Snack time can be tricky when it comes to making smart choices for your gut health. From sinful sweets to super salty snacks, the options can be hard to navigate. Luckily, Lifeway has your back to help you make better choices for your gut and overall body while still keeping snacks the way they should be—satisfying.
Lifeway Kefir and Farmer Cheese both make top tier snack ingredients for two main reasons; one, they’re rich in bioavailable protein your body can easily recognize and put to best use to satisfy hunger, and two, both Lifeway Kefir and Farmer Cheese are rich in probiotics with billions of live and active cultures that the body can properly access. When it comes to protein, they’re both excellent sources with Lifeway Farmer Cheese containing 15 grams per 1/2 cup serving and Lifeway Kefir containing 10-13 grams per 1-cup serving, depending on the variety you choose.
Lifeway Kefir and Farmer Cheese = Snacks With Benefits
Protein is important to keep in mind for smart snack choices because it satisfies hunger and takes longer to digest. This means your body takes its time to break it down and simultaneously keep blood sugar levels stable longer. Think of it like a steady drip of energy into your muscles! Two, protein triggers the release of hormones like GLP-1 in the gut and brain that turn off hunger signals. It also nourishes your entire body with critical amino acids it needs to function more optimally. This means you stay energized longer and your brain gets more of what it needs to help you focus. So when you boost your snacks with Lifeway Kefir and Farmer Cheese, you’re not just choosing delicious ingredients that are versatile in the kitchen; you’re also making choices for your gut health, brain health, and muscles.
Try one of these five snacks below to see what we mean. We paired the probiotic powers of protein-packed Lifeway Kefr and Farmer Cheese with prebiotic fibers, seasonings and spices, natural sweeteners, and real food ingredients that are all easy to prepare. Make some for the week ahead, and you’ve got snack time covered!
5 High- Protein Snacks to Fuel Your Day
1. Farmer Cheese Chips
Cheese-filled crunchy snacks with spices and seasonings are always a win if you ask us, and our Farmer Cheese Chips definitely deliver. We whipped up our version of the viral cottage cheese chips with Lifeway Farmer Cheese since it’s healthier with less sodium, more cultures, and high in protein just like cottage cheese. We layered our farmer cheese with savory, nutty Parmesan cheese and some everything bagel seasoning before baking everything up into crunchy, crispy crave-worthy chips of goodness. Get the recipe here!
2. Golden Milk Cookie Dough Bites
Call us smitten! These Golden Milk Cookie Dough Bites are everything we want in sweet snack, plus some. They’re made with some of the best ingredients you can think of that are also easy to find; high-fiber coconut flour and almond flour, vanilla protein powder, sweet silky pumpkin purée (great for your skin and gut health!), real chocolate chips, Lifeway Kefir for probiotics and protein, plus anti-inflammatory turmeric—a top spice for overall health and gut health— along with ginger and cinnamon. These bites can be prepped ahead and stored in the fridge or freezer so you’re ready any time of day or night the cravings come calling. Indulge in the good stuff with this easy recipe!
3. Frozen Blueberry Farmer Cheese Bites
We’ll never say no to chocolate-covered, blueberry-filled probiotic clusters like these Frozen Blueberry Farmer Cheese Bites. Wild blueberries are a star ingredient in these bites because they pack twice the antioxidant benefits and fiber of regular blueberries with a naturally sweeter flavor—and no added sugar. They make the perfect fruit to pair with dark chocolate, another one of our favorite antioxidant-rich foods. Lifeway Farmer Cheese’s protein and probiotics complement the nutritional accolades of blueberries and dark chocolate while also keeping your bites rich and satisfying. Make up a batch of these frozen bites, and you’re just minutes away from indulgence at the whim!
4. Blueberry Peach Rice Cakes with Farmer Cheese
Rice cakes are a classic snack choice, but they can also turn into major snack fail if they’re not topped with the right ingredients. Choosing whole grain rice cakes is a smart choice, but don’t stop there; opt for the ones without added sugar, then top yours with protein-rich ingredients like Lifeway Farmer Cheese. The protein keeps your blood sugar levels stable longer than eating rice cakes alone, and Lifeway Farmer Cheese’s probiotics nourish your gut which further supports healthier blood sugar levels. Next, layer some fiber-rich fruit on top like prebiotic peaches and blueberries. If you need natural sweetness, a little touch of honey goes a long way, or opt for fresh banana slices. Try our Blueberry Peach Protein Rice Cakes with Farmer Cheese for a quick snack that makes the perfect cake-filled choice!
5. Coconut Mango Cheesecake Bites
Coconut, mango, dates… give us all the tropical goodness! Mango Lifeway Kefir takes these cheesecake bites into a new level of delicious and boosts your snack time with probiotics and protein, along with calcium and vitamins A, B12, and D. These bites offer a trendy take on traditional no-bake bites with the taste of the tropics and no funny business included. They’re rich in prebiotic fiber, skin-nourishing vitamins, plus protein to satisfy your hunger levels without wrecking your health goals. Keep a batch of these bites in the fridge or freezer, so your sweet tooth stays happy and your gut does, too!
Want more snack satisfaction? Check out all our recipes here, and be sure to stay up to date with us on social media at Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest, and Facebook. Use the hashtag #LoveYourGuts and #LifewayLovesYourGuts to share your gut health journey with us!