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The Best Vegan Road Trip Snacks

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1. Bare Snacks

Bare Snacks offers an assortment of healthy vegan-friendly snacks that are available at 7-Eleven stores nationwide. The fruit-forward snacks will help give you some much-needed energy while on the road and prevent you from going for more sugary treats. The Fuji & Reds Apple Chips, Cinnamon Apple Chips, Toasted Coconut Chips, and Simply Banana Chips are all vegan.

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2. PigOut Pigless Pork Rinds

If you’re looking for something salty to nosh on while you drive you’re in luck. 7-Eleven stores sell PigOut Pigless Pork Rinds in many flavors including Hella Hot, Nacho Cheese, Original, Salt and Vinegar, and Texas BBQ. The vegan rinds are the latest foodie innovation from Beyond Burger creator, Chef Dave Anderson. PigOut is high in protein with 25 grams in each full-size bag. The snack is baked and free from gluten, soy, GMOs, cholesterol, and trans fats.

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3. Lenny & Larry’s Cookies

For a filling snack that will satisfy your sweet tooth pick up The Lenny & Larry’s Complete Cookie. The 4-oz cookie has up to 16g of plant-based proteins and 10g of fiber. It’s dairy-free, no egg, vegan, and Non-GMO Project Verified. Treat yourself to a few of the delicious renditions including Birthday Cake, Chocolate Donut, Apple Pie, and more.

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4. Quinn Pretzels

Need something with a crunch? Quinn Snacks’ Pretzels are all vegan (except for the honey pretzels) and available at 7-Elevens. As a bonus, Quinn pretzels are made from natural gluten-free whole-grain sorghum. The pretzels are non-GMO, certified gluten-free, grain-free, paleo-friendly, vegan, and dairy-free. This salty snack hits the spot for those salty cravings.

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5. Accidentally Vegan Gas Station Snacks

Fortunately, many road trip snacks are accidentally vegan. If you can’t find the above products at your pit stop lookout for nuts and seeds for a healthy snack. If you want to indulge in a less healthy snack pick up Oreos, Cliff bars, Lays barbecue chips, original Fritos, original Ritz crackers, traditional Chex Mix, Takis Fuego, Spicy Sweet Chili Doritos, Swedish Fish, original Pringles, original Sun Chips, Chick-O-Sticks, or Gardetto’s original recipe.

For more plant-based recommendations, visit The Beet’s Product Reviews.

The post 5 Delicious Vegan Snacks to Pack for Your Road Trip appeared first on The Beet.

Currently, the Vegan Mac & Cheese has only been spotted at Woolworths grocery stores in Australia and the company’s website. While consumers worldwide will have to wait for vegan mac and cheese, Kraft Heinz had developed several vegan products over recent years. The company has also pushed its venture arms into plant-based investments.

Kraft Heinz showed its plant-based redirection in 2019 when the company chose five vegan start-ups to support during a 16-week Springboard Brands program hosted in Chicago. The program was meant to provide the necessary support to the growing companies by offering networking opportunities, mentorship events, and access to the Kraft kitchen and production facilities. Kraft also granted the start-up $50,000 in starting capital to better launch their vegan products.

In 2019, Kraft Heinz also assisted in a funding round where Silicon Valley-based company New Culture secured $35 million. The company is working towards a fermentation process that will create dairy-identical mozzarella without cow involvement. New Culture announced that its vegan, cell-based cheese will become available in 2023.

The company has also started expanding its vegan options in other food categories across the United Kingdom. Kraft Heinz released the [Seriously] Good Vegan Mayo and Vegan Salad Cream across the UK last year after the company discovered how to recreate the recipe without the use of eggs.

Specifically, Heinz is redesigning its bean and sauce portfolio. The Beanz products started etching towards veganism last year. In January 2020, the company announced that its “Bean Meanz Heinz” would be rebranded to “Beanz Meanz Vegan” for the British Veganuary campaign. The Heinz brand also announced that it would be moving towards “VBQ” labels for nearly 29 new plant-based meats and barbeque sauces.

“Beans are already a vegan product, so we are looking to take beans as a base for a new plant-based range,” Kraft Heinz Ireland head David Adams told The Checkout following the company’s vegan mayo and salad cream debut. “We are working through a few ideas at the moment and we are excited about the possibilities in the plant-based arena.”

Sandra Oh and 20 Others It Might Surprise You to Learn Are Plant-Based

1. Paul McCartney

Sir James Paul McCartney is no stranger to a meat-free life as he’s been vegetarian for 45 years. He initially went vegetarian in 1975 with his first wife Linda McCartney and began his advocacy for animal rights.

2. Sia

If you find yourself constantly singing along to the song The Greatest, then you’re already a Sia fan. Sia tweeted that she is “fully vegan now” back in 2014 and stays true to her word

3. Sandra Oh

Way back at the start of Grey’s Anatomy, Sandra Oh took the cast out for a plant-based lunch at Truly Vegan in Hollywood. In her effort to inspire contemporaries to eat vegan, the TV star is known to invite her friends for vegan meals that are delicious. She adopted the vegan lifestyle years ago and continues to quietly live a cruelty-free life.

4. Gisele Bündchen

Giselle revealed that when she was at the peak of her modeling career, her diet consisted of “cigarettes, wine, and mocha Frappuccinos,” according to an interview in People Magazine. Now 39 and the mother of two children, Gisele eats a “mostly” plant-based diet to nourish her body and stay fueled.

5. Alec Baldwin

Alec Baldwin has made a bigger commitment to plant-based eating since he was first told by doctors that he was pre-diabetic and needed to change his diet. That was decades ago. But, over the last few years, he’s been vocal about the benefits not only to his health but also the impact plant-based eating has on the environment.

7. Pamela Anderson

We all remember Pamela Anderson as the curvaceous blonde in the hit series Baywatch as she played Casey Jean in the red one-piece swimsuit that brought her world-class fame. She is a life-long active animal rights advocate and teamed up with PETA to join the Animal Protection Organization.

8. Kristen Stewart

“We shouldn’t eat as much meat guys,” Kristen Stewart told GQ in an interview in January. The Twilight star has made a full 180 from vampire to vegan. When she appeared on the game show “Hot Ones” she chose to skip the wings and instead compete by eating increasing spicier sauce on vegan cauliflower wings.

