There are around 79 million vegans worldwide and around 9.7 million people in the United States who have a vegetarian or plant-based diet. People forego meat and its by-products for various reasons - from sustainability to environmental impacts, animal welfare and personal health. And these people are looking for healthy vegan snacks.
A new study titled The Power of Meat Report showed that the number of self-identified meat eaters dropped from 85 to 71 percent in 2020. There is a surge in new vegan foods to meet demand. It has never been easier to adopt a vegan lifestyle.
Even after consuming animal products, you can slowly but gradually reduce your intake. Check out these vegan snacks the next time you go to the grocery store.
The best healthy, store-bought vegan snacks to fight all of your cravings
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1. Barnana Original Organic Banana Bites
Barnana snacks are made from upcycled bananas (i.e. bananas that aren't perfect enough to get to the grocery store) to reduce food waste. The brand transforms perfectly imperfect bananas into chewy organic snacks. It's like banana bread on the go - but healthy. The only ingredient is bananas; no more, no less.
(from $ 29.99, 6-pack; barnana.com)
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2. Bare Snacks Fuji and Reds Apple Chips
Bare turns fresh produce into crispy chips by baking, never frying. Fuji & Reds Apple Chips contain no added sugar or preservatives, are a good source of fiber, fat and gluten free, vegan and non-GMO Project Verified.
($ 25.74, 6 sachets; amazon.com)
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3. Biena chickpea snacks sea salt
Chickpeas are loaded with vegetable protein and fiber. Biena toast them until they are perfectly crispy and then dust them with sea salt. There is nothing artificial; just simple whole foods in this gluten, nut, grain and dairy free snack.
($ 17.96, 4-pack; bienasnacks.com)
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4. Frooze Balls Peanut Butter and Jelly
Frooze Balls is dedicated to plant-powered snacks that are good for you and the planet. His PB&J Energy Balls pack nostalgic flavor into every bite of coconut to keep your taste buds happy anytime, anywhere.
($ 19.99, 8-pack; froozeballs.com)
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5. Navitas Power Snacks Cocoa Goji
These vegan snacks from Navitas consist of dates, seeds and superfoods for a filling bite. The cocoa goji taste also provides important vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.
($ 9.99; navitasorganics.com)
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6. Fruit and mango jerky only
Think of Solely Fruit Jerky as vegan fruit roll ups that are better for you. The fruit strips are made from whole organic fruits - without added sugar, preservatives or concentrates. These are also non-GMO, organic, gluten-free, vegan and kosher.
($ 17.99, 12-pack; only.com)
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7. Sabra Hummus Classic hummus and guacamole
Sabra products are deliciously simple. His hummus is made with chickpeas, garlic, and tahini, while his guacamole is just as simple: Hass avocados, coriander, lime, herbs, and spices. Both dips are vegan, GMO-free, and kosher; enjoy with chips or vegetable sticks.
(Price varies online and in store)
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8. Organic creamy peanut butter again
Made from one simple ingredient (dry-roasted peanuts only), this peanut butter proves America's most popular spread doesn't need excess sugar or sneaky additives to taste delicious. Unsweetened, salt-free, and preservative-free, it contains 8g of vegetable protein per serving and is also certified organic, n-GMO Project Verified, gluten-free, vegan, kosher and part of the brand's Honest in Trade program.
($ 7.99; againinnutbutter.com)
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Quorn Vegan Buffalo Dippers Image used with permission
9. Quorn Vegan Buffalo Dippers
Quorn Vegan Meatless Buffalo Dippers are available in a light, crispy breading made from oats, flax seeds and quinoa. The nugget itself is made from mycoprotein, a naturally occurring mushroom that is high in fiber and low in saturated fat. Vegan, GMO-free, and soy-free, these dippers are a deeply satisfying alternative to chicken.
(Price varies online and in store; quorn.us)
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10. Santitas Tortilla Chips
Just like the tortilla chips in your favorite Mexican restaurant, Santitas start with high-quality, stone-ground corn. Combine it with your favorite salsa or guacamole.
