Plant-based eating has become extremely popular in recent years. Some refer to it as a trend, but it’s more of a movement, something that seems to be here to stay. The rise of veganism is happening for many reasons.
For a great number of vegans, it’s because of their unwavering commitment to animal kindness and saving the environment. However, for many more, veganism is becoming an option because it supports better health. In choosing better health, many people start incorporating vegan foods into their diets. The easiest way to do so is by starting with snacks.
Vegan Snacks: What & Why?
Vegan snacks are so much more than just fresh produce like fruits and veggies. You might think that because there are no animal products used in vegan foods that it’s very restrictive, but that’s not the case. Vegan snacks are incredibly delicious and can come in many forms that extend beyond the produce section.
With the demand for vegan snacks and vegan foods in general on the rise, there are more and more vegan snack options everywhere, making it easy to find delicious and nutritious foods you’d never otherwise believe were vegan. Choosing them is a smart option because they fill you with plant-based protein that helps keep up your energy and are filled with other necessary nutrients, like fiber for example, that fill you up and keep you full which is exactly what you need from a snack.
Benefits of Vegan Snacks and the Difference from Snacks in General
With vegan snacks, you’re eating more whole foods that you otherwise would. Instead of going for the old standbys in the office snack machine that are full of processed junk, you’ll be making a choice with vegan snacks to choose your health. While some planning might be necessary on your part, doing so will save you money in the long-run (those vending machine items are always overpriced) and save your health too.
Vegan snacks also include more variety in the types of whole foods you’re eating so it’s easier to eat that rainbow of food the experts are always talking about. Additionally, vegan snacks will help you cut down on your saturated fat intake since you’ll be eating less meat and dairy. Even if you don’t plan to go full-on vegan, eating vegan snacks will have a direct healthy impact on your body, leading to reduced chances of chronic diseases.
Make vs. Buy
So where do you find vegan snacks? You can look for them already prepared in your local supermarket. Even the biggest chains are carrying vegan snack food options, though the ones that focus on organics are probably your best option. Vegan snacks that are already pre-made are certainly convenient and a great way to evolve your diet into one that is more plant-based. However, with pre-made options it can be more expensive.
Making vegan snacks is easier than you think. There are endless recipes online that will have you making vegan snacks you’ll love. Non-GMO air-popped popcorn with nutritional yeast is one of the most popular vegan snacks because it tastes just like cheesy popcorn without the use of animal-derived products, plus it’s low in fat and calories. And that’s just one of many delicious examples of vegan snacks. Give them a try today and see how you like them!
A Guide to the Best Vegan Snacks
Snacks are the perfect way to tide over an empty stomach or satisfy you’re cravings while on the go, or simply when you don’t feel like eating en entire meal. For vegans, finding the right snacks can be difficult, especially when it comes to vegan snacks you can buy. If you want to find the very best vegan snacks to buy on the market today, look no further than this handy guide.
Best Vegan Snacks in The Market
Surprisingly, there are a lot of choices when it comes to buying vegan snacks at the store. If you want to know which vegan snacks are the best of the best, check out the snacks on this list.
1. V8 100% Vegetable Juice
A can of V8 is a perfect portable way to get a serving of vegetables. Each can has 1 serving of vegetables, with only 30 calories! Plus, the juice will help keep you hydrated while providing you with some essential nutrients. You can also check out V8’s other juice offerings, but the standard “V8” is the most basic, nutrition-wise.
2. Pop Chips
Pop Chips have the great taste of a potato chip without the huge amounts of oil, fat and salt. The vegan recipes from this brand are Sweet Potato, Sea Salt and Vinegar, and Sea Salt.
3. Almonds (Blue Diamond 100-Calorie Packs)
Almonds are crunchy, a bit salty, and definitely satisfying to eat. Best of all, each 100-calorie pack contains 6 grams of proteins, which are essential for any diet. Blue Diamond offers other almond products, including larger cans and larger packages, but these smaller packs are the best for on-the-going eating.
4. Nature Valley Granola Bars
Granola bars are the ultimate portable snack, and thankfully most of the varieties offered by Nature Valley Granola Bars are vegan. These bars are filling and provide lots of crunchy texture, which is great for satisfying cravings.
5. Lindt Chocolate Bars
Even vegans crave chocolate! Lindt offers a variety of delicious bars that will hit the spot when you’re in the mood for a chocolate fix, but to stay vegan you’ll need to stick with the standard 70%, 85%, 90% and 99% bars. The milk chocolate bars and most of the bars with mixed flavors will have milk or milk products in them.
The Best Place to Buy Best Vegan Snacks
The best snacks mentioned above are pretty commonplace, so you should be able to find them at most major grocery chains. You can also find most of them at online locations such as Amazon, which may offer some discounts depending on the brand and if you are a Prime member. Whether you buy online or at the store may depend on what is more convenient–and cost-effective–for you.
Tips Before Buying
Here are some tips that will help you make the right choices when buying your vegan snacks.
- Always double-check the ingredient list
- Check online to see if you can find them at a greater discount
- Buy in bulk to save money
Healthy Vegan Snacks
Vegans are people who refrain from eating animal-based products. For them, this is a lifestyle change which they undertake for two reasons. First, it promotes better health in the body because most of the foods consist of fruits and vegetables. Second, it sends a message to the meat industry that animals deserve to be protected. A lot of people who become vegans are able to figure out the meals they need to eat, but not the snacks. It is actually very simple to prepare vegan snacks because there is usually no cooking involved and they require just a few basic ingredients.