9. Jared Leto

This award-winning actor eats a high-protein diet consisting of only plants. Leto, who has been plant-based for 20 years, says it keeps him “shredded” in an interview. Now, 48, Leto looks half his age.

10. Jaden Smith

Jaden Smith switched up his diet from vegan to vegetarian, meaning that he doesn’t eat meat but does eat dairy from time to time. In a recent article by Plant Based News, Smith admits he skipped meals and was not getting the proper nutrition when he was vegan, but this hasn’t stopped him from espousing the plant-based life.

11. Meghan Markle

Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex has never admitted to being fully vegan, but sources say, she eats a plant-based diet most days during the week. She is teaching Prince Harry vegan cooking and in a Plant-Based News article, Markle explained how she hopes to raise baby Archie on a mostly vegan diet.

12. Serena Williams

As a professional athlete, fueling the body is a key factor to Willaim’s successes. In a Bon Appetite article, she explained that she adopted a plant-based diet back in 2012, she was eating a lot “healthier” for her sister, Venus, who eats a strict vegan diet for health reasons.

13. John Mackey

The popular grocery store, Whole Foods Market sells vegan products and nonvegan products which arises black lash from ethical vegans as CEO John Mackey follows a strict vegan diet. The successful businessman grew up in Houston Texas and told Business Insider that he would traditionally eat processed foods for dinner while watching TV with his family. Now, Mackey steers clear from the processed isle and eats a clean vegan diet and feels amazing at the age of 65.

14. Jason Mraz

Jason Mraz, singer of the popular song, I’m Yours, committed to a vegan diet to support his friend diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. Mraz says he eats mostly raw food and told magazine sources his favorite vegan dish is “Chocomole, a mixture of avocados, dates, cacao, agave nectar, and coconut oil.”

15. Leona Lewis

Long time vegan, Leona Lewis grew up in a vegan household and continues to eat a plant-based diet. Lewis first adopted the diet at 12 when she learned about the health risks of eating animal products but told Women’s Health Magazine she occasionally eats an omelet. She also mentioned her 2:30 lunch is normally a kale salad topped with dried cranberries and she loves a veggie stir-fry for dinner.

16. Hannah Teter

Hannah Teter changed her diet after watching the documentary, Earthlings when she discovered how “horrible” factory farming is. After a strict vegetarian diet, Teter liked the way she performed as an athlete and believes that her diet helped her win gold at the 2006 games.

17. Maggie Q,

You may recognize Maggie Q as the star of the Nikita series, but in the plant-based world, she’s well-known for her heroic activism. Maggie Q has followed a strict vegan diet for 19 years, making her a true veteran of the lifestyle. She made the plant-based diet transition because she felt sluggish and had low energy, she has said. The famous actress keeps in shape by eating veggies and plant-based protein and working out with a passion.

18. Madelaine Petsch,

Winner of the first Masterchef vegan cook-off with Gordon Ramsay, Madelaine Petsch was raised vegetarian and went completely vegan at age 14. She claims that she started this diet before it was “trendy” and shot a campaign for PETA last year wearing a dress made of bok choy. Petsch says her vegan diet allows her to feel “healthier” and not “lethargic.”

19. Millie Bobbi Brown

After doing a little sleuthing on her social media platforms we think Millie Bobbi Brown qualifies as plant-based. Whether or not she is actually skipping all meat and dairy, one thing is for sure: She eats mostly salads, vegetables and grains and lives a predominantly plant-based lifestyle full of healthy foods.

20. Chloe and Halle Bailey

The grammy-nominated sisters went vegan for a week with their mom but liked it so much they decided to stick with it. For one thing, it helps keep their “voices in shape” by eating a vegan diet and they emphasize the fact that dairy helps to limit extra mucus build-up, according to a PETA interview.

21. Hilary Duff

Best known for her role as Lizzie Mcguire in the long-running series, Hilary Duff is a recent vegan advocate and entrepreneur. She recently launched the vegan and cruelty-free eyeshadow palette, “Day Dreamer” and changed her diet to plant-based last fall.

The post Kraft’s Blue Box Mac & Cheese Just Got a Vegan Makeover appeared first on The Beet.

The new cold treat arrives just in time to close out summer. The company describes the ice cream to have everything shoppers want from the original, but just without the dairy, saying “the cone is crunchy, the dessert is creamy, and the whole vegan mini-cone experience is a big deal…especially when you’re eating dairy-free.”

The grocery store chain continues to bolster its vegan ice cream selections, becoming one of the top providers of dairy-free desserts nationwide. Some of the most recent additions to the dairy-free lines include the Vanilla Non-Dairy Dessert that uses almond beverage as its base, the soy-based Cherry Chocolate Chip ice cream, its pint of Cold Brew Coffee, and Boba Coconut Non-Dairy Frozen Dessert.

Last December, the company debuted its Non-Dairy Mint & Chip Bon Bons. After an extremely positive consumer response, Trader Joe’s followed this product with the Cookies & Creme Vanilla Bean Bon Bons, giving Trader Joe’s customers another vegan treat.

Trader Joe’s also released its Non-Dairy Frozen Dessert Chocolate Fudge Oat Bars earlier this summer, mirroring the classic fudgesicle in taste and texture. The non-dairy alternative uses oat milk and semisweet chocolate to produce the perfect plant-based dessert option. The dessert section – and especially the summer dessert section – is becoming the most expansive for shoppers nationwide, showcasing the company’s dedication to cater to its plant-based customers.

The company’s vegan push extends outside of the dessert aisle as Trader Joe’s has rapidly released several products that bring familiar favorites to plant-based tables. Earlier this year, the company revealed a Vegan Bolognese Style Pasta Sauce with its very own alternative protein. Alongside the sauce, Trader Joe’s rollout out a Vegan Enchilada Casserole using a dairy-free cheese developed by the grocery chain. The store executives are accelerating its plant-based development in every category, but more specifically, with plans to tackle vegan seafood.

“I’m looking to do more work on the seafood side,” Trader Joe’s Manager of Deli, Frozen Meat, Seafood, Meatless, and Fresh Beverages Amy Gaston-Morales said. “We don’t have options yet within our stores for a plant-based seafood product but there are crab cakes out on the market or scallops or tuna replacements.”

