Healthy Vegan Snacks

In a society of between-meal binges on potato chips and cola, there are many snack foods that can contribute nutrients to one's overall health, rather than deplete it.

I would like to insert a suggestion here regarding the importance of staying hydrated. I live in a very dry climate at a fairly high altitude, so drinking a lot of water helps me stay hydrated and feel good throughout the day.

Regarding snack time, it is said that sometimes when we think we are hungry, we are actually thirsty. I have found this to be true of myself, so I encourage you to drink some water next time you're hankering for a snack. If you're still hungry after a glass or two of water, you can be sure it's not thirst. I like to carry a glass water bottle with me to stay hydrated and avoid buying plastic bottles. If there is bottled water available, it's likely there's also a spigot with potable water nearby.

So, once you've determined that your desire to munch is not actually thirst, there are many snack options that are vegan and healthy (by my analysis, anyhow).

First off, there are many fresh fruits and vegetables that can be munched on. I love quartered tomatoes with a sprinkle of salt and pepper, plain carrots, celery, cucumber, jicama, broccoli, apples, apricots, berries, pineapple, watermelon, cantaloupe, sweet cherries, and I could go on and on. Fruits are great by themselves, but some people like to dip their veggies. One of my favorite dips is hummus.

Hummus is packed with protein, and just like other protein rich snacks, I like to eat some when I'm feeling tired and lethargic after my blood sugar drops off in the afternoon. If hummus isn't your thing, any type of nut is great, as are nut butters. You can eat nuts by themselves or mix with dried fruit and vegan chocolate chips. I like making "ants on a log", filling celery with peanut butter and raisins, or, like in the photo below, goji berries. I also really love nut butter with apples.

Dried fruit is one of my staple snacks because they are tasty and easy to take with me when I'm on the go. I absolutely love dried cherries, and I also really enjoy a mix of dried berries that includes blueberries, cranberries, cherries, and strawberries.

Of course, these are only a few of the many, many options for eating well and avoiding animal products. Comment below with your favorite vegan snacks!