So many of us rely
on coffee, soft drinks (or
pop, or soda, depending where you live!), and sugary snacks to get us
through long days after too little sleep.
Did you know that high
protein snacks are an even better way to do this and will
keep you
fuller longer than other kinds of foods? Here are some suggestions to
help you make the transition:
Nuts!
Peanuts, cashews, pecans, almonds, you name
it! All are easy to eat and packed with protein and healthy fats. Now,
even though the fats are healthy ones, they are still fats, so be sure
to stick to one portion (serving) of these as a snack. It’s
very easy to get carried away, so divide them into baggies in the
correct serving size ahead of time.
Jerky!
Beef jerky and turkey jerky are wonderful
high protein snacks that really do fill you. Of course, being made of
meat, they’re very high in protein. Here’s a good
recipe:
-2 pounds meat – beef, turkey, or
venison
-2/3 cup low sodium soy sauce
-1/2 cup Worcestershire sauce
-3 garlic cloves, minced
-1 teaspoon onion powder
-2 teaspoons mixed seasoning of your choice (seasoned salt, Spike, Mrs.
Dash, etc.)
Slice the meat diagonally with the grain to create very thin, long
slices. Combine all ingredients, and marinate the meat in the fridge
over night.
Marinating in a zippered bag is great,
because you can go
in once or twice and flip it over, to make sure everything gets well
marinated. Drain and throw away the liquid afterwards.
Put a thick
layer of paper towels on the counter and let the meat drain on it, then
squeeze the meat with extra paper towels. You want the as much juice as
possible gone before cooking.
Place cookie cooling racks on cookie
sheets and drape the jerky across the racks. Cook in a low heat oven
(about 150 degrees) for seven to twelve hours, until the jerky is
completely dry. Leave the oven door ajar while cooking.
Always store
finished jerky (once cooled) in a completely air tight container, and
it will keep for several months.
High protein snacks are delicious and
filling!