As the company continues to develop vegan products across all its food categories, shoppers who need to cool off in the summer heat can pick up the new Non-Dairy Frozen Dessert Cones at stores across the US. The vegan Hold the Dairy cones can be purchased for $3.99 for 12 mini cones.

The 12 Best Non-Dairy Coffee Creamers For That Real Cream Taste

1. Califia Unsweetened Almond Milk Creamer

Califia Farms Almond Creamer is made with real almonds and coconut cream to give a rich, full-flavored texture and has 2 grams of added sugar. The consistency is so thick it’s more like a heavy cream rather than a creamer substitute. Regardless, it froths up well and is very creamy. The almond taste is noticeable but the creamer isn’t bitter or grainy. You don’t need to use a lot of it; a little goes a long way!

2. Silk Dairy-Free Original Soy Creamer

Silk Original Dairy-Free Original Soy Creamer has only 1 gram of added sugar, but sadly it does not froth up well when I heated it due to a thinner, more watery consistency. It didn’t combine well with coffee, no matter how much was added. Because of the underwhelming flavor, this was my least favorite.

3. Coffee-Mate Natural Bliss® Unsweetened Plant-Based Half-and-Half

This Natural Bliss Coconut Milk Creamer/Sweet Cream is the best one I’ve found for both frothing and taste, especially if you miss the consistency and flavor of half-and-half. It’s creamy and has a hint of coconut, but no overwhelming coconut flavor. Note: it is made with pea protein, unlike the other ones, which is probably why it’s thicker. Always check ingredients if you have food allergies because unexpected ingredients such as peas can be hiding in the product, and you would never know by the taste.

4. So Delicious Organic Coconut Milk Creamer

So Delicious has been marketing dairy-free frozen desserts, yogurt alternatives, and smooth plant-based beverages for over 30 years. Besides the coconut milk, they also have “Original,” “Snickerdoodle.” “Caramel” and “Creamy Vanilla” flavors. I only sampled the coconut milk flavor. This is the only one in this taste test with 0 grams of added sugar. It has a very rich coconut taste and froths up nicely in coffee like milk. It’s not as thick as some of the others but is a good alternative to ultra-sweet creamers if you want to be careful about your sugar intake. The coconut flavor is powerful but not overwhelming.

5. CoffeeMate Natural Bliss Vanilla Oat Milk Creamer

Natural Bliss Oat Milk Creamer, Vanilla Natural Flavor, with 4 grams added sugar is similar to Coffee Mate’s Coconut creamer but without the coconut flavor. It’s super-rich and creamy with a hint of oat flavor but not bitter at all. My new favorite! This is the best one I’ve found for frothing and taste especially if you miss the consistency and flavor of half and half. It’s like the real thing as it’s creamy, fluffy and not grainy. Remember to shake it up before putting in your frother. Use a little and be happy with your non-dairy latte!

6. Original Oat-Ly Oat Milk Barista Edition

The Original Oat-Ly Oat Milk Barista Edition contains 4 grams of sugar but its full-flavored taste makes it a rich choice. It doesn’t market itself as a creamer but it does advertise as the choice for the barista community. It’s slightly less frothy than real milk when mixed but the flavor is pleasant, not bitter, and I would choose it again.

7. Silk Oat Yeah Oat Milk Creamer

Silk Oat Yeah Oat Milk Creamer, the Vanilla One has 4 grams of added sugar and is also at the top of my list. While it’s sweet, it’s also incredibly rich which means you can use less of it in your coffee. It was thick and creamy when frothed and it adds a fluffy cap to your coffee as lattes make with real cream. Note that pea protein is an added ingredient in this creamer as well. This can rival the real thing but choose this one only if you like a strong vanilla aftertaste!

8. Silk Vanilla Almond Creamer

The Silk Almond Creamer Vanilla boasts that it’s “America’s #1 Almond Creamer. But with 4 grams added sugar you may want to use it sparingly. It did taste sweet and was nice and thick, so someone who likes rich creamers will love it. The vanilla aftertaste was pretty strong. And it’s a little too syrupy sweet for my taste.

9. Nut Pod Creamer Unsweetened Original

Nutpods is the closest you’ll get to the real thing! Tasters immediately gave this dairy-free creamer a 5 out 5. The texture is smooth and mixes with coffee instantly. Unlike soy creamers, this almond and coconut-based creamer doesn’t separate once your done stirring. Nut Pods is the most comparable to half and half in the whole list of creamers!

10. Forager Organic Dairy-Free Half & Half

Forager is cashew milk and coconut cream based that mixes for a unique and flavorful taste. The consistency was on the thinner side, and if you’re a heavy cream or half-and-half devotee this is probably not the creamer for you, although those who like a lighter flavor will enjoy it.

11. Trader Joe’s Coconut Creamer

This creamer is rich, round and doesn’t taste too overtly of coconut. You only need a splash to achieve a nice, creamy effect in your coffee, and there’s no watered-down consistency, so if you swear by heavy cream or half & half, give this Trader Joe’s option a try! At only $1.69 per carton, this product is a steal.

12. Malk Organics Unsweetened Almond Malk

The thickest consistency of the bunch, resembling a heavy cream rather than half and half. Malk has only 5 ingredients, making it super clean and healthy! The almond flavor might be overpowering to those who like less flavor in their creamer. Add the Maple Pecan flavor to your coffee for an even sweeter taste.

The post Trader Joe’s Releases New Hold the Dairy! Vegan Ice Cream Cones appeared first on The Beet.

“From day one; Outstanding Foods has been a great partner in our collective mission to provide a more outstanding life to those who need it most,” McGee said. “Together with our team at JUGLIFE, we’re confident the #HellaHotChallenege will help us make a significant impact in our quest to provide education and clean water.”

With McGee’s influence, the company is aiming to motivate plant-based eaters to become involved in JUGLIFE’s charitable mission while informing followers about sustainability and nutritional plant-based alternatives. So far, the total participant follower account including the nominated and current celebrity investors reaches above 200 million, giving Outstanding Foods a wide platform to broadcast its products.

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The centerpiece of the challenge is Outstanding Food’s signature spicy Outstanding Puffs. Currently, the puffs can be found on the company’s website alongside select retailers nationwide. The company boasts a delicious snack that contains iron, zinc, calcium, and vitamins B12, E, D, B6, A. The 3 oz bag is sold at $3.99 and is certified plant-based.

