Where would we all be without snacks? They’re the highlight of our day—especially when they’re combined with a good read and a cup of coffee. But unfortunately, most of the easy-to-grab options on the shelves are ultra-processed, which means they’re not always the best for our health. Luckily, it’s easy to make healthy vegan snacks from home. Yep, you don’t need a culinary degree or all the time in the world to make a delicious, nutritious morsel. Below, we’ve compiled some of our favorite vegan snack recipes as proof.
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Are ultra-processed snacks bad for you?
Research suggests that diets high in ultra-processed snacks, like potato chips, candy, cakes, and cereal bars, could be harming our health. They are linked with an increased risk of high blood pressure, for example, which can increase the risk of serious health problems, including cardiovascular disease.
Recently, one study from the University of Bristol also linked high ultra-processed food consumption with an increased risk of mouth and throat cancer. And in February 2023, another study from the Imperial School of Public Health linked it with a higher risk of breast and ovarian cancer.
“Our bodies may not react the same way to these ultra-processed ingredients and additives as they do to fresh and nutritious minimally processed foods,” said Kiara Chang, PhD, the Imperial School of Public Health study’s first author.
“However, ultra-processed foods are everywhere and highly marketed with cheap prices and attractive packaging to promote consumption,” she added. “This shows our food environment needs urgent reform to protect the population from ultra-processed foods.”
13 healthy vegan snack ideas
Unless you’re happy with simple fruits or vegetables (to be honest, you can’t go wrong with simple carrot sticks), it’s not always easy to find interesting, healthy, and whole-food snack options on the shelves. But they are relatively easy to whip up from home if you have the time and the energy. To help you out, below, we’ve compiled just a few of our go-to healthy snack options.
1 Vegan Pecan, Cinnamon, and Banana Oat Bars
Made with whole, plant-based ingredients like ripe bananas, rolled oats, pecans, and cinnamon, these tasty snack bars are packed with plenty of fiber, vitamins, and minerals. They’re a super wholesome choice for an on-the-go breakfast or a light afternoon snack.
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So Vegan
2 Easy Vegan Banana Flapjack Bars
Packed with nutrient-rich ingredients like ripe bananas, mixed nuts, seeds, oats, maple syrup, and coconut oil, these delicious easy-to-make flapjack bars offer a combination of healthy fats, complex carbohydrates, and natural sweetness. Because they provide sustained energy, they’re a particularly good pre- or post-workout treat.
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Shanika Graham-White
3 Healthy Vegan Green Goddess Dip
Fresh vegetables and a green goddess sauce made from raw cashews, kale, spinach, and other wholesome ingredients, combine to make this nutritious, flavorful dip. Pair it with crunchy veggies, crackers, or pita bread for a satisfying vegan snack option.
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Dreena Burton
4 No-Bake Vegan Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Granola Bars
Made with wholesome ingredients like brown rice syrup, coconut butter, rolled oats, oat flour, and brown rice crisp cereal, these allergen-friendly bars are a tasty, yet healthy, snack choice. For a touch of sweetness, don’t skip out on the vegan chocolate chips.
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Dreena Burton
5 Simple Vegan Avocado Edamame Hummus
Nutrient-rich ingredients like edamame, green peas, avocado, lemon juice, and fresh basil form the base of this fresh, zesty, and flavorful hummus dip. Serve with carrot sticks or celery for a quick and healthy midday pick-me-up.
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6 Healthy Vegan Strawberry Chia Oat Bites
These oat bites are the perfect mix of satisfying, sweet, and wholesome, thanks to nutrient-dense ingredients like mashed bananas, applesauce, rolled oats, slivered almonds, chia seeds, and strawberries.
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Hannah Kaminsky
7 Baked Vegan Eggplant and Zucchini Chips
If you’re craving something savory, these eggplant and zucchini chips are the perfect alternative to standard processed potato chips. By using baked eggplant and zucchini slices coated in vegan mayonnaise and herbed panko crumbs, the snack still gives a satisfying crunch, without any need for a deep fryer.
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Mareya Ibrahim
8 Vegan Crunchy Flamin’ Chickpeas
These crunchy, spicy chickpeas—which are seasoned with cumin, chili powder, cayenne pepper, and smoked salt—pack a punch of plant-based protein and fiber. They’re also baked for a satisfying for an extra satisfying crunch.
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Katy Beskow
9 Vegan Fruity Frozen Yogurt Bark
Sure, yogurt is tasty on its own—but you can take your snack game to the next level by freezing it. Make this fruity, refreshing snack, which is perfect for the summer months, with frozen soy yogurt, maple syrup, bananas, kiwis, cranberries, and coconut.
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Jackie Sobon
10 Healthy Vegan Lemon Quinoa Bites
Featuring a blend of quinoa, dates, almonds, lemon juice, and oats, these small, tasty bites are perfect as-is. Alternatively, you can roll them in hemp hearts for added protein and texture.
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Nassima Rothacker
11 Healthy Vegan Mango Fruit Roll-Ups
Looking for a kid-friendly, delicious, fruity snack idea? You’ve found it. These three-ingredient roll-ups—made with dried mango, maple syrup, and lemon juice—are a healthy, nostalgic snack perfect for lunchboxes.
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Vegan Chocolate Treats
12 Vegan Matcha Chocolate Coconut Balls
Made with Medjool dates, cashews, shredded coconut, cacao powder, and matcha powder, these delicious coconut balls make for a delicious and quick on-the-go snack. They can also be adapted with additional ingredients like freeze-dried berries, chocolate chips, or nuts, depending on your preference.
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13 Cocoa Spiced Roasted Almonds
Made with raw almonds, cocoa powder, cinnamon, chili powder, stevia, and coconut oil, these sweet and spicy roasted nuts tick all the boxes. They’re the perfect mix of crunchy, tasty, satisfying, and nutritious.
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For more on healthy vegan food, read:
Charlotte is a writer and editor based in sunny Southsea on England’s southern coast.
