6 Easy-to-Prep Plant-Based, Protein-Packed Snacks
Sure, edamame is great. But by the fifth helping this week, you may start to question what exactly you did to deserve such a punishment. Finding the right protein-packed snacks for plant-based diet is hard — we get it. And when you’re trying to juggle work, kids’ play groups, and your own macro goals at the same time? Heaven help.You need snacks that are easy, quick, and delicious — and that don’t require you to spend hours in the kitchen prepping them (hello, energy balls!). And when you’re trying to hit that protein goal without relying on the bro-ly grail of chicken and rice, you gotta get creative.
Here are six of our favorite plant-based, protein-packed snacks with hardly any prep work required.
Edamame
We know we just hated on edamame, but if we’re talking about easy plant-based snacks that are basically dripping in protein, edamame has to take the top spot.
Buy it in bulk from the freezer section at Costco or your local grocery store, and all you have to do is pop a pack or two in the microwave for a quick snack.
For a little extra flavor, add a sprinkle of salt, a few squirts of lime, and a pinch of chili pepper flakes. Seriously, that’s it. One cup of shelled edamame has over 20 grams of protein and 240 calories — compare that to your favorite protein bar. Edamame matches up 100%, and it’s totally clean. No processing, nothing. It’s pop ‘n go glory.
Just make sure you’ve got other protein-packed snacks on rotation, because even this OG can get old if it’s the only snack in your meal-prep arsenal!
Nuts
Raw nuts are great grab-and-go protein-packed snacks (because unlike Kendall Jenner, we don’t have private chefs!). Sure, nuts are high in calories and contain quite a bit of fat, but it’s healthy fat, babes!
So long as you don’t eat them in excessive quantities, they’ll satisfy your appetite and give you the energy you need to keep going. Usually, one handful is a good serving.
Hummus & Veggies
In a rush? That’s why we have supermarkets. Grab a tub of premade hummus (feel free to go wild with the flavor options!) and a sack of baby carrots or celery sticks.
Hummus and veggies are perfect to swipe right out of your fridge and stuff into your bag for whatever’s ahead!
Roasted Chickpeas
Admittedly, roasted chickpeas take a little bit of prep, but they’re easy to prep in huge batches so you can make enough for a few weeks’ worth of protein-packed snacks.
Take a can of chickpeas; rinse; toss in some oil and salt and spices; bake on a sheet at 350ºF for about 45 minutes to an hour. Let cool; enjoy.
Protein Smoothie
Protein smoothies make tasty, refreshing protein-packed snacks. Plus, our editor tested it: You can make a protein smoothie in fewer than three minutes; four if you rinse the blender instead of leaving it in the sink! The key? Keep things simple.
Stock your freezer with berries, your fridge with your favorite plant milk, and your pantry with vegan protein powder. When you need a quick snack, throw one cup of plant-based milk into a blender with a scoop of protein powder and a healthy handful of frozen fruit. Let it blend while you clean up, and you’re set!
Naturally, your smoothie’s nutrition level depends on what you put in it, but protein smoothies usually have at least 20 grams of protein and rarely over 200 calories.
Anything OUTSTANDING
Here’s an idea: Make your snack bag as outstanding as you are! Our Outstanding Foods snacks are designed to keep up with you in every way, from pizzaz to protein. You need healthy, easy-to-grab, and nutrition-packed? We got you. In fact, we’ve more than got you:
Whether you grab our puffs, cheese balls, or crunchies, all of our goodies are packed with 4 to 7 grams of plant-based protein per serving. You won’t find any gluten, GMOs, soy, cholesterol, or trans fats — but you will find tons of plant-based vitamins and minerals.
We wanted to create protein-packed snacks that are perfect for your outstanding life, whether you’re in need of a macro boost on your way to yoga or a mental boost for a day of recuperating and Netflix. Sometimes you just need a handful; sometimes you just need a whole bag — and you don’t need any guilt about that.
Find us in stores near you — and schedule that long-overdue movie night.