“At Outstanding Foods, we’re passionate about providing a more outstanding version of the foods that everyone loves,” CEO and co-founder Bill Glaser said. “We hope to provide a more delicious, sustainable, and, of course, plant-based version that’s easily accessible. Partnering with JaVale and JUGLIFE extends our mission into making lives more Outstanding through clean water.”

The #HellaHotChallenege plans to raise awareness about sustainability and its relationship with food by encouraging celebrities to participant in the challenge and subsequent donations. The challenge asks participants to encourage donations while also trying to eat as many Hella Hot puffs as possible in 30 seconds. If the participant can’t handle the heat, they get doused with water and must donate to the cause. The organization and company hope that together they can bring necessities to people across the globe who face water insecurity.

“It was important to us to partner with JUGLIFE because, not only do they bring clean water to communities in Africa who do not have access to this essential need, but they take it a huge step further,” Glaser told VegNews. “JUGLIFE educates kids around the world about the importance of living a healthy lifestyle which includes drinking more water. Their dedication to communities across the globe, including the US and in Africa, is nothing short of inspiring and it was a natural fit to come together for this unified cause.”

McGee adopted his plant-based diet in 2016, revealing his vegan change to NBA star Kevin Durant during his YouTube series, “Parking Lot Chronicles.” McGee explained that his plant-based diet helps him feel physically better, allowing him to perform better. The athlete then became one of the first investors in Outstanding Foods alongside music legend Snoop Dogg, helping the company secure a $5 million funding round. The NBA star has continued to vocalize his support for plant-based foods and companies since then, highlighting how he feels going plant-based help the body saying that a plant-based diet “led to an enormous improvement in [his] performance as an athlete.

“Shifting to a plant-based diet has been a literal game-changer,” McGee said, discussing plant-based giant Beyond Meat’s partnership with the Los Angeles Lakers. “And I’m excited to have my two favorite LA brands partnering to make plant-based eating not only delicious but accessible.

20 Athletes Who Went Vegan to Get Stronger

1. Novak Djokovic: Number one tennis champion in the world

The number one tennis player in the world, Novak Djokovic, went plant-based more than twelve years ago to enhance his athletic performance and win more matches. In recent interviews, he has credited going vegan with helping him rise from third place in the world to first in the world because it helped clear his allergies. Before changing his diet, Djokovic had searched for cures to the breathing issues that cost him matches and focus which caused him to struggled during his most intense matches. The allergies used to make him feel like he couldn’t breathe and would be forced to retire from competitive matches as he did in Australia. “Eating meat was hard on my digestion and that took a lot of essential energy that I need for my focus, for recovery, for the next training session, and for the next match,” he said. Djokovic emphasized he does not eat foods that require a lot of digestion, especially in the morning, when he needs all of his energy for training. Instead, he starts the day with hot water and lemon, then celery juice, and some superfood supplements.

2. Tia Blanco: Professional Surfer and Beyond Meat Ambassador Read More: 20 Who Athletes Swear by a Plant-Based Diet to Boost Performance

Tia Blanco won gold at the International Surfing Association Open in 2015 and credits her success to her vegan diet. Blanco reports that a vegan diet helps her stay strong and she enjoys eating different forms of vegan protein like nuts, seeds, beans, and legumes. The professional surfer was influenced by her mother, who is a vegetarian and grew up in a veggie-forward household, Blanco has never eaten meat in her life, which made the plant-based switch much easier. And speaking of making things easier, Blanco has an Instagram cooking page called @tiasvegankitchen where she shares her favorite simple vegan recipes so all of her fans can eat like their favorite professional vegan athlete. In addition to her home-cooked meals, Blanco recently became an ambassador for vegan company Beyond Meat and now she posts Instagram stories and highlights of her favorite meatless meat recipes.

3. Steph Davis: World Leading Professional Rock Climber

Steph Davis has been vegan for 18 years now and says, “there’s nothing in my life that hasn’t become better as a result, from climbing and athletics to mental and spiritual well being.” Davis has competed on some of the most challenging verticle routes on the planet –like Concepcion (5.13), which is known to be one of the hardest pure climbs anywhere. Davis holds the third overall ascent and is the first female to ever make the ascent of the route. Davis described it as her “most technically demanding climb ever.” Davis explained why she went vegan eight years ago when she partnered with PETA. “What can we do to start making changes in a positive way? And if it just so happens that changing our lifestyle leads to environmental benefits, health benefits, economic benefits, and positive social change, then all the better. One thing I’ve learned is you don’t have to do or be anything you don’t want to be, and you can change anything in your life just by starting to do it. It’s you who chooses who and what you are, by the things you think and the things you do.” She goes on to add, “no one says you have to become a “perfect” vegan overnight. But why not start making small changes and see how it feels? I believe it’s the small choices people make that have the biggest power to change, and nothing is more simple yet also more far-reaching than changing how and what you choose to eat. We’re all here for a short time, in the end, and living a well-intentioned and compassionate life seems like what ultimately matters the most, the only real goal that I aspire to.”

4. Venus Williams: Tennis Great

Tennis champion Venus Williams swears that making the switch to veganism was one of the factors that helped to improve her performance and get over an auto-immune disease. The tennis star went vegan back in 2011 when she was diagnosed with Sjögren’s syndrome, a debilitating autoimmune disease with a range of symptoms from joint pain to swelling, numbness, burning eyes, digestive problems, and fatigue. She chose to eat plant-based to recover to her formerly healthy self, and it worked so she stuck to it. The seven-time Grand Slam singles champion recovers faster on a plant-based diet now, compared to how she felt back when she ate animal protein. When you have an auto-immune disease you often feel extreme fatigue and random body aches and for Venus, a plant-based diet provides energy and helps her reduce inflammation. The Beet reported on Willaim’s diet and what she normally eats in a day to stay healthy, fit, and win more matches. Talking about her favorite dinner meal, Williams adds, “sometimes a girl just needs a donut!”

