4 Vegan Snacks for Veganuary

It's a new year. January, for many, is a time to turn over a new leaf and recommit to healthy goals and habits. Since Jackson's products are Certified Vegan (with vegan.org), we thought Veganuary might be a good focal point.

Snacking on plant based healthy alternatives is a good place to start. My absolute favourite snack of choice happens to be vegan because potato chips I eat are simply potatoes, oil and salt. However, there are healthier options, to be sure.

In general my kitchen and I are not always on the best of terms. We're not enemies, just general acquaintances. The kitchen is my husband's happy place. So for me, things need to be super simple and gluten-free and vegan to avoid unpleasant GI consequences (there's a cell salt for that!)

Here are a few snacks and a bonus dessert (I eat it as a snack) options with some cell salt pairings to consider in Veganuary and beyond (from super easy to not too hard); 

1. Fruit or Vegetables

It doesn't get much easier than this. Am I right?! No need to get fancy or complicated. All the work that is required may be some simple washing up, peeling, or cutting into bite sized pieces. Simply grab the fruit of your choice, prepare to your liking and enjoy.

This can also be done with vegetables, however, make sure you have a vegan dip on hand to avoid a cheat.

Can't more "recipes" include the "not made by me" approach or the one ingredient solution? Maybe it's just me.

Cell salt pairing: if you're going to have a banana, consider #5 Kali mur 10 minutes before or after to help potassium absorption; or #8 Mag phos as magnesium is key in cellular use of potassium.

2. Blue Corn Tortilla Chips with Salsa or Hummus

Okay, this is for times when there's little time or energy to do much and snacking is going to happen. It's an alternative to the potato chips and can easily be done by buying everything ready made at the store. However, you can always take the time to make your own salsa or hummus for a greater sense of accomplishment. Make the amount of effort that feels right for you.

Cell salt pairing: Similar to popcorn above you'll want to pair this with cell salts that help with the absorption or use of potassium.

3. Stove Popped Popcorn with Nutritional Yeast

You can skip the nutritional yeast but we like the flavour. We cook this on the stove using a wok with a high dome cover; however, any large pot should suffice. In the wok, as the kernels pop, the unpopped kernels remain down at the bottom and the popped ones rise up. Shake over the heat until you don't hear any random kernels popping, transfer to large bowl; salt; add nutritional yeast; and combine.

Ingredients:
3 tbsp oil
1/2 cup popcorn kernels
Salt to taste
Nutritional yeast to taste

Helpful tips: warm oil in wok while you get the popcorn ready; shake the covered wok back and forth over the heat as you would jiffy pop pan; stop when you don't hear a kernel pop when you stop shaking for a slow 3 seconds.

The process can usually be completed in under 10 minutes.

Cell salt pairing: #9 Nat mur before or after your popcorn will help with water balance in case you happen to love your salt.

4. Oat Muffins

We used to make this one more regularly and it needs to be pulled out again. Makes about 10 muffins

Ingredients:

• 2 cups oat flour (gluten-free if you need it)
• 1/4 tsp salt (optional)
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp unbuffered vitamin C crystals
• 1/4 cup oil
• 1 cup water

Directions:

1. Mix dry ingredients together in a large bowl
2. Mix together water and oil
3. Pour into dry ingredients, and stir until they are mixed in
4. Put batter into an oiled and floured muffin tin (perhaps the muffin liners work as well), filling the cups approximately 2/3 full
5. Bake at 400°F for 30-35 minutes or until muffins begin to brown and pull away from the side of the pan

You could probably alter and test adding other things like adding oats and applesauce (1/4 cup of each) for an oat'ier experience or adding raisins and shredded carrots. However, this is an easy gluten-free vegan muffin with really 3 steps before baking. Pretty straightforward and easy, except maybe finding the unbuffered vitamin c crystals.

Cell salt pairing: consider #6 Kali phos before or after as the combination of oats and Kali phos might help with frazzled nerves.

BONUS: Vegan Strawberry Rhubarb Crumble

This recipe was adjusted from another recipe online as we like things a little less sweet and with more topping with more yummy bits. It's the most involved and most time consuming. However, if you use blueberries or even frozen fruit, there is far less chopping and prep. It is great for dessert or a quick little snack.

Fruit part (you could substitute for any fruit of choice):
3 cups strawberries
3 cups rhubarb
<1/4 cup agave (or honey or maple syrup) I generally use maple syrup; adjust to your liking

Topping (I double this except the allspice and brown sugar):
1/2 cup flour (gluten-free all purpose)
1/2 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup brown sugar
3/4 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp allspice
1/3 cup non-dairy margarine

Additions (optional):
1/4 non-dairy chocolate chips
1/4 cup coconut

Directions:
1. Combine fruit with your choice of sweetener and place in square casserole or baking dish
2. Combine topping ingredients; mix until crumbly; and sprinkle over fruit mixture
3. Bake at 350° for 40 to 50 minutes, until golden

Cell salt pairing: we think this one is the complete package of snacks, so maybe consider the 12 in 1 to just round out all that goodness.

Do you have ways to make vegan choices easy and accessible? What's your favourite go to snack?

Happy Veganuary! Looking for more vegan options, you can get a free vegan recipe cookbook with recipes from celebrities at veganuary.com. They also have  loads of recipes, shopping tips and more.

[Feature image courtesy of charlesdeluvio on Unsplash]