Vegan Snacks to Pack For the Perfect Road Trip

With the arrival of spring and warmer weather, road trip season has officially begun! Interstate car travel is great, but it can be hard to eat healthfully along the way—a self-care task that can be even harder for vegans. In addition to relying on apps such as Happy Cow to find vegan-friendly restaurants, it’s key to be well stocked before you even hit the road. That’s why we’ve assembled this vegan-approved list of nutrient-dense and (mostly) unrefined snacks to enjoy while you drive past amber waves of grain and purple mountain majesties. Let’s get ready to hit the road! Ready-to-Go Vegan Road Trip Snacks Carrots, celery and apples Of course it’s essential to eat some actual fruits and vegetables every day that you’re traveling! For your road trip, why not pack the ones that are easiest to transport and eat? Some fruits and veggies aren’t as easy to enjoy while driving (berries, peaches, and salads can all get messy), but carrots, celery and apples are basically ready to roll. Bonus: These firm snacks provide a toothbrush-like effect when you bite into them, which is always welcome when you’re spending the day in the car. Peanut butter The tried-and-true go-to snack. Use it for dipping your celery or carrot stick into, or schmear it on crackers. And it doesn’t have to be peanut butter — pick whichever nut butter you like best. When on the go, we especially like single-serve nut butter packets like Justin’s or RX Bar. For reference, almond butter and peanut butter are both high in protein and healthy fats. Hummus The ages-old blend of chickpeas and tahini is a handy and healthy food for eating with fresh veggies, crackers or chips. It’s best to keep refrigerated, but don’t sweat it: If you’re a hummus lover facing many hours in the car, you can probably power through a small container before the day is done—or pack it away in your handy road trip cooler. Dried fruit Dried fruits are easy to eat wherever you are. If you prefer your snacks more crunchy than chewy, look for freeze-dried fruit, which has a longer shelf life and contains no sulfur dioxide (which isn’t always true of heat-dried fruit). Nuts Always a healthy choice, as long as you buy them without too much added salt (or sugar). You also want to make sure to avoid any unhealthy refined oils that can be found in some processed nuts. Energy Bars (Image: Protein Puck) Energy bars are a natural choice for road trip snacks, but not all of them are vegan. Here’s a couple of brands you can choose from for vegan options. Both vegan and gluten-free, hearty Protein Pucks (so named because of their circular shape) definitely fill you up. Depending on how hungry you are, you can easily split one puck between two people. Each one of the four flavors is nut-butter based, then packed with other delicious ingredients (e.g., cocoa and cinnamon; coconut, flax and dates). Worth noting: Some Protein Pucks have a decent amount of added sugar (5-6 grams per serving) and might not be the best choice if you’re looking for a snack with no added sugar. Popular and gluten free, Larabars are made mostly with fruits and nuts. Not all of the flavors are vegan, but many are, including several with vegan-certified chocolate. The 100% plant-based options include banana bread, apple pie, carrot cake and cocoa coconut chew—all delicious. Salty Snacks (Image: Bienna Snacks) Skip the chips and reach for Biena Chickpea Snacks, a popular vegan treat that never skimps on the crunch or taste but still packs plenty of protein and fiber into one serving. The six different flavors of Biena roasted chickpeas include sea salt, habanero and honey roasted. Rhythm Superfoods Kale Chips are vegan, organic and gluten-free. They’re also packed with simple ingredients (kale, sunflower seeds, carrot, apple cider vinegar and lemon juice among them) and 5 grams of protein per serving to help fuel your day. (See below for some simple DIY kale and beet chip recipes.) If you’re looking for some healthy crunch, you can’t beat Mary’s Gone Crackers seed crackers, which are minimally processed, non-GMO, gluten-free and organic. All of their products are also vegan with the exception of Kookies, which are made with sustainably sourced honey. Olives The perfect complement to your salty snacks is olives, a favorite on-the-go treat for Nutritious Life founder Keri Glassman. Briny, bitter olives are high in vitamin E,  powerful antioxidants and heart-healthy oil. “I love to reduce olives in wine to add a little kick. I also add a bit of dried rosemary or thyme for herbal tones,” says Keri. “If you don’t have time for the reduction, at least grab a package of olives at the market and you’ll still get all their important health perks.” Chocolate bars Well, we need at least one sweeter indulgence, and what better option than chocolate? If you prefer milk, then you do you! That said, dark chocolate wins the nutrition war between the two choices. Milk chocolate tends to be higher in sugar; it’s definitely lower in its percentage of cacao, which is where the nutrition lies. Pro tip: The higher the cacao number, the more fiber, minerals and antioxidants you’ll enjoy. DIY Vegan Snacks to Prepare Ahead of Time Homemade vegan muffins Who doesn’t love a good muffin? If you’ve got time to bake a day or two before you leave, do it yourself. You can go traditionally sweet, as with this chocolate gingerbread muffin (enriched with protein powder), or opt for a more savory, high-protein corn muffin. Trail mix Few delicious snacks are as easy to prepare as your own version of trail mix. The best part is: You decide exactly which ingredients you want to include! Of course, it’s a good idea to use mostly unsulfured dried fruit and unsalted nuts. But if you hate raisins? Skip ’em! Love coconut? Add it! Don’t forget other yummy options, like sunflower seeds. Here’s a

