what do you guys bring along for a quick snack between meals? I've gone between different protein bars, shakes, and home made options. Anyone have any favorites?

Universal Nutrition's "Hi-Protein" bar (33g of protein)!

I have used MetRx Big 100 bars - 28g
I also have liked the premier nutrition RTD shakes (found at popular warehouse stores) - 30g
home made bars - i forget the protein content . . . willhave to check - it was around 30 - making them is too time consuming right now

I've had to come up with a lot of healthy options considering I'm on campus/in class all day long and don't have the time to go home to cook between meals. This recipe is one of my favorites - it's healthy, tasty, & you can make up a bunch of it and have it for the whole week:

1 can chunk albacore tuna in water, rinsed & drained
1 can great northern beans
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 yellow onion, chopped
1 Tbsp spicy brown mustard (optional)
Juice of 1 lemon or lime
1 tsp. dill
2 Tbsp fresh parsley, chopped

Add garlic, onions, tuna and beans to a bowl and mash together (if you want, you can saut? the garlic and onions beforehand). Cut open lemon/lime and squeeze juice on top. Add dill and parsley, stir together. Put it on RF Triscuits, sliced bell pepers or celery for a snack or into a whole wheat pita for lunch.

1) isopure Zero Carb Liquid Protein - 40g clear protein in a bottle

2)Whatever those 42-45g protein test tube looking drink thingies are called

3)Packaged salmon with cafeteria packets of salt, pepper, and mayo mixed in a plastic kidney basin (ER survival, what can I say?)

You might want to confer with Dr. Dave on the "test tube" protein supplements. I believe that many of them contain Hydrolyzed Collagenic Protein Isolate which may be inferior to other protein sources.

Ah, the ol' "Hydrolyzed Collagenic Protein". Gelatin is indeed an incomplete protein lacking tryptophan, missing out on one of the ten EAA's. The whey portion of the test tube makes it "complete", albeit not to the same % as whey. When you think about it, though, whey is not the same % composition as human muscle (Aren't we higher in BCAA's? Gotta check that) so it's all shades of what is optimal. That is why we should always get a mix of proteins in our total diet (as TPN and cannibalism are not generally easy options ;) ). The bioavailability of gelatin is otherwise good (90%) and it consists perhaps of only 20% of my total daily protein intake on my workdays, so it should not be an issue. Thank you, MHarris, for the input. It made me reevaluate my use of this product!

Interesting...I didn't realize that they supplemented it with a portion of whey to round out the protein profile. I wasn't so much thinking about the ratio of AA matching human muscle as much as having a complete profile and the bioavailability of the product. I was surprised to learn from your response that the bioavailability is so high; I'll have to take a second look at these type of products. - Thanks, M