14 High-Protein Snacks for a Diabetes-Friendly Diet

Breakfast Peanut Butter-Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cakes
Photo: Ali Redmond

Look no further than these recipes for a deliciously filling snack. These snacks are packed with protein (at least 7 grams per serving) to help you with muscle recovery, bone strength and satiety. Plus, these tasty bites fit seamlessly into a diabetes-friendly eating pattern, because they're made with lower amounts of saturated fat and sodium-conscious ingredients while including complex carbs like legumes, fruit and whole grains. Flavorful recipes like our Easy Black Bean Dip and our Breakfast Peanut Butter-Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cakes will help keep you feeling fueled until your next meal.

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Pistachio & Peach Toast

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This breakfast is great when you have leftover ricotta cheese--plus it comes together in just 5 minutes.

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Easy Black Bean Dip

Easy Black Bean Dip

This creamy bean dip is great for a party or picnic. Smoked paprika and ground chipotles add a robust, earthy flavor, but you can also use regular paprika and cayenne if you don't have the other spices on hand.

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Tahini-Yogurt Dip

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Serve this creamy yogurt dip with baby carrots, sliced radishes or whole-wheat pita triangles.

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Tuna Salad Spread

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This tuna spread recipe is a healthy twist on tuna salad and uses avocado and Greek yogurt in place of mayonnaise. Serve it on cucumber slices, butter lettuce leaves or whole-grain crackers.

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Peanut Butter & Chocolate Banana Smoothie

Peanut Butter & Chocolate Banana Smoothie

Whir up frozen bananas with peanut butter and cocoa in this sweet, creamy drink recipe to get all the delicious flavors of a milkshake with the health benefits of a smoothie.

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Breakfast Peanut Butter-Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cakes

Breakfast Peanut Butter-Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cakes
Ali Redmond

Peanut butter is the star ingredient in these oatmeal cakes, providing not only flavor, but a boost of plant-based protein too. Hiding a bit in the center of each muffin is a fun way to ensure that peanut butter makes it into every bite.

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Peanut Butter & Pomegranate Toast

Peanut Butter & Pomegranate Toast
ted + chelsea cavanaugh

For all the flavor of a classic PB&J without the added sugar, just reach for the real deal—fresh fruit. You still get a little natural sweetness and enough juiciness to combat peanut butter's stick-factor, plus some extra fiber. Padma Lakshmi—who shared this recipe when she guest-edited EatingWell Magazine—loves a combo of peanut butter and pomegranate arils (and her Instagram followers went crazy for it too), but you can replicate the formula with whatever nut butter and fruit you love.

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Pizza Pistachios

Pizza Pistachios
Jennifer Causey

Nutritional yeast mimics the flavor of cheese, lending a pizza-like flavor to these playful spiced pistachios.

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Hard-Boiled Egg & Almonds

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This small snack packs a nutrient punch--it's loaded with protein, heart-healthy fats, vitamins and minerals to make eating healthy easy and yummy.

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Coconut-Cashew Breakfast Bites

Coconut-Cashew Breakfast Bites

Never skip breakfast again: keep these coconut and date breakfast bites in the fridge or freezer, and you'll always have a grab-and-go option for busy mornings.

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Bread with Peanut Butter

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This quick-and-easy snack is a hearty treat that is packed with protein and has heart-healthy monounsaturated fat.

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Protein-Packed Zucchini Bread

Protein-Packed Zucchini Bread

Late in the summer there's usually an abundance of zucchini and this recipe is one way to use it up. Make a few batches and freeze any extra loaves to have on hand for snacks and quick breakfasts.

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Yogurt with Blueberries & Honey

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A simple combination of Greek-style yogurt and blueberries gets an extra touch of sweetness from golden honey. It's the perfect balance of protein and fiber to keep you energized.

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Ricotta Cheese Toast

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This Rictta Cheese Toast uses whole grain toast crackers and reduced fat cheese for a lighter snack option.

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