The Best New Foods to Never Be Hangry Again
These groceries will keep you happy and well fed all day long.
Though Mom — along with most dietitians — likely counseled you to sit down and slowly savor your food, that’s not always possible in the real world. Busy days mean grab-and-go wolfed-down meals, and sometimes resorting to whatever’s fast, instead of whatever will be most rewarding and filling. This is where healthy stash-able snacks come in. Here are our favorite portable ways to dodge “hangriness.”
Avoid Morning Moodiness
Emerging research shows that completely skipping breakfast can make a workout later in the day much tougher. So grab a protein-packed morning mini meal.
Rise and shine with a different way to get your morning eggs. Egg yolks are a source of choline for brain health, and these bars contain egg yolks as the second ingredient. The Chicken + Egg Yolks + Apple bars are full of flavor from spices like chile powder, thyme and sage – a bit like your favorite sausage and egg breakfast. 1 bar = 140 calories, 13 g protein, 2 g fiber.
Originally from Norway, these energy-boosting bars are available in the US in new flavors of Pumpkin Seed and Raisin & Honey. More portable than toast, they’re best topped with some protein like a Nordic Diet-style slice of smoked salmon or good ol’ American peanut butter. 1 crispbread = 20 calories, 1 g protein, 4 grams fiber.
Work through a Power Lunch
Spacing your protein consumption evenly throughout the day may help trim body fat and increase muscle mass .
Keep a canister of this protein powder at your desk, and if a busy day compromises your chance to grab lunch, mix a scoop of powder into an iced coffee from the work kitchen. A spoonful can also add a protein boost to the shelf-stable hummus you also have stashed in your desk; eat with whole-grain crackers. 1 scoop = 100 calories, 20 g protein, 0 g fiber.
No refrigeration is needed for these mini cups. Rich in veggies, the hummus is offered as Original, Roasted Red Pepper and Black Bean Dip. 1 container = 210 calories, 5 g protein, 2 g fiber.
Crush the Afternoon Crash
Almost everyone, as in about 95% of us, don’t get enough fiber; beans, legumes and seeds are fiber-packed sources, so make a point to add some to your afternoon snack routine.
Broad beans (AKA fava beans) are beloved around the world for their super crunch and abundance of protein and fiber. 1 serving = 100 calories, 7 g protein, 5 g fiber
A snack with a hint of fire — but mostly just flavor — with real garlic, sea salt and aged cayenne pepper. 1 serving = 150 calories, 8 g protein, 2 g fiber
Dried chili peppers and zesty lime make for a tasty little party when you grab a handful of these peanuts. 1 serving = 160 calories, 7 g protein, 2 g fiber
Enjoy Late Night (Sweet) Snacking
Eating carbs makes us feel good, partially because they stimulate the release of the “happy” hormone, serotonin. Without enough carbs, you produce less serotonin, disrupting the body’s ability to wind down, so add a few to your evening snack.
This is what real chocolate tastes like; there’s only one ingredient: 100% cacao. There are also only 8 grams of carbs. Mix these into a snack mix with dried fruit or sprinkle over a bowl of fresh fruit. 2 tablespoons = 200 calories, 4 g protein, 4 g fiber.
Hemp seeds provide nearly 6 grams of healthy omega 3 and 6 fatty acids in this tasty gluten-free bar, which has 16 grams of carbs. It’s dipped in fair-trade dark chocolate. 1 bar = 230 calories, 10 g protein, 2 g fiber.
The idea to “just have cereal for dinner” is nothing to knock. The first ingredient in this individual-serving tub is whole-grain barley. This cereal was created to support digestive wellness by including prebiotics, probiotics and fiber in each bowl, and though each serving is higher in carbs (44 g), most are from fiber (only 9 g sugar). That’s likely a good recipe for sleep, especially if you eat your cereal with milk. 1 bowl = 250 calories, 5 g protein, 9 g fiber.
Serena Ball, MS, RD is a registered dietitian nutritionist, food writer, and recipe developer. She blogs at TeaspoonOfSpice.com and is the author of the best-selling The 30-Minute Mediterranean Diet Cookbook. Follow her @TspCurry on Twitter and Instagram.
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