Healthy Snacks On The Go: Our Favorite Picks From Broccoli Chips To Acai Almonds

Eating a snack or two between meals is a great way to curb hunger and can also help you get the nutrients you need. But on the flip side, grazing on foods of little nutritional value may result in eating too much, posing a detriment to your health. The key is taking a smart approach to snacking. Conscious consumers are continuing to broaden their ideas of snack foods beyond potato chips and cookies, and as a result, creating new opportunities for healthy snacking. With health food trends and superfoods saturating the market, stocking up on nutritious and delicious snacks made with natural and organic ingredients has never been easier. We’ve seen an increased preference for better snacks that excite our palates and fit into our health-conscious lifestyle and have been keeping stock of this growing market. All the snacks featured below are vegan-friendly, gluten-free, GMO-free and low in sugar and salt. Ideal for snacking at work, for an energy boost post workout, for staying healthy whilst traveling and for packing your kids’ lunchboxes! 

GreenDay – Our Pick: Broccoli Chips

For healthy snacks that contain nothing but goodness, look no further than GreenDay chips! Never baked or fried, GreenDay veggie and fruit chips are made with absolutely no preservatives from quality non-GMO produce in Thailand. Using two unique vacuum technologies to produce their wildly popular products, snacks like their banana, okra, jackfruit, pineapple and taro chips undergo a special process of vacuum frying. Using only fresh produce at the ready, the moisture is rapidly removed under reduced frying temperature in rice bran oil (ideal thanks to its high smoke point and mild flavor). This process reduces the fat content as compared to normal deep frying, which results in a crispy, low fat, high fiber snack that beats out traditional potato chips. The second method, vacuum drying, is found in their fruit line of crispy strawberry, banana, grape, peach and apple chips. Vacuum drying removes the air from the fresh fruit while preserving the natural taste, color, texture and nutritional value, resulting in an addictively crispy crunch. With no added fat, sugar, salt, additives or preservatives, they are the perfect balance between delicious and nutritious. We are especially big fans of the Broccoli Chips, which even little kids love!

Available at Jason’s Marketplace, Ztore,  and Green Common.

Banana Joe – Our Pick: Sriracha with Pickle Garlic

A nutritious fruit rich in potassium and fiber, bananas are an instant energy booster. They can lower blood pressure and the contain a decent amount of magnesium, important for heart health and for regulating your sleep cycle. Long story short, bananas make for a great snack. But this much, you probably already know. But did you know that there are banana chips out there that can cure your potato chip habit? A seriously tasty banana snack, Banana Joe offers a healthier alternative to the generic potato chip snacks using Hom Thong bananas, a fragrant top-grade variety of bananas grown by small, family owned farms in Thailand that do not exist on the commercial market, Banana Joe’s handcrafted chips are gluten-free, have no added preservatives, are are totally MSG and trans fat free. They come in five tasty flavors: Sea Salt, Thai Sweet Chili, Chips Hickory, Cheddar Cheese, and Sriracha with Pickle Garlic and they are ideal for anyone who can’t stop eating potato chips. Experts agree with our verdict: the brand just won the UK’s coveted Great Taste Award 2017, one of the most respected food quality seals in the global F&B scene.

Available at Green Common. 

Beanbag Organic Mixed Nuts – Our Pick: Acai & Mixed Almond “Hot Chocolate”

For guilt-free snacking, you simply can’t beat nuts! Loaded with antioxidants, protein, fiber and essential fats, these pint-sized power seeds (like almonds and walnuts), legumes (peanuts), and fruits (hazelnuts) are favored amongst health conscious individuals. Popular brand Beanbag Organic Mixed Nuts have upped the ante with their nimble nibbles. The Thai-based company’s line features an array of classic and exotic nut varieties paired with superfood ingredients like acaì, chia seed, quinoa, making for some seriously nutritious nut mixes! All the blends are certified USDA Organic and are sweetened with natural coconut sugar, a low GI option to keep blood sugar levels steady. This is a guilt-free snack option to keep in your desk at work, in your purse for an afternoon boost and in your gym bag for a pre- or post- workout nosh. Also great for traveling! Beanbag Organic Mixed Nuts come in four flavors combos sure to satisfy both your sweet tooth and your savory one: Classic Mixed Almond “Sea   Salt,” Acai + Mixed Almond “Hot  Chocolate,” Chia + Cashew “Vanilla Lavender,” and Quinoa + Mixed Nut “Thai   Coconut   BBQ   Sauce.”

Available at Jason’s Marketplace, Ztore, and Green Common.

Beanbag Superfood Powders – Our Pick: Kale Powder

Most of us could probably afford to boost our diets with additional nutrients, and Thai-based company Beanbag makes it convenient for you to take in the best vitamins, minerals and antioxidants on-the-go. Offering a wide range of superfood powders from certified organically-grown crops straight from their origins, the powder comes in individual sachets and needs no refrigeration, perfect for when you are out and about. From Spirulina, Pomegranate, Maca (the Peruvian counterpart to ginseng), Lucuma (AKA, ‘Gold of the Incas,’ another Peruvian fruit loaded with tons of health benefits), Kale, Cacao Powder, Cacao Nibs, and Acai, these antioxidant powerhouses can be used freely. All of Beanbag’s superfoods are certified USDA Organic, non-GMO and are naturally gluten-free. Add a scoop or sachet to your favorite smoothie recipe or mix it with juice or water at the gym or on the road and enjoy- the kale and spirulina work really well in salads and pastas for some added greens power. The powders are incredibly convenient for traveling too, and ideal for sneaking some goodness into your little ones meals. We’ve always got some in our handbag!

Available at Jason’s Marketplace, Ztore, and Green Common.

Frutobar – Our Pick: Dried Apricot and Cranberry

A pure take on fruit snacks, Frutobar is a portable bar made without added artificial flavors, colors, preservatives, soy, dairy or wheat. Plus, these gluten-free snacks only contain 80 calories per bar- they are free of sugar, dairy, and nuts and are a great source of natural fiber – chock full of natural vitamins, minerals and nutrients. With four fruit bars to choose from (Dried Apricot and Cranberry, Apple, Pear, Dried Apricot and Orange), they’re 100% delightful. Be sure the try their dual-layered fruit snacks blending complimentary flavors like apricot and oranges- our pick is the Dried Apricot and Cranberry. For busy moms, FrutoBar makes packing lunch boxes that much easier: kids love them!

Available at Green Common. 

Images courtesy of GreenDay (lead), Beanbag, Banana Joe, Beanbag and Frutobar.

This is a Green Queen Partner Post.