5 High Protein Vegetarian Snacks

If you are trying to stay full, then snacks and meals that contain significant amounts of protein are the key. Protein will keep you feeling full for longer after eating and does not cause your blood sugar to spike and crash like sugars or simple carbohydrates do. Lean meats are a common source of protein, however these are obviously not an option for vegetarians or vegans. If you are looking for some vegetarian snacks that are high in protein, here are a few ideas to try.

When you think of vegetarian snacks that are high in protein, one of the first things you come up with should be nuts. Nuts are high in protein and will keep you full for a very long time. When eating nuts it is important to be aware of your serving sizes. Nuts are high in fats in addition to protein, and the calories can add up quickly if you are eating more than a small handful of nuts.

In addition to eating nuts by themselves or sprinkled onto a salad, nut butters are an excellent source of protein for snacks. Nut butters are not just limited to peanut butter. They can be made from almonds, cashews, or almost any nut that you can imagine. Nut butters are fairly easy to make yourself. You can do it by putting nuts in a food processor with a bit of oil and blending until the texture is right. Whether you are making or buying your nut butter, the possibilities for what to do with it are numerous. Nut butters can be spread on crackers or whole wheat breads. Fruits can also be dipped in or spread with nut butters.

Besides nuts, the other vegetarian-friendly food that is high in protein is beans. If you give some thought to how you prepare them, beans can make an excellent snack. Homemade bean dip with vegetables or tortilla chips can be delicious. Cooked chickpeas can be seasoned and baked until they are crunchy, then eaten by the handful. A bean salad full of vegetables can keep you feeling sated for much longer than many unhealthy snack foods.

Chickpeas in particular are an excellent snack for vegetarians who are trying to consume more protein. Hummus is a creamy dip made with chickpeas, olive oil, and spices. It is excellent for dipping vegetable slices or chips and eating as a snack. You can buy hummus at the store, but it is simple to make. There are a wide variety of hummus recipes available online, and the only piece of equipment that you need is a blender or a food processor.

Another excellent high protein snack is one that most people tend to overlook, which is popcorn. Popcorn has a large amount of protein in each serving, and does not necessarily have to be unhealthy. Pop your popcorn on the stove or in an air popper and season it with just a pinch of salt. A few ounces of this healthy snack will keep you feeling full longer than many other things that you could eat.

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