Healthy Eating 101 How to Eat Healthy 15 High-Protein, Low-Carb Snacks To Add to Your Grocery List A protein-packed snack will help keep you feeling full until it's time for your next meal. By Brierley Horton, M.S., RD Brierley Horton, M.S., RD Instagram Website Brierley is a dietitian nutritionist, content creator and strategist, and avid mental health advocate. She is co-host and co-creator of the Happy Eating Podcast, a podcast that breaks down the connection between food and mental wellness. Brierley previously served as Food & Nutrition Director for Cooking Light magazine and the Nutrition Editor at EatingWell magazine. She holds a master's degree in Nutrition Communications from the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University. Her work regularly appears in EatingWell, Better Homes & Gardens, Livestrong.com and TheKitchn. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Updated on November 17, 2022 Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD Instagram Jessica Ball, M.S., RD, has been with EatingWell for three years and works as the associate nutrition editor for the brand. She is a registered dietitian with a master's in food, nutrition and sustainability. In addition to EatingWell, her work has appeared in Food & Wine, Real Simple, Parents, Better Homes and Gardens and MyRecipes. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Share Tweet Pin Email Eating a protein-rich snack might be the key to having your snacks actually fill you up. "It's an important nutrient, helping to fill you up, and eating protein regularly throughout the day will help keep your energy levels up," says Chris Mohr, Ph.D., RD, of MohrResults. Because protein slows the digestion of carbohydrates, it prolongs the release of carbs and, thus, the energy you get from those carbs. "Including protein in your snacks will help you fight the afternoon slumps and, of course, fuel those (hopefully) hard-working muscles," adds Mohr. Plus, if you're trying to lose weight—or just keep your weight where it is—a protein-packed snack may be quite helpful. The 8 Best High-Protein Foods, According to a Dietitian Here are 15 healthy, lower-carb snacks we recommend snacking on that also deliver a solid portion of protein. 1. Pistachios Protein: 6gCarbohydrate: 8g With nearly 6 grams of plant-based protein and 3 grams of fiber in a 1-ounce serving (about 50 nuts), pistachios will help you stay fuller longer. "As a busy mama on the go, that's a big win for me!" says Shannon Garcia, M.S., RD, of KISS in the Kitchen Blog. "I like a lot of flavor in my snacks, so I'm loving Wonderful Pistachios' No Shells new flavors—Chili Roasted and Honey Roasted! No Shells are quick, easy and convenient, and these new bold flavors help keep better-for-you snacking interesting. Plus, they're one of the lowest-calorie snack nuts, so you get more nuts per serving than most." 2. Eggland's Best Hard-Cooked Peeled Eggs Protein: 6gCarbohydrate: 0g Offering nearly 6 grams of protein per egg, Eggland's Best Hard-Cooked Peeled Eggs are the perfect on-the-go snack to keep you energized throughout the day. "In addition to a protein boost, they also contain 25% less saturated fat, 10 times more vitamin E and double the omega-3s compared to ordinary eggs," says Mohr. "The best part? They're already cooked and peeled, making them über convenient for me and my family." 10 Foods with More Protein Than an Egg 3. BelGioioso Fresh Mozzarella Snacking Cheese Protein: 5gCarbohydrate: <1g These mini mozzarella balls come pre-portioned in individual 1-ounce servings (or about 3 mini balls). This portable, on-the-go snack delivers 5 grams of protein and less than 1 gram of carbohydrate, all for just 70 calories. Eat them as is, or pair them with nuts or jerky for an extra hit of protein without too many carbs. They're also delicious with tomatoes and basil for a Caprese-style salad. 4. Hippeas Chickpea Puffs, Vegan White Cheddar Protein: 4gCarbohydrate: 15g These baked puffs offer 4 grams of plant protein and 15 grams of carbohydrates per serving (which is 1 ounce). "They are my favorite high-protein snack when I need something crunchy and salty on long afternoons working," says Katie Andrews, M.S., RD, of Wellness by Katie. The puffs are made with chickpea flour and offer 3 grams of fiber per serving, which helps to prevent quick blood sugar spikes. Best Vegetarian Protein Sources 5. Cottage Cheese Protein: 24gCarbohydrate: 11g Surprisingly high in protein (at about 24 grams per cup), cottage cheese also gives you healthy amounts of calcium. "I like to add fresh salsa from the refrigerated section of the grocery store to the top of my cottage cheese. That's my kind of snack," says Tiffany Davis, chef and co-owner of Nourish Foods Co. If you're in the mood for something on the sweeter side, cottage cheese also pairs nicely with fresh fruit such as berries, pineapple and mango. 