It can be hard to pack all your nutrition needs into your three main meals. Choosing healthy, plant-based snacks also helps crowd out stereotypical junk food snacks. Leaving too much space between meals makes you vulnerable to breakroom donuts and midnight ice cream.
Snacks help you avoid getting “hangry”
Hunger is sort like being drunk- it impairs your your good judgement and willpower, and often leads to bad decisions. We’ve all been there... Between-meal snacks give you a fighting chance against the tortilla chip bag while you make dinner, and they help keep morale high for your plant eating endeavors.
Snacks add calories
Plants are packed with nutrients, yet light on calories. If you want to lose or maintain weight, this is good news. BUT if you're really active or want to gain weight, this lack of calories might tempt you to return to your slow-digesting, calorie-packed, meat-eating ways. The key to feeling full and satisfied on a plant-based diet is snacking.
The number of snacks you eat depends on many things, including your health goals and daily routine. Think about the times in your day when you are most hungry (either between meals or approaching meals)- that’s where you want to plug in your snacks.
Fruit
Apple or banana + nut butter
Unsalted nuts
Unsalted pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds
Store-bought trail mix
Popcorn made in an air-popper, microwaveable bag, or store-bought (Boom Chicka Pop, Newman's Own, Quinn, Bearitos)
