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Looking for some nutritious vegan snacks that appeal to both savory and sweet taste buds? Well, the 22 top picks are too yummy to pass up.
The foodie finds come courtesy of 32-year-old vegan recipe developer Nicole Vranjican. She features grocery hauls, simple vegan recipes and cook-with-me videos on her YouTube channel, NikkiVegan, which has more than 160K subscribers.
“I started cooking from a young age with my Norwegian grandmother, so I have a lot of memories in the kitchen with her,” Vranjican told The Post. “It wasn’t until I went vegan that I noticed a learning curve, so I was excited to share my recipes when I made something delicious.”
As a first-generation American based in LA, she taps into classic meals prepared by her mother and grandmother, especially the authentic approach characteristic of her upbringing.
“There aren’t a lot of shortcuts or processed foods in the Norwegian way of cooking, so I grew up with wholesome, delicious and simple meals,” she explains. “The old-fashioned approach to cooking lends itself to veganism and doing your best for the environment, so I focus on whole plant foods as opposed to pricier alternatives.”
It wasn’t until Vranjican became vegan that she grew interested in sharing the whipped-up creations she deemed “very good and delicious.” She aims to share wholesome dishes on the healthier spectrum — even if her viewers don’t subscribe to a completely vegan diet.
“I make vegan recipes seem doable and practical because for me, being vegan is less of a diet and more of a lifestyle,” she said. “It’s delicious, relatively easy and good for the environment.”
Nicole Vranjican’s YouTube channel with nearly 160K subscribers. Video: ‘Plant-Based Vegan Dinner Recipes, Sauces, Snacks and Wines.’
Knowing everyone’s food preferences differ, Vranjican doesn’t let that hinder her gorgeously plated creations posted to her YouTube channel, blog and Instagram. Creating new recipes encourages her to have a better nutritional mindset, too.
“I used to have a restrictive, diet-y mentality with food, so learning about plant-based nutrition helped me understand what the food is doing for my body and counting that as a blessing, instead of something to be afraid of,” she said.
Ahead, find the 22 best vegan snacks available at Amazon and Target for that savory and sweet pinch you’ve been craving. And, check out our favorite healthy snacks for even more items to add to your online grocery cart.
Amazon
“The packs of everyday dal are so good and come in a bunch of different flavors,” Vranjican said. “You can eat them as a snack or pair them with rice and some broccoli for a nice meal.”
Aside from the variety pack, they also have black lentils, green garbanzos and green split pea flavors to choose from, among others.
Amazon
“The Field Roast Vegan Corn Dogs remind me of going to a fair and are just so good,” she said. They’re also GMO-free and are a great summertime feeling treat to indulge in.
Amazon
Do you know the muffin man? Well, in this case, it’s Amazon (and we’re super happy about that).
“If you give the blueberry muffins to anyone who isn’t vegan, they wouldn’t know,” she said. “They have a perfectly fluffy texture and taste delicious.”
Amazon
Whether you’re looking to incorporate frozen fruit into your morning smoothies (perhaps with our favorite Vitamix Blender) or simply want a refreshing bite, this snack is it.
“I love eating these mango chunks frozen because they don’t freeze all the way and taste almost like a sherbert,” she said. “They’re a great summery cold treat, too.”
Amazon
“I’m obsessed with Enjoy Life’s chocolate chips and I use them for everything,” Vranjican said. “They’re the best to use in chocolate chip pancakes or muffins, as well as to make candy.”
Plus, she made dairy-free chocolate peanut butter cups for Halloween and the chocolate was “so creamy and sweet,” she adds.
Amazon
“The texture of BoomChickaPop and the sweet and salty ratio make BoomChickaPop incredible,” she said. It’s also an “accidentally vegan” product that pairs well with your next Netflix binge.
Amazon
We’re just as amazed that this product exists as you are.
“If you love Nutella but don’t want to do the dairy, Nutiva is the same thing and so good,” she said.
Amazon
“My mom always gets the big bag of Late July’s tortilla chips and it reminds me of being home with her,” she said.
And, if you’re a fan of anything multigrain, these chips are great to pair with your favorite cheese.
Amazon
“Simple Mills Organic Seed Crackers are grain-free, have a nice crunch and are properly salted — which is important,” she said. Not to mention, they’re a low-calorie, plant-based option.
Amazon
“If I’m eating cheese and crackers, I cut Violife’s cheese into quarters,” she said. Specifically, it’s great cold or melted, especially for grilled cheese.
Amazon
“I like to have a kombucha every once in a while if I’m not in the mood to have a glass of wine,” she said. “It’s fizzy, festive and better than a glass of water sometimes.”
We also adore Health-Ades Kombucha for a fizzy, non-alcoholic treat (specifically, Pink Lady Apple).
Amazon
“I drink the chamomile tea with lavender almost every day,” she said. “It’s very calming for nighttime and soothing for during the day to help with anxiety.”
And, the brand sells an organic peppermint flavor for a more refreshing twist.
Target
“There’s something so cozy and convenient about microwave popcorn,” she mentions. “Not only does it instantly smell amazing while it’s popping but it’s reliably good every time, which is not always the case with the stovetop versions I attempt from time to time!”
What’s more, this flavor is nicely salted and it pops in non-toxic, chemical-free bags. Note not all flavors are vegan but the sea salt one is.
Target
“I always have these stocked in the freezer because they’re loved by vegans and non-vegans alike,” she notes. “In fact, I rarely tell people they’re vegan until after they’ve eaten the only thing and they’re always shocked!
Oh, and the salted caramel mixed with that crunchy chocolate shell sounds so delicious.
Target
Speaking of cashews, this dip is a lovely vegan option for those who have a savory tooth.
Plus, it’s a great dip for “raw veggies, potato chips or air-fried French fries,” she adds.
Target
Decadent and sweet, these chocolate chip bites are portioned-controlled and will help satisfy that sweet craving.
“These are my go-to movie night treat,” she highlights. “Bite-sized balls of vegan chocolate chip cookie dough covered in a creamy chocolate shell — heavenly!”
Target
“These tiny granola balls are sweet and crunchy and surprisingly flavorful,” she notes. “I love how much the berry flavor stands out.”
Specifically, she likes to snack on these by the handful or sprinkle them on top of coconut yogurt with fruit.
Target
“The crunch of these dehydrated cauliflower bites is so satisfying and it’s amazing that they’re so crisp without being deep-fried,” she notes. “The kick from the buffalo seasoning seems mild at first but it’s got a kick at the end.”
That said, “so addicting” is the only way to describe them, she adds.
Target
As one of the more “underrated snacks,” per Vranjican, these fig bars are healthy, vegan and nostalgic. “I loved Fig Newtons as a kid and these taste just like them but they’re thicker and stuffed with double the filling,” she adds.
Target
Meet the guilty-pleasure snack that, yes, is vegan.
“They’re sweet, smokey, crunchy and great to share with your non-vegan friends,” she notes. “Not all Lay’s flavors are vegan friendly but the original BBQ flavor is!”
Target
“These are the perfect cure for that after-dinner sweet tooth,” she notes. “They’re soft, chewy, and super creamy thanks to the oat milk.” And, the strawberry flavor is her favorite, hands down.
Target
We can’t skip out on the cashew butter, especially as we’re talking about vegan snacks.
“This is so silky smooth and delicious with dried apricots,” she notes. “I like to make little sandwiches using two dried apricots with some cashew butter spread in between.” Plus, she said it’s “too good” not to try for yourself.
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source https://www.bisayanews.com/2022/02/10/22-best-healthy-vegan-snacks-to-buy-in-2022/
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