10 Healthy Vegan Snacks You Should Try
1) Apple Nachos
Cut up an apple into thin slices and turn them into natural “chips.” Put the slices on a plate and gently pour warm peanut butter over them.
2) Frozen Grapes
You can put grapes in the refrigerator or you can put them in the freezer. If you do the latter, they become frozen grapes. These are a great snack to eat at any time of the day.
3) Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies
If you’re in the mood to cook a little bit, you can make vegan chocolate chip cookies. Instead of flour, you will be using mashed up chickpeas as your base ingredient. Then just add 100% dark chocolate chips and stevia sweetener to it.
4) Shredded Wheat
If you want a quick vegan breakfast cereal in a hurry, simply purchase 100% shredded wheat at the store. Use almond milk instead of cow milk. This will make a great cereal.
5) Green Smoothie
Set up your blender and use it to mash up some of your favorite vegetables into one green smoothie. Try some lettuce, kale, broccoli, and whatever else you might want to try.
6) Fruit Smoothie
Try a fruit smoothie where you blend some of your favorite fruits together into a nice smoothie drink. Add ice for better thickness.
7) Cinnamon Blueberries
Keep blueberries cooled in the refrigerator. Pour some blueberries into a bowl and sprinkle cinnamon over them.
8) Honey Almond Popcorn
The is the perfect alternative to the movie theater popcorn which is loaded with butter and salt. Honey almond popcorn consists of plain kettle corn as the base. Then you add maple syrup and a little bit of coconut oil on top.
9) Kale Chips
Bake kale leaves in the often at 350-degrees. This willturn them into chips. You can also purchase them premade.
10) Sweet Potato Fries
Regular French fries are saturated with oils, salt, and fat in a deep fryer. Sweet potato fries are baked in the oven and contain no oils. And, of course, they use sweet potatoes instead of regular potatoes.
High Protein Vegan Snacks
If you lift weights or simply need to increase your protein intake without relying on junk-filled protein supplements, there are some high protein vegan snacks that you can make for yourself. Some of which include spinach salad, black bean lentil salad, pineapple coconut green smoothie, vegan chili w/ kidney beans, and quinoa trail mix bars. If you need to incorporate protein powder into a vegan snack recipe, at least choose a powder that is labeled 100% natural. The fewer ingredients the protein powder has, the better.
Easy Vegan Snack Ideas to Make at Home
Finding a nice snack can be a tricky experience, especially if you’re new to the Vegan lifestyle. Thankfully, with a little creativity and a few tasty ingredients, you’ll be able to create a wonderful, yummy snack in no time at all.
Let’s explore which one of these recipes you’ll want to try tonight!
Vegan Snack Recipes, Easy!
It is helpful to have your pantry stocked before trying to make homemade Vegan snack recipes. Although you could always run down to the store to grab something, you’ll find that having ingredients on hand to make snacks like these will get you away from eating those pre-packaged foods.
5 Vegan Snack Ideas for Those who Get Bored Quickly
#1. Homemade Trail Mix
Combine some almonds and goji berries in a 50/50 ratio and mix together. Try adding about 4 teaspoons some Vegan chocolate chips for an extra kick of sweetness if you wish. You can add other fruits or seeds if you want to the mix too.
#2. Hemp Protein Energy Bites
For this recipe, you’ll need 2 tablespoons each of cacao powder, hemp protein powder, chia seeds, hemp seeds, and cinnamon. You’ll also need 1 tablespoon of ground flax seeds. You can add 1.5 cups of raw walnuts, 1 cup of pitted dates, and a dash of sea salt. You’ll need 2 tablespoons of water too.
If you use the walnuts, blend them so they break down. Then mix all the other ingredients together. It will form a dough, which you can roll into balls. Freeze them for a couple of hours before enjoying.
#3. Cashew Cream
If you love a nice fruit snack in the afternoon, this beautiful cashew cream will add another dimension of flavor. Just blend raw cashews with some water and a sweetener until it becomes smooth. You can use almond milk if you wish. It helps to soak the cashews for at least 4 hours before starting.
#4. Ants on a Log
It’s the childhood classic with a twist. Wash, then cut up celery stalks into finger-size lengths. Then add your favorite tahini, though you can still use a Vegan peanut butter too. Then add your favorite dried fruits or vegetables on top for a satisfying homemade snack.
#5. Tortilla Sushi
Take a hummus spread and place a nice, thin layer on a tortilla. Add a little garlic or onion powder if you want. Then place your favorite vegetables in different areas around the tortilla. Try carrots, mushrooms, bell pepper, and radish as a combination. Then roll up the tortilla nice and tight. Then cut it into several circles. You’ll see the beautiful colors pop on your plate.
In Conclusion
Taking care of snacks doesn’t need to be a headache when you’ve got easy recipes like these which you can make at home.
If you experience cravings, these ideas can help you maintain a healthy Vegan snacking lifestyle while still satisfying your hunger.
Please feel free to add your own twist to these easy recipes you can make at home too.