Snacks are essential to any diet, enabling you to top yourself up with energy during the day and enjoy picking at bits in between meals. Whether you’re looking for something to indulge in while watching a film or having it on your desk at work, it can be hard to think of something new to snack on. Perhaps you always default to the same snack or want to explore the different vegan options on the market; no matter why you’re looking to branch out, we’ve put together some of the best vegan snacks that are tasty and healthy throughout the day.

Why is snacking good for you?

A common misconception can be that snacking is not suitable for you when this isn’t the case. Snacking can help you lose weight and improve your diet – here are just a few ways snacking is good for you:

It ensures your energy levels are consistent throughout the day. Snacking helps your blood sugar stay at a regular level throughout the day, meaning you won’t crash between meals, and it can help you stay focused and active.

It stops overeating – If you let yourself go hungry between meals, you’re more likely to pile your plate high and over-indulge at mealtimes. Instead, picking at portion-controlled, nutritious vegan snacks throughout the day can keep your hunger more reasonable.

You can add valuable nutrients to your diet – Getting all the nutrients you need in your meals can be difficult, whereas snacking can ensure you meet the daily requirements for things such as fiber, healthy fats, and vitamins. This, in turn, can support your overall health and well-being.

Your metabolism gets a continual boost – Snacking throughout the day keeps your metabolism active. This, in turn, means you burn calories more effectively and can lead to effective weight loss.

While snacking is good, you want to. Be sure not to overeat. As with anything, it’s best to snack in moderation and avoid those high in sugar, empty calories, and unhealthy fats, mainly if you eat them a lot. Try to portion control and avoid overindulging to reap the benefits of your snacks.

Why opt for vegan snacks?

Whether you’ve adopted an entirely plant-based lifestyle or want to reap the benefits of a vegan diet, opting for vegan snacks is an effortless choice. When choosing vegan snacks, you can make the most of:

Knowing your snacks are ethical – Vegan food products focus on the well-being of animals and don’t contribute to animal exploitation or the environmental and ethical issues associated with non-plant-based snacks. This means you don’t need to worry about the welfare of any animals so that you can eat.

There are many health benefits – Vegan snacks tend to be made from whole foods such as fruits, nuts, vegetables, and seeds, which are all highly nutritious. You can enjoy plant-based snacks high in minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants, contributing to better health and well-being.

They can be better for your waistline – Because they are made from more natural products, they don’t tend to contain the same refined sugar and fats as non-plant-based snacks. This means they can be lower in calories and help you achieve your weight goal without making you go hungry.

A wide array of snacks is available – The market for vegan snacks has grown and will continue to do so. This means there’s a wide array of choices whether you fancy something sweet or savory or want to try something new.

How do you choose the best vegan snacks?

When looking for the best vegan snacks, there are a few things you want to keep in mind.

Check the labels
First, you want to read the labels to check that your purchase is vegan and doesn’t contain animal products such as eggs, honey or gelatin.

The nutritional content

You also want to see that the nutritional content is high, with good levels of vitamins and healthy fats and those that are minimally processed. Check the levels of additives, artificial flavors, and excessive sugars; they aren’t high.

Look for variety

The vegan snack market has a wide range of choices, so try to incorporate a variety of flavors and textures to keep it interesting. Think about the different flavor profiles, textures, and types of foods you’re eating.

Don’t be afraid to experiment with new flavors.

When you want to add exciting snacks to your diet, don’t be afraid to experiment with different flavors and tastes you might not usually try. This can make snacking a lot more fun and help to enhance your taste, too!

Make your homemade snacks.

Plenty of store-bought snacks are available for you to enjoy when looking for vegan snacks, but it’s so easy and much cheaper to make your own at home! When making snacks at home, consider portion sizes and think about buying in bulk to make up different snack boxes with varieties. Buying bulk is also a great way to save money on healthy and tasty vegan snacks.

What are some of the best vegan snacks?

If you’ve ever thought the vegan snack market was limiting, this couldn’t be further from the truth. You can add so many delicious ideas to your diet, and you can try some new foods and ingredients, too! These include:

Rice cakes with different toppings

Rice cakes are a delicious vegan snack idea and are super versatile, too! You can top these with various flavors and spreads, from almond butter or avocado to mashed banana or marmite. The choice is yours. One of the best things about rice cakes is that they’re cheap and plentiful for sweet or savory snacking.

Home-made energy balls

Energy balls are another delicious vegan snack that is packed with health. You can make many types of energy balls, and ingredients tend to include peanut butter, dates, oats, seeds, and more.

Vegan granola bars

Easy to make in a big batch and pop in your bag, vegan granola bars are another tremendously tasty and healthy pick. These can be baked and made from oats, raisins, nuts, seeds, and other ingredients. Super versatile and tasty, too!

Home-made vegetable crisps

Baked vegetable crisps are easy to make and much healthier than a regular bag of crisps. Before adding olive oil and seasoning, these can be made by thinly slicing your favorite root vegetables, such as carrots, sweet potato, and parsnips. Pop in the oven and wait for them to cool before packing them up to be enjoyed throughout the week!

Vegan sushi rolls

Vegan sushi rolls are simple to make and taste great, too. A mix of sushi rice, sesame seeds, and whatever vegetables or fillings you wish to add, they’re versatile and something a little different, too. You can wrap them in seaweed and dip in your favorite vegan soy sauce.

Roasted chickpeas with different flavorings

This process is similar to making vegetable crisps, but chickpeas are used instead. Add flavorings such as paprika, rosemary, and thyme before roasting them in the oven for a crunchy and flavorsome snack.

Vegan muffins

Vegan muffins are easy to make, taste great, and freeze well. You can make sweet or savory vegan muffins with fillings such as vegan cheese, chocolate, blueberries or other fruits. We recommend batch-making these so you can enjoy them throughout the week.

Protein pancakes

Why not whip up some vegan protein pancakes for something different to snack on? These taste great, are easy to transport as you don’t need to worry about them breaking, and can keep you full between meals. Add fruit, vegan chocolate, and more fillings to mix the flavors.

Crunchy granola

Packed with grains, oats, nuts, seeds, and fruit, crunchy granola is high in protein and easy to customize. This is another great one to make and enjoy throughout the week when looking for an excellent vegan snack.

These are just a few vegan snacks that are great for adding to your bag and enjoying throughout the day. Remember to mix up the snacks you try and check the nutritional content and portion sizes to get the most benefit from what you’re eating. There are so many incredible vegan snacks to try. The challenge can be making the time to try them all!

The post Best Vegan Snacks: Tasty and Healthy Picks for All Day appeared first on Food Sense.

The post Best Vegan Snacks: Tasty and Healthy Picks for All Day appeared first on Food Sense.