My Top 10 Essential On-the-Go Snacks

A trip to the grocery store can be overwhelming when there are  endless options of snacks. Finding a snack that tastes delicious, is filling, and gives you an energy boost can feel like a challenge! Use this list next time you're at your local grocery store to cure that inevitable grocery store dread.

1. Seaweed Snack Cooked in Avocado Oil:

If you're craving a salty, crunchy snack, search for seaweed chips. They are incredibly satisfying and packed with antioxidants in bioavailable forms of vitamins A, C, and E, which aid in immune, skin, and blood health. Stop by Whole Foods and look for the Organic Roasted Seaweed Snack in Avocado. Seaweed is a light snack, so you can eat to your hearts desire.

2. Grass-fed Beef Jerk:

Looking for a calorie-dense, protein, vitamin, and mineral-rich snack? Grass-fed beef jerky is naturally lower in total fat, doesn't contain antibiotics or growth hormones, and is higher in Omega-3 fatty acids. The Epic brand is a favorite, given its historically clean ingredients and climate pledge. My favorite is the Beef with Salt and Pepper bar and it packs 11 grams of protein per serving. With a shelf life of over a year, it's safe to stock up and keep a hefty supply of this delicious snack.

3. RX Bars:

Protein bars have been around since the 60s and have been a staple in many people's diets. However, many of them do more harm than good because of artificial sweeteners and poor protein forms, which can be detrimental to one's health, and sometimes taste bad. RX Bars found a solution by using simple ingredients that provide a stronger source of protein and energy. My favorite flavor, Peanut Butter Chocolate, has 12 grams of protein and is my go-to post-workout or mid-day snack.

4. Purely Elizabeth Grain Free Granola:

Perhaps the most nutrient-dense and versatile food on this list, The Grain Free Granola series from Purely Elizabeth is phenomenal. They offer five paleo and Keto-friendly flavors packed with superfoods. In particular, the Vanilla Almond Butter stands out, featuring organic pumpkin seeds, organic sunflower seeds, and cashews which provide pure and bioavailable forms of protein, vitamins, and fiber. The Grain-Free series cooks its granola in organic coconut oil, a less processed and inflammatory option than seed oils which are commonly found on ingredient lists. Purely Elizabeth Grain-free is my ideal cereal, smoothie topping, or fast bite.

5. Hu Dark Chocolate:

A bite of chocolate anytime during the day is something we can all agree is fantastic. Sometimes, a piece of chocolate is the boost you need to get through the day like a warrior. When choosing chocolate, Hu Dark Chocolate is a fantastic option because of its organic and fair-trade ingredients. Organic cacao, an herbal medicine used for thousands of years, can be found in every bar. Along with this, they sweeten the bars with coconut sugar, a far less processed and inflammatory sugar option than cane sugar. Hu’s ability to combine nutrition with taste is remarkable, so be sure to give Hu a try.

6. Solely Fruit Gummies:

Chewy, sweet, and delicious are all the characteristics I look for when getting fruit snacks. Getting fresh fruit isn’t always accessible, so turning to an alternative option can be a better choice for many. Unfortunately, brands that claim to be “real” fruit gummies are often just a mixture of ultra-processed artificial sugars and dyes. These ingredients have no semblance to the fruit they are trying to replicate. Fortunately, Solely Fruit Gummies produces one to two ingredient fruit gummies, with just fruit. These are as delicious as their fake fruit gummy competitors while also being highly nutritious and satisfying. Solely’s staple flavor, “Whole Mango,” is rich in polyphenols and Vitamin E and C, all of which help to prevent cancers, coronary heart disease, and inflammation.

7. Siete Potato Chips:

Potato chips are to snacks what water is to drinks. They are an essential part of anyone's snacking rotation. What if one potato chip brand is superior? Can one fried potato be "healthier" than another? Through this selection process, I found Siete Potato Chips. Siete is owned by the Garza family, a family-run and owned business since 2014. They make a variety of grain-free options of tortillas and chips, made with just three ingredients: potatoes, salt, and avocado oil. Compared to other chip options, Siete's use of avocado oil, which is rich in healthy fat and vitamin A, makes them stand out nutritionally. Siete Potato chips will be a delicious hit for a party, pairing with a meal, or a late-night snack.

8. Lesser Evil Himalayan Pink Salt Popcorn:

When it comes to sustainability, flavor, and nutrition, no brand can beat “Lesser Evil.” They offer a wide variety of Paleo, Keto, vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free snacks. More specifically, Lesser Evil has 14 different popcorn flavors, and the most popular is the “Himalayan Pink salt.” Being air-popped in coconut oil, the flavor of the corn is enhanced while also adding a plethora of health benefits. There is 63% less fat and 100% more fiber when cooked with this method compared to typical kettle popcorn. Coconut oil also offers extensive benefits for the skin, brain, blood, and gut. When grabbing a handful of popcorn, it should only contain a handful of ingredients. If you are interested in entering the market of pre-popped popcorn, Lesser Evil is the place to start.

9. Cocojune Yogurts:

Are you feeling tired, foggy, upset, and irritable? Maybe your gut microbiome is off-balance. Perhaps you need a boost of probiotics to get you feeling your best again. Cocojune Yogurts are packed with billions of scientifically backed probiotics and are outstandingly nutritious. Cocojune is a sustainable, organic, vegan yogurt choice that is filling and creamy. These yogurts also pair great with Purely Elizabeth Grain Free Granola. If you were on the search for a new vegan yogurt option or perhaps a mood boost, look no further!

10. Sacred Serve Ice Cream:

Even though this is more of a dessert, it would be criminal to leave it off this list. Sacred Serve, a woman-owned vegan ice cream brand, has taken the ice cream space by storm by packing the shelves of grocery stores across the country. Their unique flavors and development process has set them apart from competitors like Mauna Loa and Oatly. They use organic ingredients, no refined sugar or gums, and only young Thai coconut meat. Their ice creams have simple, nutritious, and mind-blowingly delicious ingredients. We all know ice cream is a great treat anytime during the day. So why not pick an option that makes you feel as good as it tastes?