6. The New Primal Meat Sticks Protein: 6gCarbohydrate: 1g Protein-packed and full of crunch, these Meat Sticks are a great snack: each stick offers 6 grams of protein and is Whole30-approved (if that's your thing!). "I've been enjoying their unique crunch when I want a break from chewy jerky. I also love the simple ingredient list and it's such a convenient shelf-stable high-protein snack on the go," says Garcia. 7. Frozen Edamame Protein: 9gCarbohydrate: 7g You really can't go wrong with these—they're perfect solo as a snack, packed into kids' lunches or added to salads—and there are about 9 grams of protein and 4 grams of fiber in a 1/2-cup serving (and around 7 grams carbs). "You really cannot go wrong with this affordable protein source that is now found in every grocery freezer!" says Andrews. The 10 Best Vegan Protein Sources 8. Sargento Sweet Balanced Breaks Protein: 7gCarbohydrate: 12g These portable, preportioned cheese, nut and dried fruit combos are quite delicious—plus Balanced Breaks clock in at under 200 calories and provide 7 grams of protein and about 12 grams of carbohydrate (give or take a few depending on the nut and fruit combo). 9. Siggi's Vanilla & Strawberry Lower-Sugar Yogurt Protein: 14gCarbohydrate: 4g Yogurt is an excellent go-to, portable, protein-rich snack, but can sometimes be sneaky with hidden added sugar. "I'm so thankful, though, that Siggi's now offers 'lower sugar' flavors, so I don't have to waste even a second reading labels," says Andrews. Pick up a multipack of these particular versions and you'll get 14 grams of protein and only 4 grams of carbohydrate in a single-serve container. 10. Kaimana Jerky Salmon Jerky Protein: 12gCarbohydrate: 0g Any type of salmon jerky will be protein-rich and relatively low in carbs, so long as there's not too much of a sugary-sweet flavor. Kaimana Jerky, however, does a great job of keeping all of their flavors at zero carbs per serving, yet you get 12 grams of protein per serving. 11. Perfect Bar Protein: 12-17gCarbohydrate: 24-27g This refrigerated protein bar comes in a variety of flavors and is perfect for breakfast or a snack. For the biggest protein hit, though, the peanut butter flavor will provide around 17 grams of protein per bar. The others vary between 12 and 17 grams. Each bar also gives you a nice mix of micronutrients, thanks to the whole food powder that's added to each. They tend to also have slightly more carbs than some of the other snacks on this list—delivering between 24 and 27 grams per bar. 12. Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides Protein: 9gCarbohydrate: 3g One scoop will give you 18 grams of protein and no added sugar—plus a dose of vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, and, of course, collagen. To really keep your carbs at a minimum, blend the collagen powder into a latte using low-carb, plant-based milk like almond, coconut or cashew. A cup of whole cow's milk, though, will give you another 8 grams of protein and about 12 grams of carbohydrates. You can also dissolve the collagen powder in water or coffee. 13. Trader Joe's Mini Brie Bites Protein: 4gCarbohydrate: 1g "Single-serving cheese is nothing new, but these single-serve Brie bites elevate the typical cheese stick experience," says Andrews. Each mini bite has 4 grams of protein, 1 gram of carbohydrate, and only 70 calories. To keep carbs in check, pair a bite with a low-carb fruit like berries, melon or watermelon, for a satisfying snack. 14. Biena Roasted Chickpeas Snacks Protein: 4-6gCarbohydrate: 14-18g "This is my favorite brand for both the story (female-founded and run!) and the product (high-protein, high-fiber, low-saturated-fat snacks in a multitude of flavors)," says Andrews. The brand has 6 different flavors—sea salt, honey roasted, rockin' ranch, lil' bit of everything, barbeque and habanero. Each serving (regardless of flavor) has 4 to 6 grams of protein and 5 to 6 grams of fiber—two nutrients that'll keep you feeling fuller, longer. Carbs range from 14 grams to 18 per serving. 15. Mint Chocolate RxBar Protein: 12gCarbohydrate: 23g These shelf-stable bars are more like a mini-meal, delivering 210 calories, 12 grams of protein and 23 grams of carbohydrates in a bar. "But it is my go-to when I'm craving something chocolatey or when I need to pick up something in the airport," says Andrews. There are 5 grams of fiber in here as well, which helps fill you up, in addition to the protein. Was this page helpful? 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