• Print

8 Quick Snack Ideas – Lean Protein Included!

Meals aren’t the only time to include lean sources of protein – it’s also important when you plan your snacks. Here are some quick and healthy snack ideas to get you started:

1. For a quick chicken salad, shred leftover chicken and add some light mayo and/or non-fat Greek yogurt, some lemon juice, and lemon pepper. Then mix in some slivered almonds and celery for a chicken salad that you can eat with whole-wheat crackers or make ½ a sandwich with whole wheat bread.
2. Pack 1/3 cup of fat-free pinto beans or fat-free black beans mixed with some salsa. Spread on a small corn tortilla or eat with baked tortilla chips.
3. Keep a tuna snack pack or keep canned tuna on hand. (Canned in water is best.) Mix it up with some light mayo and freshly ground pepper.
4. Buy any hummus or bean dip premade at the store. Have a serving with non-starchy vegetables – baby carrots, cherry tomatoes, pre-cut celery sticks, cucumber, zucchini, mushrooms, broccoli, or cauliflower.
5. Pack yourself some soynuts (about 1 ounce or ¼ cup) and a small piece of fresh fruit like a peach, apple, or pear.
6. Keep unshelled edamame in your freezer. Heat some up in the microwave (it only takes a minute or two!) when you want a small snack.
7. Buy individual servings of light yogurt when they are on sale at the store. Mix yogurt with ½ cup of fresh or frozen berries.
8. Spread 2 tablespoons of almond butter on half of a whole wheat English muffin. Toast it if you have time!

Featured Cookbook

15-Minute Diabetic Meals

by Nancy S. Hughes

What can you cook in 15 minutes? A lot! Don't let meal time feel like a chore. This cookbook provides time-saving recipes that are fun to make and can be prepared in 15 minutes or less.