Who doesn't love a good snack?
Problem is, if you're not careful, the snacking never stops. Unless you pick the right snack, that is -- something tasty enough to quell your cravings and satisfying enough to keep you from coming back for more.
The key may be protein. In a 2012 study, University of Missouri researchers found that among healthy women, those who ate a high-protein snack (defined as one containing 24 grams of the good stuff) felt full for longer than women who ate medium- or low-protein snacks.
"Twenty-four grams of protein is more than some people have in a meal," Elizabeth M. Ward, RD, tells The Huffington Post. "Snacks with that much protein will have substantial calories, and people need to account for that."
A few points of reference: A large hard-boiled egg clocks in at six grams of protein. Two tablespoons of crunchy, unsalted peanut butter contains eight grams. And four ounces of low-fat cottage cheese has 14 grams. Greek yogurt, the current darling of the high-protein snack world, can have as much as twice the protein as traditional yogurt.
We asked Ward and other nutrition experts to share some suggestions for a tasty snack meeting the 24-grams-of-protein requirement -- and some truly do seem like a meal. Check out the expert-approved snacks below, then share your favorite high-protein snack in the comments!
(Ed Note: We'd choose whole cut turkey, which is less processed. Processed deli meat is high in sodium and can contain food preservatives like sodium nitritite and even additives like corn syrup.)
(Ed. Note: Jerky is another instance in which we'd make sure to choose a reduced-sodium, preservative-free variety.)
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