1: Popcorn
Plant-Based Snack – Popcorn has to be one of my favorite snacks. Healthy and easy to make, popcorn tops the list as my best snack for a plant-based diet. Below is a super easy recipe for homemade popcorn.
- In a heavy-bottomed saucepot, but the heat as high as it will go with 2tbsp of oil (canola or coconut oil because of their higher smoking point).
- Add 2-3 kernels in with the oil and cover. As soon as all of the kernels pop, remove the kernels from the pot, and the pot from the heat.
- Add in 1/2 cup of kernels to the hot oil, cover, and toss around.
- Let standoff of the heat for about a minute, periodically tossing the kernels around.
- Add the pot back to the high heat, covered, for about 1-2 minutes or until all kernels have popped.
Popcorn is cheap in bulk, lasts long, and is so tasty when it’s fresh out of the pot.
2: Corn Tortilla Chips
Tortilla chips are one of my personal favorite things to buy at the market. They are inexpensive, versatile, on the healthier side and last long. I love to make homemade tortilla chips by cutting the little round tortillas into quarters and baking them. Bake a bunch in advanced and you have yourself a few bags of homemade tortilla chips.
3: Nut Thins
If you haven’t tried the blue diamond nut-thins, I suggest you do ASAP! I like to get nut-thins that are made with whole foods, and don’t have too much sodium and sugar in them. I find the blue diamond brand does a good job at that. Buying a few boxes of these in advance can save you time, money and hunger when reaching for your next plant-based snack. Or, if you’er up to it, you can make your own nut-thins!
4: Fruit
At first, fruit can a tough snack to choose. Do I want an apple, or do I want a granola bar? There’s something about eating something that’s processed and salty. The thing is, almost every time I bite into a fruit I’m blown away with a burst of flavor. It’s quite clear that fruit should be atop your list of preferred plant-based snacks.
Mixing things up can hep when it comes to fruit. Try spreading peanut butter on apples, or making smoothies.
Did you know that cucumbers are said to be the “kidney cleansers” and make great day time snacks.
Have you tried? Cut strips of cucumbers and sprinkle nutritional yeast over the top.
5: Vegetables
I would always see carrots and celery on plates when dining at restaurants, but I never think to cut some up my self and have it as a snack. By cutting up some celery and carrots in advance, you can easily pre-portion out snacks for the week. Don’t want to eat veggies straight up? Well, yea that can be tough. Try eating some celery with your favorite nut butter.
6: Nut & Seeds
Nuts and seeds are great. Not only are they delicious, but they have a really long shelf life. One of my favorites to snack on are pistachios. Pistachios are nice because they take a small bit of effort to get to them. For me, it helps me slow down eating and not snack….too hard.
Tip: Buy nuts and seeds in the bulk section at the grocery store. You can easily dry roast them in the oven or in a skillet to add a great, natural boost of flavor.