5. Mike Tyson: The First Heavyweight Boxer to Hold the WBA, WBC, and IBF Titles

Mike Tyson recently said he is “in the best shape ever” thanks to his vegan diet. The boxing legend then announced he’s getting back into the rings after 15 years, to fight against Roy Jones, Jr. in California later this fall. Tyson went vegan ten years ago after dealing with health complications and in the wake of having cleaned up his life: “I was so congested from all the drugs and bad cocaine, I could hardly breathe.” Tyson said, “I had high blood pressure, was almost dying, and had arthritis.” Now, the 53-year-old powerhouse is sober, healthy, and fit. “Turning vegan helped me eliminate all those problems in my life,” and “I’m in the best shape ever.” His new trainer agrees: Watching Iron Mike’s speed during recent training sessions, observed: “He has the same power as a guy who is 21, 22-years old.”

6. Chris Paul: The NBA’s Newest Vegan Who Was Influenced by The Game Changers

Oklahoma City’s point guard Chris Paul decided to ditch meat and dairy and was asked join on as a co-executive producer for the popular documentary, The Game Changers. For breakfast, Paul enjoys oatmeal with plant-based milk and nut butter. For lunch, he fuels up with pasta or brown rice with Beyond Meat sausage, grilled vegetables, and a curry sauce. His chef told USA Today, “The main thing is, we try to keep it as light and clean as possible for his normal routine, with organic ingredients. Anything that can minimize body inflammation. Chris is always worrying about what he can and can’t eat.” So far it appears he’s getting it right. In an exclusive interview with The Beet’s Awesome Vegans columnist Elysabeth Alfano, Paul said eating a plant-based diet helps him keep up with players half his age.

7. Colin Kaepernick: Former (future?) NFL Player and Social Activist

In 2016, Kaepernick made the switch to veganism with his longtime girlfriend to recover from a series of injuries that had him down for the count. The Beet recently reported on how this dietary switch has allowed Kaepernick to stay strong and healthy. Now, he’s in the gym building muscle and looks fitter than ever. But will he be picked up? The professional football player claims that a vegan diet makes him feel “always ready” to perform his best on the field.

8. Cam Newton: New England Patriots’ Newest Quarterback is Vegan

Cam Newton just replaced Tom Brady, who also follows a mostly plant-based diet, as the New England Patriot’s QB, after having made the plant-based switch back in March 2019. The NFL Star first decided to ditch meat and dairy to recover quicker from injuries when he learned that a plant-based diet is proven to help reduce inflammation. “I’ve seen such a remarkable change in the way my body responds to the food that I eat,” Newton told PETA for his recent partnership for a new campaign called, “Built Like a Vegan,” proving that you don’t need to eat meat to be strong. Newton enjoys a meat-free burger on a pretzel bun, heavy on pickles and sauce. He adds: “People often ask, ‘How do you get your protein?’ I just say, ‘I get it in the same way you do, but it’s fresher and cleaner.’ ” Newton shares how to do it: “My advice to a person who wants to become vegan is to eat on schedule. If you can eat on a schedule, you won’t miss [a meal or crave meat] or think anything different, and you’ll be alright.”

9. Elijah Hall: American Sprinter Training for The 2021 Tokyo Olympics

Elijah Hall says about his vegan diet: “Going vegan was the best decision” he has ever made. Hall holds records in the indoor 200 meters and was training for the Tokyo this summer when it got postponed by a year due to the pandemic. Hall said “the effects that it’s having on my body are amazing. Becoming a plant-based athlete has opened many doors to my health and my training.” We predict he’ll only get faster in the next 11 months and break records, come home with golf and be the world champion in 12 months.

10. Morgan Mitchell: Omplyian Sprinter Who Won her First Title at 2014 Australian National Championships

Five-years ago, Morgan Mitchell went vegan and it made her faster, leaner and happier. Last year she was featured in the plant-based athletes documentary The Game Changers and said, “Being vegan has helped me immensely. I don’t feel sluggish like I did when I was eating meat, and my recovery from training really took off. It felt like an overall cleanse for my body, and I started seeing greater results on the track.” Now Michelle is committed for the planet as well. “Ultimately helping the environment and not contributing to animal cruelty was a big thing for me, too. That was my initial reason for going vegan, and the rest of the benefits were just added bonuses.” Mitchell describes what she eats in a day for enhanced performance and more energy to win sprints. “I like to make sure I have three different types of protein in there. I use tofu, beans, and mushrooms, along with spinach, vegan cheese, and hash browns,” she says. “I also love to add Beyond Meat for more flavor, which is a great source of plant protein as well. That usually keeps me full for the better part of the day,” she told Well + Good.

11. Lewis Hamilton: Formula One Driver Who Credits His Vegan Diet For Allowing Him to Be Victorious

“We were taught that eating animal products was good for us but we’ve been lied to for hundreds of years,” said Lewis Hamilton. The Beet reported on Hamiltion’s vegan diet quoting The New York Times that he credits his new plant-based diet with making the difference in his career. Hamilton gave up processed food and animal products for vegetables, fruit, nuts, grains, because of his strong compassion for animals, for the benefit of the environment, and his own health. Hamilton isn’t the only vegan in his family. His dog Rocco is fully vegan and Hamilton says he’s “super happy” on Rocco’s very own IG post. Earlier this year, Hamilton gave up his private jet because he said it’s a big pollutant and aims to live a sustainable lifestyle. Back in February, he started a line of sustainable clothing with Tommy Hilfiger at London Fashion Week.

12. Patrik Baboumian: Arguably The Strongest Man in The World

Featured in The Game Changers for his elite strength and his superhuman ability to lift a car, Patrik Baboumiam is one of the strongest men in the world and also happens to be vegan. Baboumian lifted 358 pounds in the 2009 German log lift nationals. Back in 2014, Baboumiam partnered with PETA in his campaign “Want to be Stronger” describing powering yourself with plants and how you can build muscle without eating meat. One of his 2019 PETA campaigns showed him posing with crossed arms and leaves in his mouths with the text: “The world’s strongest animals are plant-eaters: Gorillas, buffaloes, elephants and me.” Bahoumiam’s diet consists of a dairy-free shake for breakfast with 8 grams of protein and 0 carbohydrates. For lunch, he enjoys vegan sausage, falafel, low-fat oven fires, peppers, and more grilled veggies. He normally eats 250 grams of carbs and 90 grams of protein just for lunch. Dinner includes vegetables cooked potatoes, and tofu. If you want to eat like Boubanian, he reports his food diary on his blog BarBend.

