We appreciate that they’re packed with a great amount of fiber (about 5 mg), healthy fats, and minerals like calcium and iron. And the ingredient list keeps things simple, with just chickpeas, oil, and seasoning.
Cheese
Sargento Natural String Cheese Snacks
- Pros: Easy to eat quickly, great texture and taste
- Cons: Target reviewers say it’s difficult to get out of the wrapper
String cheese is not just for elementary schoolers, and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. “When I’m trying to get more protein into my diet, there are truly only so many cardboard-y, fake-tasting bars and shakes I can stomach,” one SELF editor says. “I’ve been snacking on mozzarella string cheese since I was a kiddo, so it never feels ‘diet-y,’ and a single one contains a hefty amount of protein for the amount. Wrap it in some deli turkey with hot sauce…yum!”
Dairy is also a great source of vitamin D, calcium, and potassium, Gorham says. “Vitamin D is important for bone health and needed for cells to function. Calcium and potassium are important minerals that are needed to promote bone and heart health.” To balance out your snack, Van Eck recommends pairing this cheese with some nuts, fruit, or pretzels.
Moon Cheese Cheddar Believe It
- Pros: Fun texture, very cheesy flavor
- Cons: Higher in sodium, higher in saturated fat, makes your hands greasy
“Picture that astronaut ice cream you had as a kid, then make it cheese—now you have Moon Cheese,” one SELF editor says. “It comes in bite-size pieces that have a nice crispy-crunchy texture and extremely concentrated cheese flavor.” Fair warning: “They definitely make your hands greasy, so be prepared for that. In my opinion, it’s worth it,” she adds. You can grab these in a few flavors, like cheddar, gouda, pepperjack, and garlic and parmesan.
Moon Cheese is a fun way to get calcium (349 mg) into your diet. Note: This is another snack that’s on the high-end for sodium at 350 mg, and it’s also high in saturated fat, which you should consume in moderation (as with most foods) because it can impact your cholesterol levels.
- Protein per serving: 11 g
Sargento Balanced Breaks Cheese & Mini Triscuit Crackers
- Pros: Well-balanced snack, great flavor
- Cons: Higher in saturated fat, needs to be refrigerated
This isn’t exactly an all-out charcuterie board, but it’s a whole lot more convenient. “This grown-up Lunchable is usually easy to find at airports, so I often grab one at the Hudson News before boarding my flight to make sure I have protein on-hand when I’m in the air,” one SELF editor says. Plus, “the individual serving, with whole grain crackers, is super convenient and easy for kids and adults alike,” Gorham adds.