Canned Tuna & Salmon Pouches

A 3-ounce serving (85 grams) of canned pink salmon offers 18 grams of protein for about 90 calories, plus roughly 500 milligrams of EPA/DHA omega-3 fatty acids, around 50% of the daily value for vitamin D, and a useful dose of calcium from the soft bones some brands include. Tuna pouches cost $0.50 to $1.00 each, delivering around 17 grams of protein for pennies, while salmon pouches run $1.50 to $2.50 — making them among the cheapest per gram of any animal-based snack. Drawbacks include smell in enclosed spaces and mercury concerns (FDA recommends limiting tuna to two to three servings per week). For nutritional performance per calorie and per dollar, these pouches have few peers in the shelf-stable category, and the omega-3 benefit sets salmon apart.