Healthy Snacks for Athletes

You want to do everything in your power to perform your best, and what you eat is one of the biggest variables you can control. Having healthy snacks for athletes is a must, whether it’s something for before a training session, post-workout, or for gameday. 

On the other hand, some snacks hold you back and do more harm than good. We’re here to help you avoid that by ranking the best athlete snacks for you, your team, or your kid. These are our go-tos:

• Meat chips
• Greek yogurt with fruit or nuts
• Protein bars (made with real ingredients)
• Hard-boiled eggs
• Nut butter packets 
• Cottage cheese bowls
• Dried or fresh fruit 
• Smoothies or protein shakes
• Beef sticks or biltong
• Canned fish (or packets)

Some of these are more exciting than others, but each has its place in your rotation. If we had to pick just one of these, though, Carnivore Snax meat chips would be the best snacks for athletes - no question.

Our carnivore chips provide a protein punch with plenty of healthy fats. They’re literally just two ingredients - regenerative meat and salt. That’s it. They’re actually enjoyable, too, almost like a meat pastry that melts in your mouth and gives way to tantalizing flavors. 

Shop our lineup and fuel your body with what it needs most. See why athletes keep Carnivore Snax stocked up by ordering your first bag today!

“This is a MUST for me. I am an athlete and I travel a lot for work. You can't get anything better to fuel you while also feeling satisfied. This is a staple food item in my bag, car, office, home. I always travel with a bag.” - Jackie

“It’s simply awesome as my post gym snack. It is dang near a meal and helps me hit my protein macros for the day! The pork loin is by far my favorite.” - Eric

“I am obsessed with these snacks. I used to grab chips or something salty/crunchy in the mid-afternoon slump, and now I go for these. I've lost weight because I'm satisfying my cravings with more nutrition and way few calories, and getting more quality protein in my diet everyday.” - Jill

What to Look For in Athlete Snacks

Athletes burn through energy faster than the average person and need to recover fast for the next workout, game, or event. The snacks you eat play a big role in this. Here’s what you need to think about when choosing healthy snacks for athletes:

• Balanced Macros That Match Your Training: Some days call for fast carbs, others call for higher protein or fats. A good snack fits the work you’re doing on a given day.
• Protein That Helps With Recovery: Clean, quick protein sources keep your muscles from falling behind during heavy training weeks. More importantly, they ensure you’re ready for whatever the schedule brings next.
• Fast-Digesting Options for Pre-Workout: Snacks shouldn’t sit like a rock before training. They should give you energy you can use within minutes.
• Calorie Density for High-Volume Athletes: Runners, lifters, and field athletes usually need more calories than they can fit into meals alone.
• Electrolytes for Long or Hot Sessions: Sodium, potassium, and magnesium keep you hydrated when you’re sweating profusely.
• Portable, Ready-to-Eat Options: Training schedules mean you don’t always have time to run home for a bite, so you need snacks that stay fresh in your gym bag or car.
• Ingredient Lists That Don’t Slow You Down: Heavy fillers, syrups, and random additives will leave you feeling sluggish during training - or worse, on game day.

That’s a lot to consider, and very few snacks actually deliver on all fronts. But there are some that work time and time again. We’ll introduce the best snacks for athletes below. 

Our Favorite Healthy Snacks for Athletes

Athletes run through fuel fast, so the best snacks deliver clean energy without slowing your training down. They also travel well, so you can stay dialed in no matter where the day takes you. These are the best athlete snacks you can add to your regimen.

Carnivore Snax Meat Chips

Carnivore Snax gives athletes something they rarely get in a grab-and-go format: pure, high-quality protein with real, usable fat, all in a chip that stays crisp in your gym bag. We know it sounds too good to be true, but that’s what makes these the best snacks for athletes.

Every batch starts with a pound of premium meat sourced from the most trusted regenerative farms in the country. We slow-dry them until they’re light and crunchy while keeping the natural nutrients intact. Then, they’re finished with only Redmond Real Salt.

The end result is a snack that fuels strength work, long conditioning days, and recovery windows without sugar crashes, fillers, or that heavy feeling you get from bars loaded with random oils and syrups.

These chips are also incredibly easy to eat between sessions. They don’t stick to your teeth, they don’t come with a laundry list of ingredients, and they taste like the cut they come from - clean, salty, and satisfying. We have something you’re going to fall in love with:

• Chicken Chips: Lean, crisp protein for lighter training days.
• Lamb Chips: Richer fuel when your schedule calls for more calories.
• Pork Chips: Savory slices that hit the spot during mid-day slumps.
• Steak Chips: A hearty option for strength days or long practices.
• Brisket Chips: Soft, fatty bites perfect for fast recovery.
• Ribeye Chips: High-calorie, high-fat fuel for double-session days.

You can’t beat these if you want a snack that keeps up with hard training. Skip the sugary bars and filler-heavy “performance” snacks. Grab a few bags of Carnivore Snax Meat Chips and keep them in your gym bag, car, or locker for clean fuel without cooking a thing!

Greek Yogurt With Fruit or Nuts

Greek yogurt gives a balance of protein, carbs, and fats in one bowl - but you can make it even better by adding fruit and/or nuts to the mix. 

This provides protein, quick energy, and long-lasting calories. It’s also one of the easiest ways to get a snack that feels like a real meal without having to cook anything. Athletes love it post-workout because it’s easy on the stomach and endlessly customizable. Add berries, bananas, honey, almonds, walnuts, you name it. 

Just be careful - some flavored yogurts hide more sugar than you might expect!

