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Here’s what works for me – my snacks *must* contain protein in it.  If not, I’m going to just end up cranky and hungry.  But if my munchie contains a decent amount of protein (and fat, too), then I feel satisfied for much longer. 

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Do you know the word “hangry?”  It’s a combination of hungry and angry.  When I sense that Henry is getting hangry, I practically RUN to the fridge for a protein snack.  A hangry toddler is a scary thing…

 

But, truthfully, a hangry Caitlin is no better! 

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So when I snack (usually once in the morning, after workouts, in the afternoon and after dinner, which we have pretty early), I always reach for something with protein in it.  String cheese and cheese sticks are a big favorite in my household!  The Sargento® Natural String Cheese variety has 8 grams of protein per serving – that’s more protein than a serving of almonds (about 23 almonds) or a hard-boiled egg.

 

Check out how this favorite snack stacks up against the competition:

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Servings sizes: 1 cheese stick, 2 tablespoons of peanut butter, 1 ounce of almonds, 1 egg

 

Sargento® is my favorite brand because of all the different varieties (14 of them!), like Cheddar, Cheddar-Mozzarella, Colby-Jack, Cheddar-Jack, Pepper Jack, and more.  I love them because they are portable and fast so I can stay fueled on the go.  And I keep them in the bottom drawer of the fridge so Henry can easily grab them, too. The Sargento® Natural Cheese Snacks have up to 8 grams of protein per serving, so they keep you feeling satisfied and definitely not hangry!

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One of my #1 healthy living tips is to keep snacks in your gym bag.  You should fuel right after hard exercise, and if you leave the gym empty handed, you’ll feel that blood sugar start to crash.  So I always try to keep my bag stocked with snacks.  I’ll even throw a cheese stick into my bag as I head out – it survives just fine in my bag for an hour or so!  These snacks are great to eat in the locker room or on the way home.

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Mom Life = Random toys end up in all your bags.

 

What’s your favorite protein snack?  If you need some more ideas, here are some more smart snacking suggestions!

 

This post is sponsored by Sargento® Foods. Thanks, as always, for reading sponsored content and supporting my blog!

{ 18 comments }

 

  • Veronica August 14, 2015, 10:33 am

    Their white cheddar variety is my favorite!
    Quest bars are one of my go-to protein snacks. Tons of protein, low carb, low sugar, and the chocolate chip cookie dough is decadent, especially when warm. mmmmm
    now I’m hungry

  • Kelly August 14, 2015, 11:15 am

    Oh my goodness, Henry’s little face in the first photo is SO cute! I love the Blue Diamond “Bold” almonds, especially the wasabi/soy sauce flavor. Because they are spicy it helps me stick to an actual serving size. Plus a couple little Babybels. = Perfect snack to recharge before I pick up the kiddo from daycare in the afternoon!

  • Amanda August 14, 2015, 11:23 am

    This is so interesting to me! I love things like cheese and peanut butter, but I’ve found that my snacks MUST contain carbs, otherwise I’m starving!

  • Anne @fANNEtasticfood August 14, 2015, 11:24 am

    Having protein in my snacks is SUPER key for me in avoiding the hangry monster. And great tip about keeping snacks in your gym bag – I started doing that, too, because I often found I’d be running errands or something after working out and would get hangry – no fun. Keeping a few snacksi n my bag at all times = problem solved!

  • Nicole August 14, 2015, 12:12 pm

    I’m with you on the protein! I work on the go at different locations, and I don’t always bring snacks from home, so cheese sticks and beef jerky are my go to choices for work days. One of my locations is next to a 7-11 and I’ll get an apple and a cheese stick for the 3pm crash. Perfect balance of carbs, fiber, protein and fat!

  • Tina August 14, 2015, 12:49 pm

    Cheese is such a great snack. It’s one of Quinn’s favorites too! Your family is so adorable!

  • Bee August 14, 2015, 1:21 pm

    Hey, I have a quick question: how do you feel about organic vs. nonorganic dairy? How about for the baby? I have a little boy Claire’s age so I am just curious. Love your blog, you always seem so together and I’ve found a lot of inspiration here.

    • Caitlin August 14, 2015, 1:25 pm

      Awesome, thanks for reading.

      Re: the organic v. non-organic issue, I am always wavering… Seriously, so much that I hate to take a stance. I definitely think organic is the healthier option (for the planet, for the body) because that intuitively makes sense to me. However, sometimes they fly in organic stuff from Brazil – I have a feeling local, non-organic blueberries are probably more nutrient-dense than blueberries that have been sitting on a plane for days and days. Also, organic does not necessarily mean better care for animals, although it’s probably better because there are actually minimum requirements (although they aren’t necessarily humane).

      The upshot is that I generally try to give Claire ONLY organic because she’s so young. I try to do the same with Henry with produce, especially the “Dirty Dozen,” which changes every year (Google it). I’m not sure strict on it, though. I kind of waver because sometimes I buy ALL organic grocery carts and then half organic, hah. And there are some products that I really love that are not organic, unfortunately.

      • Bee August 14, 2015, 6:34 pm

        Thank you for answering 🙂

    • Sarah August 14, 2015, 4:36 pm

      I agree with Caitlin, regarding the local foods. With dairy, if I can’t buy organic then I always look for the kind that says it’s not treated with rBST and other growth hormones. Sargento does not carry this label, but many many other products do!

  • Erin @ Her Heartland Soul August 14, 2015, 1:57 pm

    I love cheese sticks!

  • Julia August 14, 2015, 2:02 pm

    Almonds and fruit, cheese and fruit, or hummus and crackers are my top 3!

  • Kath August 14, 2015, 2:17 pm

    Loooove cheese sticks in our house!!

  • gina (fitnessista) August 14, 2015, 6:09 pm

    totally agree about snacks having protein to be satisfying. otherwise, i’m a carb monster and don’t feel satisfied 🙂
    ps henry and claire are the cutest ever. livi wants to play with them

  • RunEatRepeat August 17, 2015, 9:33 am

    I usually like sweet snacks, but I have been buying string cheese like an addict lately. I like the OG kind that you actually ‘string off’ 🙂

  • Tabatha August 17, 2015, 3:14 pm

    Peanut butter is a favorite snack of mine, especially with apples or a banana. And I love that Simba is guarding the cheese stick! 🙂

  • Kate @KateMovingForward August 17, 2015, 10:01 pm

    I love cheese sticks for a quick and easy snack! I didn’t realize they were that protein packed though. That’s a win for sure in my book. 🙂

  • Roxanne August 25, 2015, 3:49 am

    My favorite protein snack are almonds and Turkey Jerky!

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