The Best Vegan Protein Bars

Running between meetings, traveling, venturing on a long bike ride — there are times when you just need a quick and convenient bite to satisfy your hunger and fuel your day. With so many snack options on the shelves, it’s hard to choose. We love a protein bar in a pinch and we found the top five vegan protein bars on the shelves for you to try today. Of course whole foods are always your best bet, but quality protein bars can provide the nourishment you need when you’re in a pinch. While grocery store shelves are filled with endless rows of options — and most come with unwanted sugar, artificial sweeteners and additives. For those looking for plant-based options, finding quality bars can be even more difficult so we’ve made it easier for you. We’ve rounded up the top five, all free from artificial colors, sweeteners, and fillers. Made with as many simple and whole food ingredients as possible, each option has at least 10 grams of plant-based protein and no more than 10 grams of sugar. Plus, there are gluten-free and paleo friendly options, too.  Grab one of these vegan protein bars next time you’re looking for a quick clean fuel that will satisfy your body and your taste buds. 5 Best Vegan Protein Bars REDD Plant Based Protein Bar REDD Plant Based Protein Bars combine hemp, pea, and pumpkin seeds to provide 10 grams of plant-based protein in every REDD protein bar. Naturally sweetened with dates and monk fruit extract, you won’t find more than 5 grams of sugar in these bars. While the ingredient list is a little bit longer than we’d like, REDD bars have added probiotics and prebiotics (aka fiber that feeds the probiotics) to support a healthy gut and adaptogens for an extra heath boost. REDD Plant Based Protein Bar, $22.50 for a pack of 8 Truwomen Plant Fueled Bars Craving something sweet but need fuel that will actually last? Then you need to try Truwomen Plant Fueled Bars’ fun dessert-inspired protein bar flavors like “Oh Oh Cookie Dough” and “Daydreaming About Donuts.” Brown rice protein and nuts pack in about 12 grams of protein per bar. Cassava flour made from the yuca root vegetable provides soft, chewy texture without grains or gluten. Bonus: Truwomen is run by women for women (but men and kids will enjoy these too!) Truwomen Plant Fueled Bars, $29.99 for a pack of 12 Aloha Organic Protein Bar Aloha uses simple ingredients to create an ideal balance of protein, fiber, and fat to keep you full and satisfied. Pumpkin and brown rice protein, nuts, and seeds are combined to provide about 14 grams of protein per bar. Added tapioca fiber means you get almost 13 grams of filling fiber, too. With each of their protein bars providing about 240 calories, you should think of this option as a mini meal rather than a snack. Aloha Organic Protein Bar, $22.16 for a pack of 12 Good! Snacks Protein Bar A protein bar that tastes good and is good for you. Good! Snacks Protein Bars‘ blend of fava bean and brown rice provides 15 grams of plant-based protein in crave worthy flavors like cookie, chocolate peanut butter, birthday, and blueberry. With about 10 grams of sugar per bar, this one is a slightly sweet option, but its soft texture and creamy coating will definitely satisfy. Good! Snacks Protein Bar,  $19.99 for a pack of 12 Nuzest Clean Lean Protein Bar Pea protein plus a variety of nutrient dense nuts and seeds like almonds, cashews, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, and chia seeds provide 14 grams of protein in every Clean Lean Protein Bar. With an ideal balance of protein, fats, and carbohydrates, you’ll get the fuel you need to feel your best and take on the day. Nuzest Clean Lean Protein Bar, $39.99 for a pack of 12