Protein Bars (Made With Real Ingredients)

Protein bars are an obvious choice for healthy snacks for athletes. They can be a lifesaver when you train early, sprint between obligations, or need reliable fuel in your gym bag. There’s a big caveat here, though - you need ones made with real ingredients:

• Nuts
• Dates
• Seeds
• Honey
• Pure whey protein

The problem is, most protein bars miss the mark in one way or another. Maybe it’s low-quality ingredients and a label with tons of filler. Others feel like they have to be choked down because of how artificial they taste.

Don’t get us wrong, good protein bars can be awesome for before training if you need carbs or after training when you want a mix of protein and calories to refill your tank. Their biggest advantage is portability. But, Carnivore Snax is a better protein bar alternative.

Hard-Boiled Eggs

Eggs are a superfood, and hard-boiled eggs are some of the best snacks for athletes because they bring the nutritional benefits of eggs in a more portable format for on the go. 

You get tons of high-quality protein, healthy fats, and vitamins to help you recover and perform. They pack easily into a meal prep container, peel cleanly when cooked right, and deliver a satisfying snack that doesn’t spike your blood sugar.

You can eat two or three before early morning workouts or pair them with fruit afterward for a quick recovery snack. They’re also incredibly filling for their size, which helps during long days. The downside is they can be a little smelly, and they don’t travel as well as other athlete snacks. 

Nut Butter Packets 

Nut butter packets are calorie-dense and incredibly convenient - perfect for athletes who are constantly burning through energy. One packet can bump your calorie intake quickly without feeling heavy, and the combination of fats and a little protein helps keep your hunger in check.

They work before training for steady energy or after training for a quick bump in calories. That’s part of why they’re the best healthy snacks for athletes - they’re so versatile. Further to that point, you can squeeze them straight from the packet or pair them with apples, rice cakes, or even stir them into oatmeal.

Cottage Cheese Bowls

Now, these may not be the most enjoyable athlete snacks. But cottage cheese bowls are as functional as it gets, especially for prior to bed or post-workout. That’s because cottage cheese is loaded with casein protein, which digests slowly to fuel your muscles for the long haul.

Pairing cottage cheese with fruit, nuts, or seasoning transforms it into a balanced snack that hits all your macros without weighing you down. It’s customizable, too - make it savory or sweet. The only thing that’s a sticking point is the lumpy texture - it can be hard to get down in some cases.  

Dried or Fresh Fruit 

Fruit gives athletes quick, usable energy that comes from real food rather than processed sugar. There are two options here - fresh or dried fruit. Both have their place in your snack arsenal.

Fresh fruit such as bananas, oranges, berries, and apples fit well around workouts because they digest easily and won’t create stomach issues. Bananas in particular provide potassium which is great for preventing muscle spasms/cramps.

Dried fruit works when you need a compact source of carbs that can survive being tossed into a gym bag or backpack. It’s a bit more shelf-stable, too. You can pair any type of fruit (fresh OR dry) with protein or fat like nuts, yogurt, or meat chips for longer-lasting energy.

Smoothies or Protein Shakes

The obvious choice for healthy snacks for athletes post-workout is a smoothie or protein shake - convenient, protein-packed, and totally customizable. These are also a great way to get calories in quickly when you need to reach your daily quota.

You can blend milk (or dairy-free options), fruit, protein powder, yogurt, or nut butter when you want something more balanced and filling. Or, keep it simple and just mix water and protein powder when you need something quick, easy, and light.

Beef Sticks or Biltong

While some athletes swear by jerky, we think it’s too tough and chewy - not exactly enjoyable. Beef sticks and biltong are a way better option to get your protein in.

Biltong tends to be softer and easier to eat quickly, while beef sticks are tougher but more widely available. They’re especially helpful on days with back-to-back sessions when you need something salty and filling.

Both options fit easily in a gym bag and provide a savory, satisfying chew that breaks up the monotony of sweet snacks. That being said, Carnivore Snax is a better biltong and Slim Jim alternative for more reasons than one. Better ingredients, better flavor, better texture.

Canned Fish (or Packets)

Canned or pouched fish is a clean source of protein and omega-3 fats for recovery and daily energy levels. Salmon, tuna, sardines, and mackerel all provide nutrients that most athletes don’t get enough of, especially if they don’t cook often.

The packet versions are lighter and easier to open on the go, making them great for workdays or between training blocks. Pair them with crackers, veggies, or eat them straight from the pouch. 

Choosing and Enjoying Healthy Snacks for Athletes

Finding the right snacks as an athlete comes down to knowing when you need quick carbs, when you need steady protein, and when you need something that actually feels satisfying between training blocks.

Our advice is to keep a mix of these healthy snacks for athletes on hand - something you can eat before a workout without feeling heavy, and something you can grab after training when your body needs rebuilding.

Variety also matters. Rotate sweet, salty, creamy, and crunchy snacks so you don’t burn out on the same thing every day, especially during high-volume training weeks. Here are a few more practical habits to make the most of snacking as an athlete:

• Pack snacks in your gym bag the night before.
• Pair carbs with protein for steadier energy.
• Keep shelf-stable options in your car for emergency fuel.
• Taste-test snacks during training, not on game day.
• Build a “snack shelf” at home so you never run short.

Whether you’re on the carnivore diet for athletes or just want healthier snacks, we make it easy at Carnivore Snax. Take a look at what’s available now and see what catches your eye!

Wrapping Up Our Guide to the Best Snacks for Athletes

The athlete snacks we’ve listed above match the pace of real training - quick to eat, easy to pack, and packed with real ingredients your body can actually use. There’s no need to settle for the processed junk available at the local gas station or grocery store. 

You can learn more about the best snacks for gym rats, the best snacks for diabetics, or our favorite snacks for road trips. Otherwise, the only thing left to do today is order Carnivore Snax and see for yourself why they’re the best snacks for athletes. 

Get pure fuel made for athletes who expect more from what they eat.