I now have two teenage boys in my house….
Two very active teenage boys, and while one is just entering teenager-hood his appetite is gearing up for full-fledged teenage locust mode.
The older one… he’s hungry… always. Right now he is in the middle of Summer swim season and so the hunger is even higher.
Two things about my kids, one- they are both very healthy eaters. They prefer not to have sugar, and go for healthy snacks over empty calories, which is fantastic. However, two is that if it doesn’t jump out of the fridge into their waiting open mouth there is nothing to eat.
So we need filling, healthy, easy to grab and eat snacks that can satisfy teenage boy hunger.
It’s a tough challenge, but I’m getting a bigger and bigger selection all the time.
The biggest thing I look for in snacks for them is protein, it helps keep them fuller longer and so they’re not digging around in the fridge 10 minutes after their last snack… well most of the time at least.
Here’s my list of go-to healthy, high protein snacks to keep them full and fueled up!
– Hardboiled Eggs– Now my middle one doesn’t like eggs at all. But the oldest and youngest will gobble them up. To make it easier shell them and keep them in a tupperware, or ziplock baggies in the fridge to make it easy to grab one and eat it.
– Greek Yogurt– We love the kind with the little triangle full of granola, nuts or fruit. It is a quick snack, so filling, and super tasty. It did take my younger two a couple of tries to develop a taste for this more tart yogurt but now they love it!
– Cheese- String cheese, cheese sticks, or those cute little baby bell round cheeses are a super snack. I always toss some in our cooler for track or swim meets. They are great in between events because they’re filling but not too much on their stomach.
–Peanut Butter- While Anthony’s swim coach encourages them to eat it with a spoon I prefer them having it on a sandwich, crackers or dipping an apple or celery. It’s a great after practice snack, especially as a dip because it takes just a little longer to eat.
– Nuts or Trail mix- Almonds, peanuts, cashews… they’re all nice and packed with protein. Little bags of trail mix make a great alternative to chips with just the right amount of salt and crunch to be a satisfying snack and fill up a hungry kid!
– Protein Granola Bars- I love to make my own granola bars but if you are looking for something packaged and mess free check the shelves of your grocery store. Most student athletes don’t need all the protein that is in a Powerbar or other fitness bar. But brands like Nature Valley have come out with regular granola bars with the protein content beefed up. These are a great choice for hungry kiddos.
– Jerky- My kids turn into crazy little carnivores around a bag of good beef jerky. With other alternatives like turkey jerky out too there is all kinds of variety. This is one to be a little careful about because a lot of jerky is high in salt so pay attention to portion size.
–Milk– Now a glass is easy to grab out of the fridge but this isn’t one we travel with. A glass of milk is packed with vitamins and minerals and protein. It is a great after workout snack or for something to hold them over when they are sooooooo hungry before a meal. My boys also like Almond and Cashew (the big teenager talked me into buying that) milk which are both even higher in protein. If you want to add a little flavor you can try my all natural sugar-free chocolate syrup!
So that’s it- our list of simple snacks, packed with protein to keep hungry teenage boys at bay… and keep them healthy!!
Follow Krista [email protected]’s board healthy snacks on Pinterest.
Looking for more ideas to feed your Hungry Homeschool Family? Head over to the IHomeschool Network Link-Up and check them all out!! (P.S. They’re great even if you don’t homeschool!)
If you’re looking for some homemade, protein packed treats here’s a couple!
Crunchy Quinoa Peanut Butter Bites
No-Bake Peanut Butter Oatmeal Squares
I learned the power of protein when we first went to Disney World as a family of four last year. Protein snacks keep you MOVING all day long. So much better than caffeine. Or maybe it was that Disney magic!
I LOVE beef jerky or turkey jerky – I get local, organic sticks at the co-op. Then I love to do cheese and turkey roll-ups, greek yogurt, peanut butter and apples, and hard-boiled eggs.
I love your list. It’s making me hungry.
Love the idea of reaching for a protein snack! We usually do fruits and veggies but the protein would definitely fuel them longer 🙂 Love this list, and going to use it! 🙂
Cathy
Time for a snack 🙂 I do love my caffeine though! Maybe a high protein snack with a cup of coffee!
As a pregnant mama I often remark that my appetite is just like a ravenous teenage boy’s. It never seems to stop! I finally searched Pinterest with the prayer that I’d find something healthy (and actually filling) to keep me strong. Thank you for posting this. These ideas are perfect!