13. Arnold Schwarzenegger: Former Proessional BodyBuilder, Producer, The Game Changers, and former Governor of California

Here’s a guy who has worn many hats: Bodybuilder, Terminator, California Governor, and now vegan and advocate for the plant-based lifestyle. Arnold Schwarzenegger ditched meat and dairy and has proven that you don’t need to eat animal products to be strong, healthy and reverse symptoms of heart disease. Now 73, he had a pulmonary valve replacement 1997 due to a congenital defect and underwent emergency open-heart surgery in 2018 to replace the valve again. He then changed his eating and fitness habits and now extolls the virtues of plant-based eating for the environment as well as health reasons. He is a producer of The Game Changers (a movie with many masters) and an advocate for going vegan for health, the environment and the sake of animals (he posts on IG with his pet donkey and miniature pony, both household dwelling animals). Schwarzenegger said last year: “Right now, seven million people are dying every year. That is alarming and everyone in the government has the responsibility to protect the people…. 28 percent of the greenhouse gasses come from eating meat and from raising cattle, so we can do a much better job.”

14. Scott Jurek: Named One of The Greatest Ultra-Marathoner’s Of All Time Read More: 20 Who Athletes Swear by a Plant-Based Diet to Boost Performance

Jurek is an extreme ultra-marathon runner who has won the Hardrock Hundred, the Badwater Ultramarathon, the Spartathlon, and the Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run (you get the idea). Jurek has been vegan for almost two decades, after easing into it by cutting out meat in college, he slowly stopping seafood and finally giving up all animal products once he realized that eating this way made him feel healthier and happier. To run such an extreme amount of miles, you need to fuel your body with plant-based foods that will give you enough energy and carbohydrates to go the distance. The goal is to eat 5,000-6,000 calories of plant-based foods daily. Jurek outlined his plant-based diet in an interview with Bon Appetite. Instead of waking up to a hot cup of coffee to boost energy, he prefers to drink tea and a green smoothie with spirulina or chlorella and a host of other ingredients. He adds bananas, frozen pineapple slices, or mangoes, brown rice and pea protein, (for protein) to rebuild what’s lost in training. This is not just any smoothie.

15. Alex Morgan: USA Soccer Star, Plays for the Orlando Pride of the NWSL

Soccer star, Alex Morgan is one of the beloved members of the USA National Team that won the World Cup and has shown that the female players deserve to get equal pay as their male counterparts by the US Soccer Federation. She is also an animal rights advocate and longtime vegan, having given up meat when she decided that “it didn’t feel fair to have a dog, and yet eat meat all the time,” referring to her adorable pup Blue. Morgan aims to eat 90 grams of plant-based protein daily to stay fit and lean, especially for her workouts and on the field. Morgan admitted that breakfast was difficult because “a lot of the things I love like pancakes and French toast had dairy and eggs.” But now she enjoys oatmeal with nut butter and berries, smoothies, rice, quinoa, veggies, black beans, protein shakes, Mediterranean food, Impossible burgers, Mexican beans, and sauteed veggie burritos, she told USA Today.

16. Paul Rabil: Pro Lacrosse Player: A Vegan Diet Helped Alleviate His Sciatica

Paul Rabil who played for the Boston Cannons and the New York Lizards of Major League Lacrosse, ditched meat and dairy after his 2019 season ended and revealed he’s now “officially” vegan on YouTube. “At first [switching to a plant-based diet] was to help solve some pain and trauma that I was going through. Over the last two years, I’ve had two herniated discs…. and that has led to a ton of shooting pain down my legs, its called sciatica,” Rabil explains the purpose of his diet switch. He adds: “I’ve tried to a lot of things; I’ve had a number of cortisone shots; I’ve done physical therapy for two years. And I reached a place where I was thinking ‘okay maybe I can solve this with nutrition because a lot of our pain stems from inflammation. Within a few weeks, I started noticing a lot of alleviation so I started focusing and doubling down more on veganism”

17. Hannah Teter: 2006 Olympic Snowboard Gold Medalist

Hannah Teter won Olympic gold and silver in the halfpipe and is also a seven-time XGames medalist. She changed her diet after watching the documentary, Earthlings when she discovered how “horrible” factory farming is. After a strict vegetarian diet, Teter liked the way she performed and believes that her diet helped her win gold at the 2006 games. She now considers herself “plant-based” and in an interview with the Huffington Post, Teter said, “I feel stronger than I’ve ever been, mentally, physically, and emotionally. My plant-based diet has opened up more doors to being an athlete. It’s a whole other level that I’m elevating to. I stopped eating animals about a year ago, and it’s a new life. I feel like a new person, a new athlete.”

18. Nick Kyrgios: Professional Tennis Champion Ranked 40 in The World

Djokovic is not the only tour player to go plant-based. Nick Kyrgios shared that he does not eat meat anymore because of his strong compassion for animals. During the time of the Australian wildfires, the Aussie native explained: “I’ve been passionate about animal welfare for some time now. I don’t eat meat or dairy anymore. That’s not for my health, I just don’t believe in eating animals.” “I tried a vegan diet a couple of years ago but with all the travel I do, it was hard to stick to it. Since then I’ve managed to make it work, and I’ve been vegetarian for quite a while. “Seeing the footage of these animals suffering from the fires only reinforces why I’ve chosen this diet. When I see these terrible photos, I can’t comprehend eating meat.”

19. Matt Frazier: Ultra-Marathoner Credits Vegan Diet For Breaking Personal Records

Matt Frazier has run 27 ultra-marathons in his career so far and continues to write about the endurance strength of being a vegan athlete in his personal blog, which he started 11 years ago: No Meat Athlete. The Beet recently interviewed Frazier about his vegan journey and how to be a successful athlete on a plant-based diet. When asked about the first time he ditched meat Frazier replied, “I had already cut 90 minutes off my first marathon time. I was still 10 minutes away from the Boston Marathon qualifying time. I had plateaued, and I was not sure how I was going to find 10 minutes. [Plant-based eating] was what I was missing. That’s what it took. The other big noticeable difference to me [after going vegan] was I stopped getting injured. Injuries had always been a big part of my running journey. When I became vegan, it was around the time I ran three 50-milers and a 100-miler. I didn’t have any injuries. If it’s done right, [plant-based diets] can really help you recover faster.”

