Studies suggest 96% of all US consumers eat snacks daily in their diet. As a result, snacks perform a significant role in your diet, even the vegetarian diet. The percentage of individuals shifting to a vegetarian lifestyle is increasing day by day. Since a vegetarian diet promotes good health in numerous ways, you’re not alone if you’re trying to shift as well. On the contrary, despite the benefits, many relate a vegetarian diet with boring meals, let alone snacks. However, if you want to nibble on other things than your usual three meals, vegetarian snacks can be fun as well. And you can eat them on your vegetarian diet as long as they’re healthy. The key is to avoid extra calories and sugar in what you choose to allow in your snacks. Discover healthy snacks to add to your daily routine on a vegetarian lifestyle for additional nutrition.
Tips for Vegetarian Snacking
To start with vegetarian snacking, you need to keep a few things in mind. These key points can help you adapt to a meatless diet innovatively.
Are you getting enough protein?
Protein is a crucial factor in your vegetarian diet! If a person starts feeling lazy or tired after excluding meat from their diet, the protein might be the reason. While a vegetarian is packed with protein, it depends on whether you’re balancing your protein levels. More often than not, vegetarians lose diet of their nutritional balance and overlook protein. Adding nuts, dairy, beans, oats, etc. can help attain your essential protein levels. It would help if you tried to reach the daily protein level i.e., 0.8 g/kg of body weight. On the other hand, if you’re more active than an average person with daily works out, try increasing that number.
Are you eating too many carbs?
Eliminating meat from your diet doesn’t automatically ensure a healthier lifestyle. You’ll need to shift towards a healthy intake of foods as well to ensure that. For this reason, your biggest enemy might be excess carbs in your daily snacks. Since sugar is one of the most significant contributors to carbs, going overboard with sugary snacks is easier than you think. Keep a close eye on your carbs, especially if you’re trying to lose weight or for other health reasons. Although, your essential carbs level depends on your gender and age since the requirement differs for different individuals. Therefore, it’s best to add fresh vegetables and fruits to your snacks for a healthier alternative.
Do you know how to shop wisely?
There surrounds the misconception of the vegetarian diet that it’s a high cost in your pocket. Since the vegetarian diet is mainly focused on fresh produce, you might even fall for this misconception. However, reality stands far from this concept if you know what you’re doing. Your grocery stores might have weekly discounts on a few items. Therefore, make use of these opportunities, shop for ingredients wisely, and experiment with new dishes. With this idea, you never have to get bored with your vegetarian snacking when trying new things every week. Additionally, you won’t be going broke, and you’ll even be saving up while you enjoy your snacks.
What snacks can you eat on a Vegetarian Diet?
Let’s admit it; we all need a few ideas every once in a while. You might only have plans for your daily repetitive snacks or none at all. However, you can play with vegetarian snacking, and you don’t have to get bored. Here are some ideas for vegetarian snacking that you can add to your daily routine:
Vegetable chips
Vegetable chips are a simple yet nutritious snack to munch on while when you’re in the mood for something light. Two of the most favorite vegetable chips are potato chips and kale chips. However, avoid deep-frying vegetables to make chips, instead go for alternative options. You can cut up your veggies, drizzle a little oil, and bake it in the oven. If you’re in for something extra, add a sauce to go with the chips.
Roasted Chickpeas
Add chickpeas to your snacking routine for two beneficial reasons; they’re easy to cook, and they’re filled with nutrition. Protein, fiber, minerals, and vitamins; all of these are included in a serving of chickpeas. Roast chickpeas by baking them in the oven for 30-45 minutes with various flavor options. Whether you’re in for something sweet, or if your tastebuds are craving spice, roasted chickpeas are the solution.
No-bake energy bites
Energy bites are a homemade, time-efficient, and budget-friendly snack for a quick bite whenever you need a little energy boost. Moreover, the best part about homemade energy bites is that you can customize them according to your preferences. All you’ve to do is put the ingredients in a food processor, chill it, and shape it into small balls. Add oats, honey, seeds, nuts, and nut butter, whatever satisfies your hunger cravings.
Hummus
Hummus is one of the essential staple ingredients in every vegetarian’s shelf, and for a good reason! Hummus is a snack you wouldn’t want to miss out on is because of the variety it offers. For this reason, pair it up with raw vegetables or chips, it goes along with anything as a tasty dip. Similarly, you can experiment with the taste of the hummus itself with herbs, spices, sesame, etc.
Dairy snacks
Being a vegetarian means, you can add dairy products to your routine snacks. You can have numerous options in vegetarian snacks with dairies such as greek yogurt or cheese sticks. Make cheese sticks at home using your favorite type of cheese. If you’re a yogurt person, all you’ve to do is get some yogurt and add flavors to it using nuts or fruits. And voila, you’ve got a nutritious and tasty snack at your disposal without going through too many cooking steps.
Hard-boiled eggs
If you’ve never looked at eggs other than as a breakfast option, you need to stop! Eggs make a fantastic light snack on a vegetarian diet. Therefore, chop them up and toss them in an easy salad recipe, or make egg sandwiches. The options are endless if you start experimenting with this nutrition-filled food.
Nuts
Nuts might be the miracle addition you need in your daily regime. Not only are they packed with nutrition, but they might also help keep your protein and essential vitamins in balance. Moreover, you can add them to a variety of food such as yogurt, oatmeal, energy bars, etc. all you’ve to do is put your mind to it and make the combination work. However, don’t overload on nuts since they’re high in calories, and too much can drastically increase your calorie balance.
Fresh fruit
Nothing beats fresh fruits in the competition for a burst of flavor. Fresh fruits are one of the most beneficial options to go for with all the nutritional advantages they come with. Additionally, you can add nuts to your snacks in countless methods. For example, fruit bowls, make a fruit pizza, top it off with chocolate syrup or cream; the ideas are endless!
Conclusion
In summary, a vegetarian diet doesn’t mean a shortage of snacks for your daily routine. Instead, not only will you be eating snacks without worrying, but they’ll also be much healthier and tastier. Save your body from damaging carbs with all that excessive sugar and shift to healthier options with vegetarian snacks.
Below is a Pinterest friendly photo…. so you can pin it to your Health Yeah Board!
If you are a beginner to the Vegetarian Diet. Check out our beginner's guide here….
The owner of this website, HealthYeahLife.com, is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking HealthYeahLife.com Review to Amazon properties including, but not limited to, amazon.com.
She is passionate about helping others understand their body.
The key to figuring out why you feel the way you feel is to take a more significant look at what is going on inside you & even around you, and then ask questions!
She is excited to help & support you on your journey of optimal health and wellness!
