Snacking is a guilty pleasure for all of us, and also one of the major reasons behind weight gain. It gets worse when we aren’t able to manage it. The solution is not to give up snacking altogether. All you have to do is replace your unhealthy snacks with healthy protein snacks.

Health Shots got in touch with Divya Gopal, Consultant – Dietitian/Nutritionist, Motherhood Hospitals, Banashankari, Bengaluru, who listed down a few best protein rich snacks which can speed up weight loss.

Gopal says, “People frequently turn to readily available, snack foods to deal with their hunger pangs. These foods are typically high in sugar and refined carbohydrates, making them a poor substitute for meals, especially if you’re trying to lose weight. In such a situation, protein has come to your rescue. Protein can help in muscle building, weight loss, and feeling fuller after eating.”

So, here are 9 healthy protein snacks that can help with weight loss:

1. Greek yogurt

Apart from being a good source of calcium, Greek yogurt is also high in protein. It will not only be nutritious but will also keep you full to avoid overeating as it helps with satiety. Remember, Greek yogurt might be better than regular yogurt if weight loss is your goal.

2. Vegetables

We all know how beneficial vegetables are, why don’t we make a snack out of it? You can boil some veggies, make some salad or maybe a healthy sandwich. Choose vegetables which are weight-loss friendly are cauliflower, broccoli, avocado, cabbage, lettuce, and green peas.

Also read: Eating protein or drinking protein: What’s better?

3. Boiled eggs

Apart from being high in protein and vitamin B, eggs can also be easily carried. Eggs are one way to lose weight because they can boost your metabolism rate and can help burn calories faster.

4. Peanut butter

Make a peanut butter sandwich when you don’t have much time to spend in the kitchen. It’s not only high in protein but super tasty and keeps you full for long.

5. Almonds

In addition to being tasty and convenient for snacking, almonds are high in several essential nutrients such as protein, vitamin E, riboflavin, trace minerals, and healthy fats. Apart from this, when you soak almonds, it releases certain enzymes like lipase that speed up metabolism and help with weight loss.

6. Roasted chickpeas

If you have a little bit of time to give to your cooking, you can try experimenting with legumes and chickpeas. They are rich in protein, folate, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, copper, and manganese—all which can make weight loss easy.

Also read: 3 energetic super snacks that won’t let you gain weight!

7. Fruits

Fruits are a great option when you are looking for something quick, tasty and healthy. Grab fruits such as oranges, guava, pomegranate, watermelon, apple, banana and kiwi when you don’t feel like cooking.

8. Cottage cheese

Cottage cheese is not only loved for being healthy and high in protein but also for its versatility. It also has calcium, and studies suggest when our bodies get adequate amounts of calcium and protein, we tend to burn more fat.

9. Chia seeds pudding

This tasty and healthy snack has become popular in recent years. Being a superfood, chia seeds are loaded with health benefits due to its high protein and other nutrients such as calcium, antioxidants, fibre, phosphorus, and manganese. Therefore, it can help if you’re trying to lose weight.