20. Michaela Copenhaver: Professional Rower, World Record Holder, 10,000m Indoor

Rowing is grueling. It’s known as the toughest endurance sport in the world. The world record-breaking female rower, Michaela Copenhaver went vegan in 2012 for ethical reasons, she told Great Vegan Athletes. “Initially, I just wanted to eat more vegetables. Those things are super good for you, and they’re delicious. Being vegetarian and vegan made me more conscious of how many servings I was getting a day (or not).” When she switched from vegetarian to vegan it was almost accidental: “I was traveling for a regatta in the fall of 2012. I had been vegetarian for 1.5 years already but relied pretty heavily on dairy and eggs. While I was traveling, I was bouncing from couch to couch and had no way to safely store dairy or eggs—so I decided to try a week without them. I felt great, and it wasn’t nearly as scary as I thought. I’ve been vegan ever since.” Now it’s a value system: “Once I stopped eating and using animals, I felt I could finally address a question that had been bothering me for a long time—what right do we have to exploit other creatures? Now, I understand that we have no right, and my motivations are primarily ethical.”

The post Vegan NBA Player Javale McGee Challenges Fans to Snack for Charity appeared first on The Beet.

We tried out some surprising healthy, plant-based snacks sold at CVS

From instant ramen noodles to frozen meatless meatballs, CVS’s offerings run the gamut in terms of plant-based options. I grabbed 10 vegan-friendly snacks that I’ve never tried before to test them out for you. It’s safe to say that eating a plant-based diet is getting easier and that you really can find healthful options everywhere. Here are 10 delicious, nutrient-packed snacks that you can find on CVS shelves that are all 100 percent vegan.

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1. Soylent Drink, $4.49

Soylent is a plant-based meal replacement drink that’s packed with both macro and micronutrients. The flavor and creamy consistency are really nice, and unlike other meal replacements on the market, these drinks are actually really tasty. This shakeable beverage will provide all that you need to feel satisfied and energized, especially when you don’t have time to sit down and eat a full meal.

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2. Gutzy Fruit & Vegetable Snack, $2.19

These high-fiber snacks are great on the go. Filled with vitamins and clean ingredients, these little packages pack quite a nutritious punch. With a similar consistency to apple sauce and a convenient squeeze-and-eat pouch, they are the perfect pick-me-up for on-the-go snacking.

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3. So Delicious Dairy-Free Yogurt, $2.29

Dairy-free yogurt is a no-brainer when it comes to a plant-based meal or snack. It’s one of those easy transition foods that is an easy and approachable swap from its dairy counterpart. So Delicious’s strawberry banana flavor is really tasty and fruity. It was even more delicious with the freeze-dried banana topping, but you could add granola, nuts, hemp seeds, or any other topping for an extra boost.

4. Abound Freeze-Dried Bananas, $4.99

Freeze-dried bananas are a great snack filled with fiber. Although they are a bit high in sugar, it’s all-natural sugar. The banana sugars concentrate in the freeze-drying process, which is why they retain their flavor and keep the sweetness you love from bananas.

They are crispy, which is so satisfying. I love snacking on them, as is, or adding them to smoothies or yogurt to bump up the flavor.

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5. Matt’s Munchies Island Mango Fruit Snack, $2.67

These all-natural fruit snacks are delightfully tangy, and unlike most fruit leathers, Matt’s Munchies are laid out on wax paper, in little discs. You get a ton of bite-sized discs for only 90 calories. They are just the thing to curb your afternoon cravings, naturally.

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6. Oh Snap! Carrot Cuties, $1.69

These carrot pickles are super crunchy and satisfying for those that prefer savory snacks to sweet ones. They are low in calories and sugar, which is great for people that are trying to watch those things. My favorite thing about these carrot pickles was that they didn’t have any extra brine in the bag. What’s better than a yummy snack? A yummy snack that doesn’t make a mess!

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7. Sabra Snackers Roasted Garlic Hummus & Pretzels, $2.89

The pretzel and dip duo comes in a cup with a small container of hummus. The pretzel crisps are small and very sturdy, which you’ll appreciate when dipping. They are the perfect size to pop in your mouth on the go or at your desk.

The combo will definitely leave you feeling satisfied on their own, but make for a great snacking lunch paired with the Oh! Snap Carrot Cuties.

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8. Siete ‘Dairy Free Nacho’ Grain Free Tortilla Chips, $3.99

Siete tortilla chips are grain-free and cooked in avocado oil, making them a healthier alternative to many other chips on the market. The nacho flavor is more subtle than some I’ve tried in the past, but it’s just flavorful enough to keep you reaching for more. I love the texture of these chips, but note that they are definitely more delicate than a standard tortilla chip.

9. Abound Chipotle Bowl, $3.99

For a heat-and-eat meal option that’s less than five dollars, this chipotle bowl is really impressive. In 60 seconds, you have a hot, well-seasoned, complete meal of rice, beans, and veggies. This particular bowl was really spicy, which I enjoyed. If you are sensitive to spice, one of the mild selections would be better. When they say ’hot,’ they mean it!

10. Kind Frozen Plant-Based Ice Cream, $7.49

Kind Snacks’ Frozen line is definitely making a name for itself in the freezer aisle. I love chocolate and peanut butter and this flavor delivered big on both. Once I tempered the ice cream, the consistency was super creamy and very chocolatey. The peanut butter ribbons added real peanut butter flavor and a nice texture. I really liked this one.

The post We Taste-Tested 10 Surprisingly Healthy and Satisfying Snacks Sold at CVS appeared first on The Beet.

Gluten, for anyone unfamiliar with the term, is a protein found in grains such as wheat, barley, and rye and it exists in most bread, pasta, pizza crust, cereal, and beer. Anyone with celiac disease has an immune reaction that is triggered by gluten but many people avoid gluten because they find it is inflammatory in their digestive system. Rice and corn starch generally do not contain gluten (unless cross-contaminated in the processing plant), and neither do quinoa and buckwheat so gluten-free products often use these or other flour substitutes.

Whatever your reason for seeking out gluten-free snacks, the list of plant-based options includes products that are packed with good-for-you ingredients such as leafy greens, corn, root vegetables, kale, cauliflower, and peas. As far as packaged snacks go, these selections contain something to recommend them, such as extra fiber or whole grains, and are readily available for purchase at your local store or online.

