25 High-Protein Snacks Using Real Ingredients

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IF YOU REMEMBER the 1990s, you likely recall SnackWell’s. This popular brand of fat-free cookies and crackers emerged during a public health movement aimed at combating weight gain and reducing heart disease. (If you’re curious about SnackWell’s “Cookie Man” commercials, a compilation of 23 of the ads is available here.)

While SnackWell’s marketed themselves as fat-free, their cookies packed a punch of refined carbohydrates, along with significant amounts of added sugars. Once the fat-phobia of the late 90s and early 2000s began to fade, people recognized that SnackWell’s were just glorified ultra-processed foods (before that concept was even acknowledged).

While SnackWell’s may have faded from popularity, their influence is evident in today’s food branding. Nowadays, the public isn’t particularly afraid of fat—except when it comes to seed oils. Instead, we are increasingly fascinated by protein. High-protein products are now abundant, ranging from chips to mac ’n’ cheese to even cookies. While SnackWell’s gained their health halo by removing certain nutrients, modern protein-boosted offerings enhance theirs by incorporating whey, pea, or soy proteins.

If you’ve had the chance to sample any of these high-protein snacks, you might agree that their taste is… subpar. Flavor-wise, they tend to be merely acceptable at best. But when you’re committed to your protein goals, does that even matter?

Well, for many of us, it does. If you’re honest with yourself, you can’t genuinely claim that a bag of high-protein tortilla chips taste any better than a SnackWell’s Devil’s Food Cookie. In essence, they taste somewhat bizarre, not quite resembling what we think of as real food.

This is where the current trend of prioritizing high-quality, high-protein snacks comes into play: real food.

To create snacks rich in protein along with other essential nutrients, we have put together 25 recipes based on real, wholesome ingredients. How can packaged high-protein chips compete with high-protein pepperoni chips paired with a creamy dip? How can bagged high-protein popcorn stand against chocolate-drizzled, nut-studded, freshly popped popcorn? And how can boxed high-protein mac ’n’ cheese rival a homemade chicken ’n’ stars soup made with real chicken? They can’t.

If you’re ready to embrace real food as part of your high-protein lifestyle, explore these 25 straightforward recipes designed to support your goals.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE PDF

Here are just three examples of the real-food recipes you’ll find inside.

Easy Shrimp Summer Rolls

Protein: 30g

Soak a sheet of rice paper in water until it softens, then place it on your work surface. Layer three medium, cooked, peeled shrimp, ¼ avocado (sliced thin), ¼ cup coleslaw mix, and two mint leaves. Fold the edges towards the center and roll up to seal. Repeat to make another roll. For the dipping sauce, combine 1 Tbsp peanut butter powder, 1 Tbsp water, 2 tsp low-sodium soy sauce, 1 tsp maple syrup, and ½ tsp sriracha in a small bowl. Dip and enjoy. Makes 1 serving

Chocolate PB Popcorn

Protein per serving: 19g

Pop 3 Tbsp of popcorn kernels using an air popper or stove. In a small pot over medium-low heat, melt 2 Tbsp coconut oil. Stir in 2 Tbsp natural peanut butter and a scoop of chocolate protein powder. Drizzle this mixture over the popcorn, tossing well. Sprinkle with 1 tsp flaky sea salt and let it set in the fridge for about 10 minutes to harden. Toss with 2 Tbsp of chopped peanuts and serve. Makes 2 servings

Deviled Eggs and Bacon

Protein per serving: 14g

Slice three hard-boiled eggs in half lengthwise, placing the yolks in a bowl. Mix with ¼ cup cottage cheese, 1 tsp Dijon mustard, and season with salt and pepper. Crumble in a crispy slice of bacon and stir until well combined. Fill the egg white halves with this mixture and enjoy. Makes 2 servings

Ready for more?

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE PDF

Photography by Julia Gartland

Food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich

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