need ideas for protein snacks that do not need refrigeration

sa993
sa993 Posts: 67 Member
in Food and Nutrition
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 :smile:

Replies

  • hananah89
    hananah89 Posts: 692 Member
    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
    kate21797 Posts: 77 Member
    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
    sa993 Posts: 67 Member
    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
    nitza53 Posts: 45 Member
    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
    mscountrygirl39456 Posts: 113 Member
    Almonds, they have all kinds of flavors, I like the blueberry ones and the toasted coconut flavored ones.....
  • JUDDDing
    JUDDDing Posts: 1,367 Member
    There are a bunch of those protein granola bar type things available now.

    Fiber One has a really tasty almond one.
  • TeachTheGirl
    TeachTheGirl Posts: 2,091 Member
    I second the jerky. That stuff is delicious.
  • PlayerHatinDogooder
    PlayerHatinDogooder Posts: 1,018 Member
    Some nuts.
  • Kassidi21
    Kassidi21 Posts: 267 Member
    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
    lee91356 Posts: 330 Member
    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
    Joehenny Posts: 1,222 Member
    Prottein shakes. Nuts are high in calories and so are bars.
  • LolBroScience
    LolBroScience Posts: 4,537 Member
    tuna.
  • lambchristie
    lambchristie Posts: 552 Member
    Kind (brand name) bars ... yummy flavors and some are high in protein, some in fiber, just a lot of different varieties.
  • Capt_Apollo
    Capt_Apollo Posts: 9,026 Member
    why not have a small cooler bag? They can keep things cool for a few hours, like chicken strips.
  • ninnyfurr74
    ninnyfurr74 Posts: 111 Member
    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
    TahoeSki Posts: 69 Member
    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
    mahanaibu Posts: 505 Member
    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
    imabigvegan Posts: 72
    Roasted chickpeas! yum!!! Like this:

    "http://allrecipes.com/recipe/roasted-chickpeas/
  • nickyfm
    nickyfm Posts: 1,214 Member
    Good protein bars. Quest bars, low carb ones (with minimal sugar), some Almonds, boiled eggs, canned tuna
  • Joehenny
    Joehenny Posts: 1,222 Member
    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.

Categories