Avoid the afternoon slump with these healthy, travel-friendly bites
Men, especially active or stressed men, need more than a simple three square meals a day. Throughout your waking hours, a few tasty snacks are in order. Packaged foods are obviously convenient to have on hand, but so many are high in sodium, loaded with empty calories and overly sweetened with high-fructose corn syrup. And they're usually low on the good stuff that will sustain your energy and health. Stay clear of the vending machine and corner store impulse purchases. Here are six smart options for healthier snacking that will not only fill you up, but meet some of the toughest qualifications for guys looking for quick eats that are low-carb, high-protein or keto/paleo friendly.
With a taste similar to a mix of peanuts and cashews, Baru seeds are actually legumes native to the Brazilian Savannah. Which means they're 100% nut free. What's more, they're packed with more fiber and highly digestible protein than almonds or walnuts, with fewer calories and fat than other traditional nuts. The crunchy superfood seeds also make for a great source of iron, calcium and Vitamin E.
$14.99 by
Natural Traditions
A bowl of cereal is comforting, isn't it? Tucking into a crunchy bowl in the afternoon is great, until the hunger spike follows in about an hour. Not with this new take on the Saturday morning cereals of your youth. The flavors range from familiar fruity, frosted, cinnamon or cocoa and they taste good—really good. What's more, they're keto friendly (with just three grams of net carbs per half-cup serving), pack in 12 grams of protein and don't include any gluten, grains, soy or wheat.
$39 (for a four-box case)
by Magic Spoon
If you tend to reach for the cookies when you need an afternoon pick-me-up, this will be your new go-to option. The crispy bites of coconut and dark chocolate are low in sugar, with just enough sweetness and rich chocolate flavor to satisfy your cravings. They also have 20% of your daily fiber, are dairy free and imbibed with 5mg of CBD extract from sustainably grown American hemp. Meaning they're sweet, filling and help take the edge off an otherwise stressful day.
$14.99 by
Weller
Have you messed with alternative jerky? If not, you don't know what you're missing. This tender jerky is made from sustainably caught wild Alaskan salmon. It's then smoked with Pacific Northwest Alderwood and flavored with clean, whole food ingredients. The bold flavors range from ancho chili and lime to lemony herb to our favorite, the sweet and smoky original. Each bag offers a whopping 24 grams of protein with the added benefits of Omega-3s (and about half the sugar of the average beef jerky).
$18.87 (for a three-pack)
by Fishpeople
These are for the Cheetos crowd, obviously. But they're not merely a healthy alternative. These are plenty tasty and addictive all on their own. That's because the light and crunchy puffs of garbanzo beans boast a fairly pronounceable ingredient list. Our favorite flavors were the "Bohemian Barbecue" and the "Nacho Vibes," both of which offer plenty of filling fiber and plant-based protein to fuel you.
$2.99 by
Hippeas
If you're the type to reach for a bag of Cool Ranch Doritos (*raises hand in shame), these are for you. These crispy roasted chickpeas from Biena have a similar crunch and savory flavors of the iconic tortilla chips (there's also barbecue and habanero too), but are loaded with five grams of protein and six grams of fiber to keep you feeling full longer. Plus, they have 78% less fat than a similar handful of peanuts.
$3.69 by
Biena
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