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Healthy Snacking For Every Lifestyle: Keto, Paleo And More

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Whatever your dietary lifestyle – be it keto, paleo, Mediterranean, Atkins, intermittent fasting, calorie-controlled or anything else – making snack choices that don’t derail your nutritional goals can be a challenge.

It’s also really important to make good snack choices when it comes to supporting an active lifestyle, boosting energy levels when you need a pick-me-up, staving off hunger pangs in between meals or distracting restless kids! 

By nature, snacks are about convenience, flavour, on-the-go consumption as well as comfort – but they are often formulated in ways that don’t support a healthy lifestyle.  Many shop-bought snacks are highly processed and contain high levels of sugar, salt and preservatives which provide a quick-fix, but which actually lead to mood swings and fatigue as well as cravings for more unhealthy foods.

So how should we be snacking – and what are the best options that align with the goals of a keto, paleo or other dietary lifestyle as well as low carb, low sugar and healthy snacks for kids’ lunchboxes, outdoor adventurers, gym goers and other active people?

Healthy snacks for every lifestyle

Research has shown that more and more Australians are snacking between meals and moving towards more flexible eating patterns.  Post pandemic trends also show an increased demand for healthier, guilt-free versions of popular snacks.

We know people are looking for answers to a healthier lifestyle and that’s why we’ve put together this comprehensive guide on healthy snacking.  It makes it easy for you to choose snacks that suit your nutritional goals as well as your lifestyle.  Read on to find what snack is right for you.

Why high-protein, low-carb snacks are best

You want your snack to tick all the right boxes.  It’s got to lift you up in terms of energy, staying power and mood and it can’t let you down in terms of nasties like salt, sugar, preservatives and excess calories.

Unlike high-carb snacks which can spike your blood sugar leading to sugar ‘crashes’ and tiredness (plus they can actually make you feel hungrier!), low-carb and protein-rich snacks will dial up your energy levels and keep you feeling satisfied for longer.

A good rule of thumb is to work around at least 0.8g of protein per kg of body weight.  Here are some of the best low carb high-protein snacks which are easy to prepare and which can be eaten on the go:

  • Jerky and biltong
  • Hard boiled eggs
  • Unsweetened natural Greek yoghurt with almonds
  • Hummus and carrots
  • Hard cheese
  • Tinned tuna
  • Rice cakes with peanut butter

Now that we know the benefits of high-protein snacks, let’s look at some of other great snack options that suit different nutritional diets and lifestyles.

Snacks for a paleo diet

The paleo diet (which originated from our hunter/gatherer ancestors) centres on eating fresh, whole and unprocessed foods like lean meat, vegetables, nuts and fruit while avoiding dairy products, grains, gluten, dairy and refined sugar.

Some of the best paleo-friendly snacks are:

  • Jerky
  • Hard-boiled eggs
  • Veggie sticks or crudites with hummus
  • Beef biltong
  • Nuts
  • Dry roasted seaweed
  • Sliced apple with a nut butter

Always read the package label to check that the nutritional content matches your dietary goals.  For example, some nut butters have significant amounts of added sugar while some brands of jerky contain high levels and preservatives from their marinades. 

You can trust that our DJays jerky is made from 100% premium Aussie beef using time-honoured recipes and the finest natural ingredients.  Our marinades also contain minimal added sugar, so our jerky is great for paleo snacking!

Keto-friendly snacks

Keto is an eating plan that focuses on eating foods that are very high in fat, low in carbs and which provide moderate amounts of protein in order to force the body to use ketones from the breakdown of fat as the body’s primary source of energy.  

Snacks for a keto diet include:

  • Nuts such as almonds and walnuts
  • Seeds
  • Olives
  • Cheese
  • Avocados
  • Tofu
  • Jerky
  • Sardines
  • Certain fruits such as berries
  • Leafy greens and lower carb veggies like asparagus, capsicum, cauliflower, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, mushrooms, cucumber and celery
  • Trail mix

To learn more about munching on tasty beef jerky in your keto diet, have a read of this informative article ‘Is Beef Jerky Keto?’.  You can also find lots of additional info about jerky as well as biltong on our blog.  From articles on the science behind the snacks to ideas on how to create impressive jerky snack platters – our experts have these meaty treats covered.

Post workout snacks that won’t undo your good work!

Eating nutritious and satisfying foods and avoiding unhealthy snacks can help us improve and maintain energy levels during exercise by stabilising our blood sugar. 

When we exercise, we need fuel from foods that are packed with easily digestible carbs and proteins such as bananas, yoghurt and granola, oats, egg on toast, berries and yoghurt, protein bars and peanut butter sandwiches. 

Healthy snacks with a higher protein content provide important nutrients and calories to fuel up the body during sport and exercise – plus they help with muscle recovery and repair.   Beef jerky and beef biltong are both rich in protein and contain a variety of immunity-boosting and body-building nutrients including zinc and iron, so they’re the ideal pre- and post workout snacks.

Check out this article to learn more about why healthy snacks like jerky and biltong are vital for sportspeople and active individuals.

Best snacks for kids’ lunchboxes

Children’s lunchboxes.  Working out what to put in, coming up with fresh ideas, trying to match convenience and flavour with nutritional benefit – it’s no secret that preparing kids lunchboxes is the bane of every parent’s life!

There are so many things to consider when making up a child’s lunchbox – their age, allergies, dietary restrictions, budget etc – but we all know how important it is to choose foods that will help them avoid the blood sugar roller coaster and provide a long-lasting energy boost.

The aim is to provide children with nutritious and balanced options which cover the primary food groups (fruits, vegetables, protein, dairy and grains or cereals).  Healthy options include sandwich triangles, cubes of hard cheese, fruit (fresh and dried), mess-free veggies like snap peas and carrot sticks, yoghurt cups, muffins or slices and crackers and hummus.  You can also put beef jerky and biltong in your child’s lunchbox as a protein-powered meaty treat to give them sustained energy for busy school days.

A last word on healthy snacking for every lifestyle

Whether you’re following a particular nutrition plan, needing a pick-me-up after sport or looking for ideas to keep the kids energised and happy – it’s important to make good snack choices.

Beef jerky is the common denominator in all of the above – and the good news is that you don’t need to look any further than DJays Gourmet’s delicious range of all-natural, healthy dried meat goodies.  You can trust our expertise and our quality – in fact, our beef and jerky are widely acknowledged as the best in Australia – plus we arrange speedy door-to-door delivery so you can get your fix fast!  Order online today and enjoy the benefits of snacking on beef jerky for every lifestyle.

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