(Price varies online and in store; fritolay.com)
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11. Sun-sweet pitted dates
Sun-sweet dates provide 3 g of fiber per 120-calorie serving. They taste good on their own, but can also increase the sweetness in smoothies, oatmeal, and baked goods and, due to their natural sugar content and sticky texture, serve as a sugar substitute.
($ 3.59, 8-ounce bag; sunsweet.com)
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12. Grillos dill pickle spears
Garlic, vinegar, dill, salt, and grape leaves add flavor to this 5 calorie snack. It contains no artificial preservatives, is gluten-free, fat-free, certified kosher and vegan. Eating vegetables has never tasted so good.
(Price varies online and in store; grillospickles.com)
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13. Hippeas Puffs Vegan White Cheddar
Chickpeas are baked into a light, crispy puff pastry (like a healthy Cheeto Puff) in this ingenious snack. While the white cheddar flavor is undeniably cheesy, it's completely vegan and contains 4g of protein and 3g of fiber per sachet.
($ 39.99, 12-pack; hippeas.com)
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14. Seapoint Farms Dry Roasted Edamame with Sea Salt
Edamame is already a delicious, protein-rich vegan snack, but Seapoint goes one better by dry-roasting it and portioning it in practical single-portion bags. Each serving contains 20 g of vegetable protein. And with just two ingredients, soybeans and sea salt, you can feel good while noshing.
($ 22.80, 12-pack; amazon.com)
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Peeled pistachios Joanna Kosinska / Unsplash
15. Pistachios
Pistachios are the first choice for vegans. They are a great source of essential vitamins and minerals, healthy fats, proteins, and fiber, all of which are beneficial for overall health and wellbeing. They're also a complete plant-based source of protein and provide all nine essential amino acids needed for building muscle and protein in the body. Opt for peeled roasted / salted or lightly salted.
(Price varies online and in store; getcrackin.com)
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16. Gigantic vegan chocolate bar "Double Dark Mint" in limited edition
Gigantic is a new type of "healthy" chocolate bar made from fairly traded dark chocolate, coconut milk, vegetable caramel and real sugar (7 g). Better still, these have 69 percent less sugar than traditional candy bars. You will never look back.
($ 27.99; giganticcandy.com)
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17. Cow Plant Based Protein Bars Peanut Butter Cup
Cow proves that plant-based, low-sugar protein bars don't have to taste like cardboard. Try peanut butter cup; The bar dipped in chocolate is dairy-free, low in sugar and offers 20 g of vegetable protein (from peas and rice) - the perfect fuel to fuel the day with energy.
($ 29.99, 12-pack; nocow.com)
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18. AYO almond milk organic yogurt
Each 5.3-ounce cup of AYO almond milk yogurt is made from 20 certified organic almonds. The yogurt alternative is still rich and creamy, despite the fact that there are no dairy products, and contains only 9 g of added sugar - less than most types of yogurt - plus 4 g of protein and active live cultures.
(Price varies online and in store; ayogurt.com)
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19. Daily harvest bites raspberry + fig
Daily Harvest Bites are the perfect vegan pick-me-up or dessert. All are sweetened with fruits and vegetables and have no added sugar. We like raspberry + fig; Almond butter and desiccated coconut balance the flavor of the berries. Let them thaw for a few minutes or eat them straight out of the freezer.
($ 7.99, 7 bites; daily-harvest.com)
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20. Diamond walnuts
A 1-ounce serving of walnuts provides 4 g of vegetable protein and 2 g of fiber, and is the only nut with an excellent source of omega-3 alpha-linolenic acid, or ALA (2.5 g / oz).
($ 6.29, 16-ounce bag; diamondnuts.com)
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21. The Good Grocer Deluxe Vegan Snacks Care Package
Can't decide on a vegan snack? The Good Grocer offers vegan snack packs with a selection of individually wrapped take-away snacks that are both sweet and savory. Treat yourself to something, recharge your pantry or give your favorite vegan friend a present!
($ 64.95, 30-pack; thegoodgrocersnacks.com)
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Jordan Mazur, MS, RD is the Director of Nutrition for the San Francisco 49ers.
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