Feb 082019
Low Waste Vegan Snacks

January was veganuary and we saw a surge in vegan meal options and products as people sought swaps for health benefits, and for the environment. I’m not vegan, but I consciously reduced my meat intake last year to one day a week for environmental reasons. I’d say that 70% of my diet is vegan, with 20% dairy (mainly lactose-free), and the remaining 10% chicken, pork, and white fish. I guess you’d call that flexitarian. In any case, these are my go-to low waste vegan snacks!

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For reference, I have a lot of stomach issues including IBS and heartburn so I’m limited in what I can eat that won’t give me raging acid reflux, make me bloat painfully, or worse! 😐 A mostly vegan (plant-based) diet definitely helps with my digestive health, and saves money too!

I can see shifts towards vegan and vegetarian options everywhere in my community. Even though I bring my own lunch to work, it was great to see my College opting for two vegetarian days a week (and I loved that the reason was “because climate change”). Also, the press release of the “planetary” diet was exciting to see, and actually my diet is pretty close to that label.

If you’re looking to continue the vegan trend from last month, you’re a vegan looking for new ideas, or missed the memo and want to give it a try, here are 10 easy vegan snacks that I eat all the time. Most of these snacks work with my IBS, athough I can’t eat apples too often. The added bonus is that they’re either zero waste or low waste in terms of packaging!

Let me know if you try any of these low waste vegan snacks out (or already enjoy them) and I’d love to know what your favourite snack are!

Carrot sticks and hummus

We buy our carrots loose, peel them and chop them into sticks. I do buy packaged hummus, but I decant a portion into a reusable plastic dressing pot. One package of hummus lasts a week and I recycle the packaging. You could also try making your own hummus!

Energy balls

I’ve shared my recipe for energy balls before. I mix together a nut or seed butter, honey or agave (strict vegan option), oats, ground flax, and optional bits like chocolate chips, dried fruit, cocoa powder, coconut. Combine all the ingredients and form balls then put them on a cookie sheet and freeze them. I store mine in the freezer and wrap two in a beeswax cloth to have as a bus snack.

Pumpkin Spice Energy Balls

Cucumber slices

Honestly, I usually just take cucumber slices for my lunch and eat them plain. They’re also nice with salt and pepper sprinkled on top. Otherwise, you could top with a vegan soft cheese (I prefer to use lactose free spreadable cheese).

Celery sticks and peanut butter

celery and peanut butter

The classic ants on a log from childhood! We buy organic peanut butter in a big pot which doesn’t spread as well as Kraft, but it’s better for us and the environment. Sometimes I add raisins if I’m feeling fancy.

Dried fruit and nuts

Where I can, I buy whole almonds at a bulk store to minimise packaging. Otherwise, I buy a big bag. I keep a little Tupperware pot full of almonds in my backpack for bus snacks.

I’ve also been loving dried mango. The best kind is the Duchy brand organic mango pieces from Waitrose because they’re both sour and sweet. It does come in non-recyclable packaging though. 🤦🏻‍♀️

I also like to snack on raisins or dried cranberries. Although I love dried apricots, they don’t agree with my stomach (hard to digest if you have IBS).

Rice cakes with cashew espresso butter

I buy a pack of organic wholemeal rice cakes and they normally last me two weeks. I store the package in a reusable plastic ziplock so they don’t go stale, and I carry the rice cakes in a reusable cloth pouch/snack bag. You can get these on .

Sometimes I eat the rice cakes plain or with hummus, but a nut spread is also a great treat! I found this recipe on Instagram.

Cocoa Cashew Espresso Butter

1/2 cup cashews
1tsp. coffee beans (or espresso powder)
1/2 tsp. cocoa powder
1/2 tsp. vanilla

Blend until smooth – probably works best in a food processor but I only have a Nutribullet.Cashew Espresso Butter

Muffins

Lots of my recipes have egg in them, so not vegan, but you could probably swap the eggs for applesauce or flax eggs! Otherwise, if you aren’t bothered about them being vegan, I’d suggest my Blueberry and Raisin Bran Muffins, or Banana Blender Muffins. My Baked Banana Oatmeal Bites are also low waste and healthy, and can be made vegan. This post actually inspired me to try more vegan baking so watch this space!

Apple slices and almond butter

Again, a really easy option for a vegan snack! I can’t eat apples at work because they make me really bloated and uncomfortable, but they’re my favourite fruit! So, I save apple slices with almond butter or peanut butter as a home treat.

Mango turmeric smoothie

I found this recipe on Pinterest and it’s now my go-to snack at home. If you love ginger and are looking for an anti-inflammatory and immune boosting treat, this smoothie is vegan and tastes like fiery ice cream!

1/2 cup frozen mango chunks (or fresh and add 3 ice cubes)
1/2- 1 cup dairy free milk
1/2 inch piece of fresh ginger
1/2 tsp. Cinnamon
1/4 tsp. Turmeric.
Extra water if needed to get the desired consistency.

Blend until smooth

mango smoothie

I hope you like these snack ideas!

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