Not everywhere has a good selection of vegan-friendly snacks available, so it’s important to pack your own. I’ve looked into the best and worst that Amazon has to offer and can wholeheartedly recommend the following ten.
If you caught my previous article called “Tastes on a Plane“, you’ll know that I always try to pack my own lunchbox of goodies when I’m travelling. It just saves a lot of time, faffing about and, in my experience, money. I don’t know if you’ve ever bought a bag of quinoa crisps, but let me tell you that they aren’t cheap at the best of times, but add airport tax and you have a snack that should come gold-plated to warrant the cost!
I’ve been vegan quite a while and have jumped on the sustainability train too, which is why I bought myself a PlanetBox. Made of stainless steel, it should last me a lifetime, plus it has a number of handy little compartments, which means that I can buy in all the treats I fancy, then fill up my PlanetBox and go, safe in the knowledge that I’ll have enough energy to last me all day and to keep my synapses firing in long meetings. Of course, I’m no stranger to the odd kale chip and stuffed date, but when you’re travelling abroad, you need pre-packed items that you can pop into your luggage without worrying about spillages and mess, so take a look at some of my all-time favourite tasty treats that are freely available online. I’m willing to bet that you haven’t tried them all!
Like a brownie, only that bit healthier, these chocolatey chunks of heaven pack a whopping 12g of protein, without filling you with sugar and all sorts of sluggish nasties. Great as a mid-morning treat, they work well with a hot drink.
2. Coconut Merchant Organic Raw Coconut Chips, 500g
Healthier by far than banana chips that have been coated in sugar, natural coconut flakes are really popular right now. They are perfect on their own, as an alternative to reaching for a bag of crisps or added to bland foods that need a little extra pizazz.
3. Yutaka Wasabi Peas 2 kg (Pack of 1)
If you like your snacks to have a kick, you can’t beat wasabi peas. Less calorific than coated peanuts, they give a satisfying crunch and a whack of flavour, making them a great go-to when your stomach starts to rumble.
4. itsu Sweet Soy and Sea Salt Crispy Seaweed Thins Multipack 15 g (Pack of 18)
You’ll never go back to normal crisps once you’ve tasted these weird but wonderful alternatives! Giving you plenty of flavour, a great texture and a surprising amount of energy, you’ll only have 22 calories per pack to worry about burning off in the hotel gym later!
5. Primal Vegan Hickory Smoke Jerky Strips (Pack of 6)
Yes, you read that right; there IS a jerky for vegans! Cholesterol free, chewy, tasty as hell and 97% fat free, this smoked meat alternative packs a real protein punch and can really help you in a pinch. Don’t be surprised if you fool some seasoned meat eaters with this one!
6. Flying Goose Sriracha Mayo Sauce 455ml
This is more of a must-have item to carry with you wherever you go! Inevitably, you’ll stumble across somewhere that simply doesn’t know what to feed you, so even if you just get a bowl of plain rice, you’ll be bale to eat like a king with a little drizzle of this magic juice! Trust me, if you haven’t tried it yet, you need to!
7. Eat Real Hummus Tomato and Basil Chips 45 g (Pack of 12)
These are so much better than any potato crisp I’ve ever tried and thanks to the fun little scoop shape, you can really soak up some extra tastiness, if you treat yourself to a pot of something delicious. I never go anywhere without these and a tub of salsa.
8. Chika’s Smoked Almonds 45g (Pack of 12)
Nuts are a great source of slow release energy but add in a little smoked flavour too and you have something extra special. Perfect as a little lunch accompaniment, you’ll find that you can’t just have a couple.
9. Alpro Dark Chocolate Dessert 4 x 125 g (Pack of 6)
Don’t go on your business travels without a little luxury when these amazing desserts are so good that you’ll have to fight non-vegan colleagues for them. Silky, decadent and just the right amount of naughty, nobody will think you’re missing out, once they try them.
Finally, to keep your breath smelling great and your mouth refreshed, snag some of this amazing gum that is sugar free, has no nasty sweeteners and no plastic gum base either. You’ll quickly get used to the unusual texture and then, you’ll just love the flavours.
So there you have it. Never get caught out again or find yourself having to make do with a tube of ready salted Pringles. With these treats, your palette will be suitably entertained, your stomach will be full and your ethics will be fully in tact, wherever in the world your business takes you.
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