 grams of protein, are really filling, last nicely in their little pouches and taste terrific. (well, not all the flavors....) I have several in my backpack for longer hikes, a bunch in the car....

the fat to protein ratio is off. You get much more fat than protein, nuts are viewed as a fat source primarily.