Healthy
Vegan Snacks you will love! :) Kale
Chips, Banana Bites & Hemp Seeds |
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I'm
always searching for healthy snacks. But many
are full of empty calories, strange ingredients,
and lack the nutrients that our bodies want.
And I love living a healthy and active lifestyle,
so choosing nourishing, body optimizing snacks
is even more important.
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Snacks |
So
here are some of my fav's when it comes to
healthy vegan snacks:
Brad's
Raw Leafy Kale (Kale Chips):
I
often work long hours in the computer... And
something about these long stressful hours
make me want to eat more than I should...
So thank heavens for kale chips!
Without them, I'd definitely be carrying around
some extra luggage, lol. And they support
your body in so many ways!
Kale is full of beneficial plant compounds
(i.e. glucosinolates, isothiocyanates) that
support your detoxification pathways, even
at a genetic level! It's also packed with
a variety of phytonutrients that protect your
body from cancer. Kale is just awesome...
It's low in calories and packed with nutrients.
Now,
I have to admit, my taste buds wouldn't pick
steamed kale as a first choice snack. But
kale is unbelievable tastey when made into
kale chips!
Kale
chips are the tastiest way of getting more
kale into your diet. There's really nothing
better when you need something to snack on.
They literally taste better to me than even
potato chips!!! And the best part is that
they don't affect your waistline! (Not to
mention the damaged & trans fatty acids
that are found in fried foods in general).
And
don't be fooled, not all kale chips are created
equal. We liked Brad's Raw Leafy Kale because
it doesn't contain nutritional yeast, the
natural flavor enhancing cousin of MSG. Though
the debate surrounding nutritional yeast is
ongoing, our philosophy is this: Why use
it when you can make a tasty snack without
it? Brad's does a great job with this.
;)
Kale
Chips
Overall:
Crunchy
and savory snack... Low in calories
and packed with nutrients.
VSG
Function: Detoxification.
Rich in detox supporting and anti-cancer
compounds. |
Barnana
(Chewy Banana Bites):
Monkey's love em... Athletes need them...
But many don't know how creative you can
be with them. We're talking
about the humble banana!
Bananas are known for being rich in potassium.
This mineral is critical for your body to
function properly, especially your muscles
in the case of athletes. But even if you
are a weekend warrior, or would just like
to be an active person, getting
enough potassium in your diet is super important.
Now
bananas can be super tasty on their own...
and they're a critical component of many
smoothies... But with bananas especially
(just a personal thing), I'm always looking
for other ways to get them in my diet.
Where
I grew up (Brazil), bananas are often made
into a chewy type of candy. I always loved
these as a kid, but I always wished that
they had less sugar, or no extra sugar at
all! So when I found out about Barnana,
I was super excited!
Barnana
takes bananas, and dehydrates them into
a chewy delicious snacks. And the best thing...
their original flavor contains nothing but
Bananas! (and water, which is ok in my book,
lol). These are great for before and
after workouts (especially running), to
replenish your potassium and glycogen stores
in your body. They're especially handy when
you'll be sweating a lot (potassium can
be lost through sweat).
The
best thing is that they are all organic,
non-gmo, vegan, and use natural, unrefined
ingredients.
And
if you want some healthy sweets, they also
make them with coconut, as well as in chocolate
and peanut butter covered versions also.
You can satisfy your sweet tooth and get
your nutrition too ;)
And
as we talk about in the VSG, bananas
are one of the best vegan sources for vitamin
B6 to power your brain also!
Barnana:
Chewy Banana Snacks
Overall:
A sweet and chewy snack... especially
good before workouts, long hikes,
and active days in hot weather.
VSG Function: Athlete
and Brain (Serotonin & Dopamine).
Great source of potassium and Vitamin
B6 for your muscles and brain.
|
30%
off discount code:
BarnanaCrazy
Visit:
barnana.myshopify.com |
Awesome flavors!
|
|
Original!
(vegan) |
Coconut
(vegan) |
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Chocolate
(vegetarian) |
Peanut
Butter (vegetarian) |
The
"natural glaze" ingredient
in the chocolate and peanut
butter flavors contains
some honey.
|
Hemp
Seeds (we like Nutiva):
Hemp,
the non psychoactive cousin of Mary Jane
is making it's return as a versatile super-crop.
Best of all, its seeds are
also a nutritious and tasty super food!
Hemp
seed is a uniquely wonderful ingredient
for many reasons. It's rich in protein and
contains a unique distribution of super
healthy fats. Best of all, it's yummy :)
Unlike
many foods in the modern diet, hemp seeds
have one of the most balanced ratios of
Omega 6 to 3 fatty acids around...about
3:1. And some of this Omega 6 comes
in a special anti-inflammatory form called
GLA (Gamma-Linolenic Acid). Hemp seed
is also rich in easily digested plant protein,
especially important for athletes and active
people.
Hemp
seeds make a great snack... but they're
also super versatile as a topping and as
a recipe ingredient also. I often add them
to dried fruits and (vegan) yogurts because
the fats slow down the digestion of sugar.
This helps prevent blood sugar spikes and
crashes. We also used hemp seeds in a VSG
Athlete recipe with quinoa. It adds even
more protein and gives it a richness that
quinoa alone doesn't have.
But
a quick reminder, Omega 3&6
fatty acids are very sensitive to oxidation
from heat and oxygen exposure. That's why
we especially like Nutiva Organic Hempseed
because they're packed in a way that prevents
damage to the delicate fatty acids. They
should also be eaten raw, so be sure to
mix them into recipes after they're done
cooking!
Hemp
Seeds
Overall:
A rich and tasty snack/ ingredient
that's super nutritious. Especially
good for maintaining blood sugar balance.
VSG
Function: Athlete. Rich in
protein and cell supporting Omega
fatty acids. |
Have
you tried any of these? What
are your favorite vegan snacks? Let me know...