Protein snack that's not a shake?? - JP Fitness Forums

wannabefit83 · 04-21-2008, 08:21 AM

Sometimes after I workout, I don't have time to make a shake and I need something that's quick and easy. Something that I can keep in my bag and have without worrying if it's going to spill/rot/go bad.

Any ideas???

DDRdiva · 04-21-2008, 08:28 AM

missjane · 04-21-2008, 08:31 AM

If you just want pure protein and no fat or carbs, I'd say tuna fish (blech).

I'd get one of those shaker containers that keep stuff cold for my shake, if I were you.

Lost Dog · 04-21-2008, 08:37 AM

If you're just doing it for the nutrition (meaning it doesn't have to be delicious), just put protein powder in a dry shaker bottle. Put water in and shake after your workout.

It doesn't taste bad, but it's unlikely to be satisfying. But, it's protein for when you need protein. That's my point.

I keep a couple of premeasured scoops in dry shaker bottles in the trunk of my car, just in case.

beach_plums · 04-21-2008, 09:23 AM

You could make the peanutbutter protein bars from the book. Wrap one up and bring it with you.
I went through a stage where the idea of a shake was unpleasant, so I started making a protein "cookie"--the recipe for which I found in this thread:
1/4 cup oatmeal
1 scoop chocolate protein
2 tablespoons peanut butter
water to mix it all up
The original recipe called for some kind of sweetner, but I leave that out. It's not needed.
It tastes a lot like those no-bake cookies and doesn't spoil, rot, or go bad

Cynic · 04-21-2008, 10:44 AM

1. Get a good quality shaker bottle. I have the Blender Bottle, but I've heard the Turbo Shaker is a good product too. It does not take long to shake up a PWO drink. Just take your bottle, the dry ingredients in a PB jar, mix with water.
2. Most everything else will require refrigeration. Cottage cheese, yogurt, etc. Beef jerky is a good protein source, but it digests slower. Nuts are good, but you'll need to combine it with grains sometime in the day for the protein to count toward muscle development. If you can put your stuff on ice while you workout, then put milk in your shaker bottle and use that in lieu of water. However, dairy products don't spoil in an instant. They can hold out for a few hours. If you can put it in an insulated bottle/container, you'll be good for even longer

Gym gear is more than just shirt, shorts and shoes.

ToniL · 04-21-2008, 11:14 AM

Protein bars (I love power crunch bars), jerky, or cheese sticks. I take my lunch box with me and have learned that the way to succeed is to always be prepared so I have lots of plastic containers of meals in my fridge (cottage cheese, yogurt, last night's dinner, etc, etc). hth -- Toni

wannabefit83 · 04-21-2008, 12:56 PM

Those are all great ideas...thanks a bunch!!!

sharsell119 · 04-21-2008, 03:52 PM

Toni... I'm SO glad you said that. I have a protein bar of some sort (either a Luna bar or a Power Recovery Bar after a particularly heinous weight training session) and I was beginning to think everyone here was anti-protein bar. I love the convenience and I love that to me they feel like a treat... a little candy bar to remove any other chocolate cravings.

missjane · 04-21-2008, 04:20 PM

Count me in the anti-protein bar camp. Too many sugar alcohols for me.

Lost Dog · 04-21-2008, 05:05 PM

You have to order them, but Biotest's Metabolic Drive bars are really good and don't have sugar alcohols.

MUSCLE WITH ATTITUDE or Fahrenheit - Let it Burn

or BiotestDotNet 3.0 if you want no articles or pics. It's all the same place...

sharsell119 · 04-21-2008, 06:05 PM

Oh well... I've been eating a Luna bar after 90% of my workouts for the past 10 months and I've dropped 25 pounds and hit 21% body fat in spite of them. I guess they do what I need them to do.

missjane · 04-21-2008, 06:19 PM

While a Luna bar is better than, say, a Special K bar, it's not really high enough in protein to be considered a pwo option, IMHO.....maybe more energy bar??? I try to get in 25 grams protein PWO (both pre and post).

nancysmithwp · 04-21-2008, 06:21 PM

What's wrong with sugar alcohols? I had these filed in my mind under harmless.

missjane · 04-21-2008, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nancysmithwp

What's wrong with sugar alcohols? I had these filed in my mind under harmless.

Kind of technical, but you get the idea here:

Article: Nutrition Bars: Good or Bad for You?

Lost Dog · 04-21-2008, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lost Dog

You have to order them, but Biotest's Metabolic Drive bars are really good and don't have sugar alcohols.

MUSCLE WITH ATTITUDE or Fahrenheit - Let it Burn

or BiotestDotNet 3.0 if you want no articles or pics. It's all the same place...

Hey! I manually put in normal names instead of that "let it burn" crap and it came back! WTF?

Quote:

Originally Posted by sharsell119

Oh well... I've been eating a Luna bar after 90% of my workouts for the past 10 months and I've dropped 25 pounds and hit 21% body fat in spite of them. I guess they do what I need them to do.

The most important thing is to make sure you have nutrients for your body to use after a workout. Many people here, who are now eating regularly scheduled meals, are getting enough from the "before workout meal" to last until the next meal after the workout. But, if you're one of those types who can't eat within hours of the workout for fear of hurling, then the pwo meal is more important.

Assuming you eat 150g of P per day, divided into 5 meals/snacks, that's 30g per meal. You'd have to go an awful long time to not have any protein left floating around between the pre and post workout feedings.

You may be hungry after the workout, so I encourage you to eat or drink something. But, I'm also assuming that that little something is only going to tide you over for an hour or so until the next true feeding. So, if a luna bar fits into your macros and calories for the day, it's probably cool. What's it got? 10g of P? That's going to tide you over until your meal.

In my mind, we can only be so perfect. We have to allow ourselves to find a place between perfect and perfect for us. If perfect is a pain in the ass, you'll only do it so long. Then, BAM, you're fat again.

sharsell119 · 04-21-2008, 07:25 PM

Excellent point, LostDog...if it's a pain in the ass, it ain't gonna last. Yeah, a Luna bar is around 10g of protein. I open that in the car as I drive away from the gym. Within an hour I'm home and I scarf a tuna or turkey sandwich, or a protein shake, and I'm good to go. BTW -- I don't know if it matters for the purposes of this discussion, but I've never been "fat". The most I've been is 25 pounds overweight, and right now I'm probably AT my ideal weight, give or take 5. So maybe for folks that have more to lose this is a useless discussion?

wannabefit83 · 04-22-2008, 06:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lost Dog

Hey! I manually put in normal names instead of that "let it burn" crap and it came back! WTF?

The most important thing is to make sure you have nutrients for your body to use after a workout. Many people here, who are now eating regularly scheduled meals, are getting enough from the "before workout meal" to last until the next meal after the workout. But, if you're one of those types who can't eat within hours of the workout for fear of hurling, then the pwo meal is more important.

Assuming you eat 150g of P per day, divided into 5 meals/snacks, that's 30g per meal. You'd have to go an awful long time to not have any protein left floating around between the pre and post workout feedings.

You may be hungry after the workout, so I encourage you to eat or drink something. But, I'm also assuming that that little something is only going to tide you over for an hour or so until the next true feeding. So, if a luna bar fits into your macros and calories for the day, it's probably cool. What's it got? 10g of P? That's going to tide you over until your meal.

In my mind, we can only be so perfect. We have to allow ourselves to find a place between perfect and perfect for us. If perfect is a pain in the ass, you'll only do it so long. Then, BAM, you're fat again.

Thanks!! That made sense to me!