Ah, the endless struggle of snacking. On one hand, a gal shouldn't have to go through the day hungry. But on the other hand, munching can turn into a slippery slope of endlessly tacking on calories that go to the ol' waistline, without ever really feeling satisfied.

But the antidote to idle snacking could be one crucial ingredient: protein. Research shows that high-protein snacks are more effective at making you feel full and curbing appetite than snacks that are high in fat, sugar or calories. And since you're probably not going to gnaw on a hunk of steak midday, we rounded up some of the tastiest portable, packaged protein-packed snacks around. These seven snacks will help curb your cravings, while going easy on the added sugars, sodium and saturated fats that can derail your diet. Bonus: They're all vegetarian.

Could one of these protein snacks tide you over before your next meal? Keep reading to find out.

Protein: Edamame

Snack: Seapoint Farms Dry-Roasted Edamame, $2.09

Protein punch: 14 grams of protein per 130 calories

Edamame is an MVP among meat-free proteins. In addition to blowing other snacks out of the water with its staggering 14 grams of lean-muscle-building protein, this salty snack delivers big time on skin-beautifying vitamin C and omega-3 fatty acids.

Protein: Green peas

Snack: World Peas Green Pea Snack, $5

Protein punch: 4.2 grams of protein per 105 calories

A high-protein, high-fiber, low-calorie snack you can pop guilt-free? Yes, peas. Boasting 5 percent of your daily fiber needs and 8 percent of your daily recommended protein intake, these small-and-mighty bites will satisfy you without stuffing you with calories. Plus, seven enticing flavors (think: garlic, curry, wasabi and Sichuan) won't let your taste buds down.

Protein: Spirulina

Snack: Go Raw Sweet Spirulina Bites, $5.49

Protein punch: 3 grams per 160 calories

Blue-green algae doesn't sound like something you should eat, but when it comes to spirulina (yes, a type of algae), you should dig in. This stealth source of protein also delivers vitamin B12, iron and lots of other good-for-you nutrients. And, while you may not be ready to fish algae out of a pond (please don't do that), we bet you'll gobble up these dessert-like treats that are naturally sweetened with dates, banana and coconut.

Protein: Soy

Snack: Revival Soy Chips, $6.50

Protein punch: 7 grams per 110 calories

Soy: Not just for tofu and milk substitutes. Veg-heads have known forever that soy is an excellent replacement for meat, and these Chex-like chips make a pretty good case for enjoying soy as a snack too. Despite being light as air, they'll still fill you up with 7 grams of protein per serving -- and unlike chips, they won't weigh you down with saturated fat.