LifeofKare

So, You’re Traveling This Weekend! But You’re Trying To Be Vegan…

To be honest, I’m new to the game. I haven’t gone fully vegan just yet (blog post about my journey to veganism soon to come), but I’m trying! Besides spending hours upon hours watching “What I Eat In A Day” YouTube videos, I’m a sucker for perusing the mesmerizing aisles and pages of Whole Foods and Thrive Market. But as a college student, it’s understandable how going away for weekends with friends may seem a bit unappetizing, especially if you’re on a somewhat strict diet.

So I decided to compile a small list of vegan snacks that are easy to pack when you’re on the go.

1. FRUIT

The easiest go-to snack for me is usually fruit. While juicier options like berries or grapes are my favorite, opting for more managable fruits like apples or bananas are a surefire way of staying satisfied without the mushy mess. They can be eaten alone, or paired with your favorite nut butter. I find that clementines are also a sweet surprise, however the one’s I’ve been getting at Trader Joe’s recently have been all dry and not-so-sweet (aka sour, aka yuck). Fruits are a great way to get all those healthy benefits into your diet while staying hydrated, since they’re packed with w a t e r.

2. DRIED FRUITS and NUTS and SEEDS

If fresh fruits aren’t easily accessible, try packing dried fruit or nuts. That means dates, raisins, banana chips, almonds, cashews, macadamia nuts, pumpkin seeds, dehydrated apples, the list goes on! Just try to aim for ones that aren’t packed with a ton of sugar… I recommend Medjool Dates and a bag of raw almonds. Nuts and seeds are always filling and are super easy to transport.

3. CLIF BARS

Did you know Clif Bars are vegan? Yeah, I just found that out and I’m STOKED. While its true that granola bars usually have loads of sugar in them, these little guys are perfect for long car rides or a day on the slopes. They come in various different flavors and are a bit more affordable than other vegan bars.

4. BEANS & RICE, BEANS & RICE

Beans, beans, the magical fruit. Are beans even fruits? Anyways, every vegan knows that beans and rice are the key to a fulfilling meal. Together they make the perfect protein pair! Top your lunches or dinners off with some dark leafy greens and some sriracha, and you’re set. Also, apparently if you rinse your beans before cooking/serving, you’ll avoid those post-meal tummy aches that we’re all too familiar with.

5. BLISS BALLS

Unfortunately I didn’t have time to make my own granola or bliss balls. But if you don’t know what they are, bliss balls are basically little protein spheres that you can fill with just about anything: dates, coconut flakes, chia seeds, flax seeds, oats, almond butter, etc. All you have to do is blend the dry ingredients in a food processor or blender, add in the dry ingredients, make into small balls, and refrigerate overnight. They’re so amazing and way cheaper than buying them from the health foods store.

That’s it! Oh, and don’t forget to stay hydrated with water!

I’m only going on a two-day snowboarding trip to Vermont with my friends, but I think this will be plenty. We’re also planning on making a few quick meals at the cabin. If you’re considering going vegetarian or vegan, or just interested in what I’ve been eating, keep checking back here and on my Namastapasta Instagram account!

Thanks for the read. Love to all, to all, to all.