The Best Low Carb Protein Snacks to Keep You Energized
So you’ve chosen the low-carb/keto route, eh?
And now you’re wondering just what the heck kind of snacks you can eat, right?
Well you came to the right blog and trainer.
Low carb/keto is all the rage these days. (Which isn’t a bad thing by the way.) The key is having an understanding of…..
Wait a minute. You’re not here to read an intricate essay about low-carb or keto.
You just want to know what you can snack on. In that case, let’s get to it!
MISSION LOW CARB TORTILLAS
What?? I can have tortillas on a low-carb diet??
Why yes. Yes, you can. The Mission Carb Balance Soft Taco Flour Tortillas are a perfect alternative to the massive, high calorie, high carb tortillas on the market. With only 70 calories, 5g of protein, and 6g net carbs per serving, these might be your saving grace. So yes. Make that burrito. Serve up that quesadilla. Enjoy. Rejoice!
QUEST PROTEIN CHIPS
I’m sure you’ve heard of these before. Even if you haven’t, I’m sure you’ve heard about a multitude of “chip replacements.”
Well, I’m here to tell you Quest Chips are about as good as it gets. With about 20g of protein and 4g net carbs per bag, it’s the closest thing to a bag of Doritos. That reminds me. Just so you know. There are two different styles of Quest Chips. The Original Style and the Tortilla Style. In my opinion, the Tortilla Style chips taste even better than the Original Style. It’s not even close. I enjoy the Quest Tortilla Style so much that I’ve used them to make nachos. Sprinkle some cheddar cheese, salsa, avocado, sour cream, and bam! Quest Nachos. I fully intend on making myself a plate after completing this blog. You can purchase the chips on Amazon, but make sure to shop around because sometimes you can get them at your local nutrition store for a better price. I’d suggest heading over to your local store and grabbing a few flavors to try before purchasing a whole box.
MACADAMIA NUTS
Ah. Macadamias. Personally, I can eat just about any flavor of macadamias on the market. For the sake of this blog, I recommend sticking with good ‘ol plain or lightly salted macadamias. Do keep in mind that macadamias are a higher calorie snack. So you need to pay close attention to how much you’re munching on. It’s easy to get carried away. Take the Mauna Loa brand of macadamia nuts for example. One serving equates to 200 calories, 21g of fat, 2g net carbs, and 2g of protein.
BLACKBERRIES AND RASPBERRIES
Blackberries and raspberries are one of the lowest carb based fruits out there. These are a great option if you have some flexibility with your carbs. One cup of blackberries are about 6g net carbs. A cup of raspberries are about 7g net carbs. Throw a few in with some plain greek yogurt, and you’ve got yourself a nice little snack indeed! Speaking of greek yogurt…
GREEK YOGURT
I feel like it’s 50/50 when it comes to greek yogurt. Either people like it, or they don’t. I’ve got to be honest. I’m not much of a fan of plain Greek yogurt. However, if you add a little fruit (like raspberries, blueberries, or strawberries) or a touch of honey, it makes quite a difference in overall taste. A little granola also adds a nice crunch. If you’re trying to keep carbs low, then just leave it out. A cup of Chobani’s Greek yogurt packs 120 calories, 22g of protein, and 9g of carbs.
HALO TOP POP BARS
For those of you who are new to a low-carb based diet: Yes. You can have ice cream. There’s a multitude of protein ice cream these days. Which ice cream brand you choose will make all the difference. Trust me on that.
I’ll be the first one to tell you. I am not a fan of most low-carb based protein ice cream. I don’t even call it “ice cream.” Maybe “ice treat.” And that’s a stretch. Because most of those pints are full of disappointment. They are not worthy of embracing my taste buds. If I’m being really honest, I don’t care for the Halo Top pints at all. However, your taste buds may differ from mine, so I suggest you try them and make your own decision.
I am a big fan of their recent Halo Top Pop Bars. I kept walking by them at my local Smith’s grocery store here in Las Vegas. I finally caved. Dude. These popsicles are 10x better than their “ice cream” pints. Why can’t their pints taste this good?! So far, my favorite flavor would have to be Mint Chip. One bar is about 50 calories, with only 2g of fat, and 6g of net carbs.
JERKY
If you’re a meat eater, jerky is a great protein option to snack on. Rather, chew on. Or rather, bite down on with all your might like your life depended on it. Seriously. Some of that stuff is as tough as leather.
You’ll find the majority of jerky is super low carb, or doesn’t carry a ton of carbohydrates. I don’t eat jerky often, but when I do. I prefer the Private Selection brand from Smith’s. More specifically, the uncured bacon flavor. O-m-g. I’m surprised it isn’t sold out on a regular basis. If ever there comes a day where the Uncured Bacon flavor is sold out, I will assume it’s because of this blog. Just an FYI. If you plan on trying my favorite jerky, eat it sparingly. It’s about 11g of carbs per serving. But it is good. Damn good. Pork not your style? There’s also turkey, chicken, and beef!
QUEST PROTEIN BARS
Look, people. I know most protein bars are a little too much on the chalky side. Along with a taste that’ll make you wanna slap the taste buds out of your mouth. Protein bars are not supposed to be candy bars. Drill that into your head. And if they do taste like a candy bar, it’s probably not the best choice for you. (Always look at the nutrition facts.)
The closest thing you’ll get to a decent tasting, low-carb based bar, is the Quest Protein Bar. I don’t know what they’re doing over there at Quest Laboratories. But they’re doing something right. With a plethora of flavors to choose from, you’re bound to find at least one you’re cool with. Their Apple Pie flavor used to be one of my favorites. That was until they discontinued it. (Not sure why.) I’ve recently taken a liking to their Peanut Butter Brownie Smash flavor. It’s got a nice chew too it too. At 20g of protein, and 5g net carbs, it’s definitely worth a try.
ROBERT IRVINE’S FITCRUNCH HIGH PROTEIN PUFFS
Never thought I’d see the day where I’m promoting a product by the world renowned chef, Robert Irvine. That’s not a dig at him either. (I used to watch Restaurant Impossible all the time.) I just never expected for his company to produce a keto friendly, low-carb snack like this.
These protein puffs (cheese balls) are tastier than you think. We all remember Planter’s Cheese Balls, right? These are the next best thing. Except the cheese balls themselves are super small. At 4.5g of fat, 2g of carbs, and 130 calories per serving, you’ll be pleasantly surprised. As of the date of this blog, there are three flavors: Cheese, BBQ, and Sour Cream & Onion. I’ve tried all three. Take my advice. Stick with the Cheese flavor. The other two need significant improvements.
PORK RINDS (Chicharrones)
Yeah. That’s right. Those styrofoam looking goodies you see at 7-11 you’ve been told are “soooo bad for you”? Perfect for low-carb/keto based diets. With zero, (count it), zero, grams of carbs per serving, you might find a new-found love snack affair. (If you choose pork rinds with added flavor, double check the carb content.) Now, I don’t recommend eating these all day long. As the sodium content tends to be a bit higher. So be mindful of what you plan on consuming throughout the course of the day.
BOTTOM LINE
Be practical with your snack decisions. As I would tell my own clients here in Las Vegas, “You should focus more on actual meals. Rather than finding ways to squeeze in snacks throughout the day. The more satiated you are, the less likely you’ll be tempted to munch on something that won’t be as beneficial to your diet. But hey, wanting to munch on a little something to help us until our next meal is perfectly fine. Plan your snacks ahead of time, and you’ll be just fine!”
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