8 Vegan Snack Recipes for an Instant Energy Boost

Those committing themselves to a plant-based diet have sky-rocketed in recent years, with a 600% rise over the last three years alone. It’s becoming clear that veganism is now far from a fad.

Better for the planet and for our health (even when following a flexitarian diet and switching between vegan and meat days); there’s no doubt that there are a wide array of reasons to go green. But with that said, vegan diets aren’t always easy to stick to, especially when seeking convenience; craving for a mid-morning snack or in need of an energy- and protein-boost post-workout. But as the following eight vegan snack recipes go to show that you can have it all.

1. Zesty Lime Avocado with Sriracha and Sea Salt

Full of healthy fats and bursting with flavor, this simple dish is delicious and nutritious. Best yet, you can knock it up in five minutes’ flat.

Ingredients:

• Avocado
• Lime
• Sriracha
• A pinch of sea salt and ground black pepper

How To

1. Halve your avocado and de-pit
2. Splash on the spicy sriracha
3. Season to flavor

2. Cheesy Kale Crisps

Kale is brimming with good stuff. In fact, it’s one of the healthiest and most nutritious plants on the planet, packing in: Vitamin A, Vitamin K, Vitamin C, Vitamin B6, Manganese, Calcium, Copper, Potassium and Magnesium.

So say goodbye hydrogenated fats, who needs mainstream, super-market bought crisps anyway?

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup cashews
• 1 bunch kale, washed and dried
• 1 clove garlic, peeled
• 2 tbsp soy sauce
• 2 tbsp vegetable or canola oil
• 1/3 cup nutritional yeast (not to be confused with brewer's yeast)
• 1 lemon, juiced

How To:

1. Add the cashews to a small bowl of water and allow them to soak.
2. Preheat your oven on the lowest heat. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
3. Drain the cashews and set aside. Trim the stems from each kale leaf and cut up each leaf into crisp-sized pieces.
4. Mix the cashews, garlic, soy sauce, oil, nutritional yeast, and lemon juice in a food processor. Blend until smooth.
5. Blend the kale and cashew paste, mix until the kale is evenly coated. Lay the kale out on baking trays without them touching.
6. Bake until crisp and dry, this takes between 2 and 3 hours. Turn after an hour. They’re ready when they become crunchy and stiff.

3. Vegan Crackers Topped with Peanut Butter and Fruit

Need a sweet snack in a matter of minutes? This treat is ideal for a fast bite when in a rush.

Ingredients:

• Store-bought crackers
• Peanut or almond butter
• Sliced strawberries or bananas

How To:

1. Easy peasy - simply coat the crackers with the almond or peanut butter, and top with your strawberries or bananas.

4. Frozen Choccie Banana

Plenty of vegans have an unshakable craving for chocolate, and this recipe more than sates it (with a boost of protein to boot).

Ingredients:

• 6 wooden skewers
• 3 ripe bananas
• 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
• 1/2 cup plain coconut yogurt (or other non-dairy yogurt)
• 2 packets of stevia, separated (or two ½ tsp of vegan sugar)
• 1 cup vegan chocolate chips/chunks
• 1 tsp coconut oil
• 1/4 cup chopped nut of choice (I used peanuts)
• 1/4 cup crushed pretzels
• 1/4 cup cacao nibs

How To:

1. Start by peeling the bananas. Cut the ends off and then slice in half, leaving you with 6 straight segments.
2. Place each piece onto a skewer s into one end of each banana.
3. Line a baking tray with parchment paper, then lay the bananas out and freeze for a minimum of an hour.
4. Mix the peanut butter, yogurt and one packet of stevia together.
5. Remove the bananas from the freezer, and then roll each in the peanut butter. Pop them back onto the baking tray and return to the freezer for between 30 - 60 minutes.
6. Mix the chopped nuts, pretzel bits, cacao nibs, and the other packet of stevia together on a plate or shallow bowl. Set to one side for now.
7. Melt the vegan chocolate and coconut oil in a glass bowl on top of a small pot of boiling water). Once melted, use it to coat each banana, and then sprinkle over the bowl of ingredients that you set to one side.
8. Finally return your bananas for one last time, and leave them to freeze (this should take between 10 - 20 minutes).

5. Fast Homemade Trail Mix

This sweet mix of ingredients is high in antioxidants, vitamins and good fat.

Ingredients

• Coconut: Flaked or shredded unsweetened coconut, or try some coconut bacon
• Chocolate: Cacao nibs, dairy-free chocolate chips or chopped dark chocolate
• Nuts: Cashews, walnuts, almonds, pecans, hazelnuts, pistachios
• Seeds: Pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds or mix in some garlic rosemary pepitas
• Dried fruit: Chopped dried apricots, chopped dates, raisins, dried cranberries, blueberries or cherries, chopped dried mango
• Homemade apple chips: Try mixing in some of my homemade baked apple chips

How To:

1. Simply mix your ideal proportions into a small bowl or pack up into a Tupperware container for the perfect post-gym snack.

6. Sweet and Salty Peanut Butter Bars

These bars will be ideal for storing away until gym day. If you want to make it a little more indulgent, throw in some dairy-free chocolate chips.

Ingredients:

• Medjool Dates
• Raw Almonds
• Peanut Butter
• Pretzels

How To:

1. Blend the almonds in a food processor
2. Add the dates and peanut butter to form a dough
3. Crush your pretzels into tiny pieces and add to the mix
4. Press into a lined baking pan and refrigerate
5. Cut into bars once they’re solid and you’re done!

7. Smooth Strawberry Protein Ice Cream

Protein shakes are great and all, but sometimes you just want a treat that’s a treat for your muscles and your mouth. Which is right where this sweet ice cream steps in.

Ingredients:

• Frozen strawberries
• A small piece of frozen banana
• 1/2 a scoop of vanilla vegan protein powder
• A few teaspoons of plant-based milk

How To:

1. Add the ingredients to a high-powered blender
2. Add a little plant-based milk and blend until smooth
3. Once blended simply scoop out into a bowl and eat up!

8. Baked Pears

This dish is worthy of the poshest bistro’s menu (Instagram, anyone?)

Ingredients:

• One pear
• A splash of apple syrup
• A sprinkle of cinnamon
• Almond butter coconut yogurt
• A dash of raw nuts

How To:

1. Slice the pear in half
2. Drizzle over a little maple syrup and cinnamon
3. Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes
4. Once baked, top with almond butter coconut yogurt and the few raw nuts

So there you have it! Eight tasty treats to keep your energy levels up and your taste buds satisfied! Do you have a go-to snack to keep you going on those tough workout days? Let us know using the hashtag #ProworksFitness - we’d love to hear from you!