Canned Tuna & Salmon Pouches

A 6-ounce pink salmon pouch (170 grams) offers 18 grams of protein at 160 calories while adding 1.5 to 2 grams of EPA/DHA omega-3 fatty acids (approximately 50% of the daily value for vitamin D and a useful dose of calcium from soft bones). Tuna pouches cost $0.50 to $1.00 each, delivering 17 grams of protein for pennies, while salmon pouches run $1.50 to $2.50—making them the cheapest per gram among animal-based snacks. Drawbacks include smell in enclosed spaces and mercury concerns (FDA recommends limiting tuna to two to three servings per week). For pure nutritional performance per calorie and per dollar, these pouches have no peer in the shelf-stable category, and the omega-3 benefit sets salmon apart.