It feel like one day I woke up and my entire FYP became all about PROTEIN, and how we should all be eating TONS of it every day. Girlies are doing crazy stuff in the name of getting more protein in their diet - putting cottage cheese in the blender and turning it into bread! Making protein shake ice creams! And I LOVE a good food fad, but I really believe in protein as a concept. Whether your goals are weight loss, managing your blood sugar, staying fuller for longer, or in my case, keeping my PCOS symptoms in check - studies show finding a way to incorporate more protein in your diet seems to be the answer to all of those and more. Please don’t make me find the studies, just trust they exist.

For those reasons, I’m passionate about getting protein in however and whenever I can, when I can. While I always prioritize protein at mealtime, I’ve made it my mission to get more protein in my diet through my snacks.

Read on for my protein-filled snack faves!

Lupini Beans

I’m a huge bean freak. Beans, as a genre, are my favorite food. I literally own a hat from the Bush’s Baked Beans online store that says BEANS in big letters.

As a Certified Bean Freak™, I’m thrilled that there’s a new trendy bean on the scene making waves in the snack world: lupini beans. lupini beans have been slept on for years, but after years of being relegated in bean obscurity - they’re finally getting the public recognition they deserve. They’re basically the Victoria Monét of beans. These little superstars are impressive AF. They have the highest protein per calorie of any plant on earth, are in the top percentile of fiber per calorie, are easier to digest than most beans, high in minerals, and more. And thankfully, a bunch of cool new food companies have started selling flavored, pickled lupini beans in shelf stable packets. They’re versatile - you can cook with them, use them as a salad topping, or you can do what I do - raw dog those bad boys whenever you need a quick pick me up.

I love Brami brand - they’re available at a lot of stores, like Whole Foods, Thrive Market and Amazon. My favorite flavor is probably the Chili and Lime. But I will and do eat them all.

I’ve also fallen in love with a newer brand called SuperLupes - I like that they sell tiny, perfectly portioned packets. Very demure very mindful VERY convenient. I keep a few in my purse and car at all times. Plus their flavors are incredible - Lemon Herb! Chimichurri! and way more flavorful than Brami’s. The packets actually have little herb chunks in them, which is very Flavortown. They’re a newer company so they’re not as widely available, so I buy packets from their website!

Chomps

Some people find the idea of eating a meat stick disgusting and trashy, and I get that. Meat sticks, generally speaking, evoke imagery of highly processed Slim Jims on a dusty display at 7-11. But not Chomps. Chomps are different.

Why? Chomps are HEALTHY. The beef Chomps are grass fed and finished, have zero weird added sugars or flavors and ingredients are clean and simple. I love the jalapeno beef flavor, but usually go for the turkey ones - which somehow come in at a whopping 12 grams of protein! They come a million different flavors - I haven’t even tried them all. Manifesting that I will do that one day. In the Sex Lives of College Girls writer’s room, I relied on a daily mid-morning Chomp to get me through the pre-lunch purgatory. They’re the savory, reliable, convenient, delicious protein-packed, super convenient snack of my dreams.

Trader Joe’s Mussels

I can’t do a Substack post about protein without talking about tinned fish. And I know there are a lot of great tinned fish options out there - my brand Fishwife included - but I’ve recently fallen in love with Trader Joe’s lightly smoked mussels. Mussels are an amazing, underrated tinned fish. They’re super healthy - loaded with all kinds of amazing vitamins and minerals like Iron, B12, and Omega 3s. They have more protein and iron per calorie than a filet of steak! Plus they’re a highly sustainable source of protein - they improve the water quality around them, and have an incredibly low carbon footprint (about 30x less of a carbon impact of beef, and 10x less than poultry).

I’ve tried TONS of canned mussels and Trader Joe’s are honestly my favorite. They’re flavorful - with a perfect amount of smokiness. The texture is fabulous - rich, buttery with a little chew. They’re 14 grams of protein, which is fab. Plus they’re packed in EVOO which is a huge win. And perhaps best of all, they are so fucking cheap. I think a can is 1.99. Which is insane. I keep at least 5 tins in my pantry at all times and love them as a quick snack when I’m pressed for time.

If mussels as a concept intimidate you, I totally get that. But I believe in you. I’ve seen girls on TikTok combine them with chili crisp and put them on toast, so maybe try that if you’re scared?

@babynezzaThis was 12/10 !!! 🦪🧈🥖 #traderjoes #tinnedfishtok

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OWYN Protein Shakes

I know protein shakes as a concept are boring, but if you’re on your protein grind, they’re a necessary evil. When I have to be on set super early or need to crush something quick after a workout, pre-packaged protein shakes can be a huge time-saver. Since I’m mostly dairy free and try to avoid added sugars, I’m quite limited in my protein shake choices, but I love the brand OWYN. They’re plant-based, have great macros, are sweetened with monk fruit, and have generally really clean ingredients.

I also love the brand Koia. I frequently grab a bottle at Whole Foods - the ingredient list is similarly clean, they also have great macros, and they come in a bunch of genuinely delicious flavors like Horchata, Chocolate Banana, and Fruity Cereal.

Wilde Chicken Chips

Chicken chips are extremely love or hate. Either you are deeply repulsed by the idea of chicken breast processed into chip form, or you’re delighted at the innovative insanity. There is absolutely no middle ground.

But I LOVE Wilde chicken chips. They are so flavorful - the salt and vinegar is tangier than Kettle Chips salt and vinegar. The chicken and waffles is sweet and maple-y in a way that sounds like it shouldn’t work but it really does. The buffalo is super buffalo-ey. And the nashville hot is incredibly spicy. I personally love the texture - thin, crispy, and a protein-y and filling in a way that makes me feel genuinely satisfied after eating a bunch. Another favorite of the SLCG writers room. Warning, they’re a bit high in sodium and your rings WILL be tight if you eat an entire bag.

Blueberry Catalina Crunch

I LOVE fruity sugary cereal. I literally wish I could eat Fruity Pebbles and Fruit Loops for every meal without spiking my blood sugar and getting giant sugar cysts on my chin. When I’m in the mood for cereal, which is often - I reach for Catalina Crunch, specifically the blueberry muffin flavor. I find it way tastier than their other flavors, with these little freeze dried blueberries that make things feel flirty and fruity and flavorful. Catalina Crunch is nutritional witchery - each serving has 10g of protein and 1g of sugar. Plus it has a pretty short and clean ingredients list. Love combining this with some high protein greek yogurt and sliced bananas for a fun quick breakfast.

Are you a protein girlie? If so, what are your favorite protein-y snacks? Let me know in the comments!

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