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Vegan protein snacks without soy or gluten

When a meal comes up short, a snack can close the gap. These are vegan, soy-free and gluten-free, and each one adds a few grams of protein without much effort.

Roasted chickpeas, hummus with vegetable sticks, pumpkin seeds and an apple with nut butter

Roasted chickpeas

Tinned chickpeas, rinsed, dried, tossed in oil and spices and roasted until crunchy. A good handful adds around six grams of protein, and they keep in a jar for a few days.

Hummus and vegetables

A few spoons of hummus with carrot, cucumber and pepper sticks. Make your own, or check that a shop-bought one is labelled gluten-free.

Seeds and nut butter

A small handful of pumpkin seeds is around eight grams of protein. An apple with two tablespoons of almond or peanut butter adds about seven. Both travel well.

The pea protein shake

The most protein for the least effort. A scoop of pea protein in pea milk or water, shaken for ten seconds. Keep a tub at work.

Snacks support meals, they don't replace them

Get your three or four solid meals right first. The full soy-free, gluten-free protein picture. Snacks are for filling the gaps, and they carry calories too.

Everything here is vegan, soy-free and gluten-free. If you have coeliac disease, buy oats and packaged foods labelled certified gluten-free, and always check the label.

Follow along

Four minutes between snacks.

4 minutes · no equipment

Seven moves, start to finish.

Squats, glutes, knee lifts, seated core, a stretch and the foam roller. Short enough for any afternoon.

  • 01Bodyweight squat
  • 02Glute exercises
  • 03Standing knee lifts
  • 04Seated core and a stretch
Watch on YouTube

What this needs

The kit mentioned above.

Links go to Amazon and a purchase through one pays me a small commission at no extra cost to you. It does not change what gets recommended.

Where this shows up

The tests this affects.

Before you ask

Three questions.

Are protein bars a good option?

Some are, but many vegan bars are built on soy or contain gluten, and plenty are mostly sugar. Read the label for soy, wheat and the protein per bar.

Are nuts too high in calories?

They are dense, so a small handful is the portion. They are a good snack in that amount, not a bowl to graze from.

Is hummus high in protein?

Moderately. It adds a few grams, but it works best alongside a meal or another protein source rather than as the main one.