Awesome Protein Loaded Snacks

I know we have all heard it before. But eating several small meals a day is very beneficial to our health. This has been carefully and laboriously researched and studied. There are many reasons to follow this advice, however my own personal reason for adhering to it is because I get "hangry." Which is to say my hunger causes a negative change in my emotional state.

 If your body is "running on empty" and you select a snack or meal that is mostly simple carbohydrates, then your body is going to release extra insulin to handle that sugar. Insulin is a hormone that is like a key to unlocking the cells to receive the incoming sugar. However this sugar is burned up quickly and the insulin has opened too many doors. The resulting feeling is fatigue and again, hunger. Therefore, protein and complex carbohydrates are important and should take precedence over your simple sugars.

Here is my list of some of my favorite snacks that are full of protein, low in added sugars and help keep me buzzing through my busy day.

Trail Mix
Almonds
Pumpkin seeds
Hard boiled eggs (mmm, mix this up with avocado and other healthy mix ins and you are increasing your omega fatty acids!)
Deli Roll-Ups (meat, cheese, tomato, lettuce and pepper)
Cucumber Turkey Sandwich (no bread, just turkey and cheese sandwiched between cucumber slices)
Nutter Butter Boats (any kind of nut butter on celery or apple slices)
Bean and Cheese Quesadillas (1/2 cup beans, 1 Tbs Salsa, 1 slice of cheese in a tortilla shell)
Easy Oatmeal Raisin Cookie: (mix 1/2 cup oats, 1 tsp brown sugar, 1 Tbs flour, 1 egg white, 1/4 tsp vanilla, 1/4 tsp baking powder, 1 tsp cinnamon and 1 Tbs raisins. Flatten this out and microwave it for 45 seconds).
Chunky Monkey Style Shake: (1 medium banana, 1 Tbs Peanut Butter, 1 cup chocolate milk, 1 cup ice blended)
Vegetables dipped in Hummus
Cheese and wheat crackers
Silver Dollar Protein Pancakes: (4 egg whites, 1/2 cup oats, 1/2 cup cottage cheese, 1/8 tsp baking powder and 1/2 tsp vanilla. cook on a skillet and top with berries)
Berry-yogurt parfaits (yogurt, oatmeal, sliced almonds, berries)
Grape and cheese skewers
Toast sticks with peanut butter and cinnamon

Don't forget to drink plenty of water with these snacks, and in-between meals. The fatigue of dehydration is often mistaken for the fatigue of hunger, and we overeat.