5 Plant-Based Snacks to Supercharge Your Day

It’s no secret that eating plant-based foods and snacks is far more healthy than reaching into another box of crackers, chips, or cookies. The science is undeniable. Overall, people who eat plant-based diets tend to experience a multitude of different health benefits.

And you absolutely can be one of those people!

You just need the right knowledge. We’ve got just that to help you kickstart your venture into plant-based snacks. After all, snacking is where many of us tend to run into trouble, especially when life gets busy.

So, let’s dive right in.

What Does “Plant-Based” Mean?

Plant-based means eating the majority of your foods from plants. This includes veggies, fruits, nuts, seeds, legumes, whole grains, beans, and more.

It does not mean you’re vegetarian or vegan. It just means that most of your food intake comes from plant sources. You eat meat and dairy, but just not as often.

Essentially, plant-based diets are very similar to the Mediterranean diet.

The Mediterranean diet incorporates a variety of foods that are mostly plant-based. It also includes seafood and meat, but, again, less frequently. It has also been associated with a significantly reduced risk of heart disease.

Going plant-based further ensures you obtain a variety of nutrients - something that is hard to do when you’re only eating meat or pre-packaged and processed food items.

Another bonus?

Plant-based eating is better for the environment. This includes saving water consumption and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Some sources say that if the entire world population were to switch to a plant-based diet, we would save 50% of the water used.

In turn, this means less pollution and more sustainability for the rainforests in the world. In other words, eating plant-based snacks and meals helps make you healthier and helps protect this beautiful planet we call home.

Of course, you don’t have to turn completely plant-based overnight. But, we hope these snacks encourage you to try something new and allow you to take baby steps towards plant-based foods if it is something you are interested in.

Learn more about listening to your gut and The Benefits of Intuitive Eating.

5 Simple Plant-Based Snacks

1. Smoothies

These are so easy and so versatile. You can add your favorite fruits and veggies, mix ‘em up in the blender, and go.

There are many options here. One of my all-time favorite smoothies is banana, frozen strawberries, greek yogurt, and orange juice, along with a scoop of collagen.

On top of the many options, you also can plan this one ahead of time. Blend up your breakfast smoothie the night before and have it ready to grab from the fridge. Or make a couple of smoothies in the morning for your busy day to come.

Try out a coconut and turmeric smoothie and bid farewell to inflammation and toxins!

2. Veggie Chips

Who doesn’t love chips? They’re crunchy and salty - everything a snack should be, minus the little number of nutrients they usually contain.

Luckily, you can make veggie chips as part of your healthy snack recipes at home.

From kale chips to homemade potato chips, again, there are a ton of options. If you’re not feeling like making them yourself, try Boulder Canyon Coconut Oil Potato Chips. These are literally made with three ingredients: potatoes, coconut oil, and salt.

You can’t get any healthier than that!

3. Dried Fruit

Dried fruit is basically nature’s candy, and they are actually super filling.

You can also choose to do this at home if you’ve got a dehydrator. If not, you can easily buy various dried fruit in any grocery store. Take your pick.

A healthy, homemade trail mix packed with some of your dried fruit would also be delicious!

4. Fresh Veggies & Hummus

I love a good dip! And nothing ever truly beats hummus.

With hummus, you don’t just have to go with the regular ol’ garlic variation. You can add spice or veggies, like onions, to the mix, making it a little more interesting. The best part is that hummus isn’t that hard to make at home.

From white bean hummus to beet hummus, you’ve got a ton to choose from, meaning you won’t get bored. Add some cut up carrots or celery sticks, and you’ve got one yummy plant-based snack.

5. Roasted Chickpeas

These are easy to make within your own kitchen, but, like other plant-based snacks, you can also buy them at the store.

Roasted chickpeas can replace chips or crackers since they’ve got a little crunch to them. You can also add different spices for different flavors, keeping your taste buds satisfied.

You might also enjoy a chickpea, kale, and tahini salad, or chickpea and red cabbage tacos.

Make Eating Plant-Based Easy for Yourself

You’ve now got a ton of healthy snack recipes!

In fact, you have five of them above, one for each weekday next week. But there’s one thing missing here. When it comes to healthy snacks, similar to healthy meals, you want to be prepared.

This means planning ahead of time. Maybe you meal prep at the start of your week. Don’t leave out snacks. Plan both your meals and snacks, and prep them both!

That way, you’ll stick to your plant-based snacks and won’t be tempted by other foods. What kind of plant-based foods do you enjoy?

Looking for some more plant-based meals? Try out: Sun-Dried Tomato & Feta Couscous