How often do you grab some junk food to quiet that growl in your stomach. The more you stare at it, the more you question your snack choice. Do you truly want to add all of that to your body? How guilty will you feel afterward, and how will it affect the scale? Finally, you decide to put the unhealthy snack back.
Good thinking.
Research shows that many individuals snack out of frustration, stress, boredom, or habit. They are not actually hungry—and this can easily cause weight gain. This is especially the case if you consume snacks that are large or energy-dense.
Fortunately, snacking can indeed be a positive experience that actually improves your health when you eat. Vegan snacks especially stand out for being nutritious, filling, and, of course, tasty. Whether you are currently vegan, are considering becoming vegan, or have never entertained the idea, here’s a rundown on the top nutritious vegan snack ideas to incorporate into your daily diet.
7 Nutritious Vegan Snack Ideas
Vegan Cherry Truffles
Can’t bear the thought of giving up your favorite cherry cordials? All you need to create your own vegan chocolate truffles is some cherries, dairy-free chocolate chips and some dates to bind it all together.
The cherries can be either fresh or frozen, but try to stick with organic ones to avoid pesticides. The right cherries will taste great when combined with the melted vega chocolate. It tastes like caramel and is an excellent healthier alternative to traditional maple syrup.
How to make them
- 1 cup Frozen* Cherries, thawed
- 1/2 cup Medjool Dates, Pitted
- 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
- 1 cup Oat Flour or almond flour
- 3/4 cup Vegan Chocolate Chips
- First, add the Frozen Cherries, Medjool Dates, and Vanilla Extract into a blender or food processor. Blend until everything is well-combined and there are no large chunks of fruit.
- Second, add in the Oat Flour to the food processor and pulse until a sticky dough forms.
- Use a 1 tbsp measure to scoop out portions of the dough, and place them onto a plate or small tray lined with parchment paper. The dough will be easier to handle if you wet your fingers for this step.
- Place the plate or tray into your freezer for 45 to 60 minutes, to allow the balls to harden.
- Melt 3/4 cup of Chocolate Chips using either a Double Boiler or the microwave, then dunk each “ball” into the melted chocolate mixture until it is well coated. Return to the parchment-paper lined tray, and allow the chocolate to harden before serving. Repeat with the remaining “balls.”
- Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week.
Fruit Leather
Fruit leather is made from fruit puree that has been thinly flattened, dried and sliced.
It has similar nutrients to the fresh fruit from which it is made and is usually high in fiber, vitamins and minerals. However, some packaged fruit leathers have added sugar or color and are not as nutritious as homemade varieties.
To make your own, puree fruits of your choice and mix with lemon juice and maple syrup if preferred. Spread the puree in a thin layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and dry it in a dehydrator or in your oven at 140°F (60°C) for approximately six hours.
Strawberries and Cream Protein Shake
Another vegan snack idea you’ll likely never get tired of is a vegan fruit-based protein shake. Simply mix your fruit of choice, like strawberries, with the vegan milk of your choosing. This plant-based milk may range from cashew milk to rice milk, soy milk, or almond milk.
Then, add protein powder to the mix. Vegan coconut yogurt can also be incorporated to create the creamy consistency you’ve come to love in smoothies. High-quality vegan yogurt offers the benefit of being organic, soy-free, dairy-free, and gluten-free. It’s a truly healthy yet yummy addition to any smoothie.
Maracuya
Yet another nutritious vegan snack idea is maracuya, a type of passion fruit. This yellow fruit, which is native to South America, offers a number of health benefits. For instance, it contains high amounts of soluble fiber, which aids in digestion. It also features high amounts of vitamin C and potassium, along with some iron. The fruit’s antioxidants can improve your eye health as well. And its magnesium can help to reduce anxiety and therefore make you feel calmer as you go about your daily business—an added bonus.
Vegan Banana Bread
If you can’t bypass bread, we don’t blame you—just make sure that the bread you choose will help you health-wise, not harm you. Vegan banana bread made with bananas and gluten-free flour falls under the category of bread that can actually enhance your health in a variety of ways. At the same time, it is the perfect comfort food to munch on for breakfast or when you need a filling pick-me-up after lunch and before you clock out for the day.
The banana in the bread is an excellent source of copper, biotin, potassium, and dietary fiber. It will also give your body the potassium, vitamin C, manganese, and vitamin B6 it needs to thrive. The bread itself additionally contains hefty amounts of iron, protein, calcium, and vitamins, making for a snack that both you and your body will love.
Peanut Butter Banana Bites
Peanut butter and banana is a popular and healthy snack combinations.
Bananas are loaded with potassium and fiber, while peanut butter provides protein and healthy fats. Eating them together can keep you feeling full and satisfied.
To make peanut butter and banana bites, slice a banana into thin pieces and spread a layer of peanut butter in between two slices. These treats taste especially delicious when frozen for at least 30 minutes on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper in your freezer.
No Bake Energy Balls
Energy balls refer to bite-size vegan snacks that are typically made from a mix of oats, nuts, seeds, nut butter, dried fruit, maple syrup, and occasionally chocolate chips or other add-ins.
Depending on their ingredients, they can be a very nutritious vegan snack with protein, fiber and healthy fats that promote energy and satiety.
To make homemade energy balls, you can combine one cup (90 grams) of old-fashioned oats, 1/2 cup (125 grams) of peanut butter, 1/3 cup (113 grams) maple syrup, two tablespoons of hemp seeds and two tablespoons of raisins.
Divide and roll the batter into balls and store in your refrigerator.
Make Snack Times Count Today By Going the Vegan Route
If you’re serious about slimming down and becoming energized, you can’t go wrong with going vegan—at least at snack time if you’re exploring veganism or starting out on your vegan journey. Fortunately, a wide variety of vegan snack options are available today to try out.
Consider the above-listed nutritious vegan snack ideas as you work on adopting a healthier diet and lifestyle. The right snacks will do your body good while also helping you to enjoy and appreciate great-tasting food on a whole new level in the weeks and months ahead.