Editor’s Note: If you have Celiac disease or severe sensitivities or allergies to gluten, it’s always important to do your own research and look for labels that warn of possible cross-contamination before deciding what products are safe for you to eat.

For all the Beet Meters, check out the 

Overall Winner:

2. Harvest Snaps Lightly Salted

If green peas were crossed with chips the result would be these lightly salted gems by Harvest Snaps. The baked green pea snack crisps will satisfy your need for something crunchy. The first and main ingredient is legumes and a serving contains five grams of protein. They are light tasting and not too strong making them appealing to all ages.

3. Brads Crunchy Kale Nacho

What makes Brads Crunchy Kale stand out in the world of snacks is they are air-dried instead of baked or fried. This nacho-flavored vegan snack is organic and packs a serious flavor punch. The kale is dehydrated at low temperatures to remove the water and allows them to retain nutrients and antioxidants. They are spicy with a strong zesty aftertaste. They also come in red bell pepper flavor.

4. Siete Grain Free Tortilla Chips Sea Salt

You’ll love these chips, made with only five ingredients they use cassava flour which is gluten and grain-free. They are light, fresh, and crispy with just the right amount of sea salt. Their texture is spot on with a clean aftertaste and nothing lingers. Siete Grain Free Tortilla Chips also come in vegan, dairy-free ranch.

5. Forager Project Leafy Green Vegetable Chips

The moment you open the Leafy Green Vegetable Chips bag you can smell the spices and see the seeds and grains in each chip. They are certified vegan and super crunchy with an enjoyable texture. They taste healthy and full of goodness. The Cheese Greens are seasoned with non-dairy cheddar and can certainly compete with any mainstream tortilla chips.

6. Love Corn Habanero Chilli

If you love spicy snacks, you will be obsessed with Love Corn’s Habanero Chilli flavor. Consider yourself warned, these corn nuts are fiery. As soon as you open the bag, the smell of corn and spice is strong. These savory roasted kernels is packed with flavor, crunchy, and (made with just four ingredients) they taste healthy. Order a box of 20 from their website or start slowly with a single bag at stores such as CVS. Love Corn also comes in BBQ, Sea Salt, and Salt & Vinegar.

7. Trader Joe’s Cauliflower Crisps

Trader Joe’s did it again with their unique gluten-free Cauliflower Crisps. These rounds are super thin and surprisingly crunchy – perfect to dunk into hummus or load them up with dairy-free cheese. They taste healthy and smell great and the texture is spot on with no after-taste.

The post The 7 Best Plant-Based and Gluten-Free Pre-Packaged Snacks to Buy Now appeared first on The Beet.

In fact, earlier this week, CVS announced an expanded frozen foods lineup and better-for-you snacks coming to their store shelves, with plenty of options on the plant-based front including Beyond Meat Beyond Burger, Beyond Meat Beyond Meatballs, Bird’s Eye frozen veggies, and LesserEvil Organic No Cheese Cheesiness Popcorn. Below, 12 plant-based staples to grab on your next CVS run.

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1. Beyond Meat Beyond Burger, $6.99

You can never go wrong with a juicy, flavor-packed Beyond Burger on a bun when you need an easy dinner. Add some ketchup and mustard, toss on a few pickles, throw a sweet potato in the oven, and voilà.

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2. Beyond Meat Beyond Meatballs, $7.99

Another newcomer to CVS, Beyond Meat’s meatballs hit the spot, whether you’re piling ‘em on over a pile of zoodles or throwing into a hero with sautéed peppers and onions.

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3. Bird’s Eye Steamfresh Frozen Broccoli Florets, $3.49

If you only eat one vegetable for immunity, make it broccoli. These broccoli florets are new to CVS and cook up in the bag for an easy side dish or addition to your next stir-fry.

4. Bird’s Eye Sweet Cut Corn, $3.49

New to CVS, there’s something about super sweet corn that makes any dinner feel decadent — sans calorie or sugar overload. Whether you’re adding frozen corn to your next batch of chili, or eating it on its own, it’s a staple in our healthy frozen foods arsenal.

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5. LesserEvil Organic No Cheese Cheesiness Popcorn, $3.79

“Sinful taste, clean snacks” is a good motto if you ask us. We love this tasty organic popcorn made with coconut oil and flavored with Himalayan salt, yeast extract, and more for a hint of a cheesy taste with none of the dairy.

6. Solely Organic Pineapple Fruit Jerky, $1.79

When a fruit jerky craving hits, this tasty organic pineapple delivers. This one-ingredient snack is great to help sneak in more fruit to your diet because it packs in ½ of an organic pineapple per serving.

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7. Lenny & Larry’s Chocolate Donut Cookie, $2.49

With 10 grams of fiber and 16 grams of protein per cookie, this is a satiating snack to keep you filled up between meals while also being perfect for those with a sweet tooth. In addition to being entirely plant-based, there’s also no soy or GMO ingredients.

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8. Nature’s Bakery Fig Bar, $1.29

We love figs and their naturally sweet taste which are great when you need a treat. Slip some real fruit and whole grains into your next plant-based snack break with this bar.

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9. That’s It Apple & Banana Fruit Bar, $1.99

Or, opt for apples and bananas in this no sugar added, a non-GMO snack that will quickly become a regular in your snack drawer. Each bar only has 100 calories.

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10. Beanitos White Bean Chips, Hint of Lime, $3.49

New to CVS, if you’re not initiated to the Beanitos bandwagon, you’ll soon see why so many love these white bean chips. Dip into some guacamole or salsa for a delicious, nutrient-dense snack.

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11. Gluten Free Bites Dark Chocolate Coconut, $4.99

Chocolate lovers, rejoice in these tantalizing morsels that are non-GMO and soy-free to boot. P.S. We hear they taste excellent as toppers on a bowl of dairy-free ice cream.

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12. SkinnyPop Kettle Corn, Hint of Vanilla, $4.29

Another new addition to CVS, this sweet popcorn with a bit of vanilla flavoring is non-GMO and only 56 calories per cup. Happy munching!

The post The 12 Best Healthy Plant-Based Products to Buy at CVS appeared first on The Beet.

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1. Bare Snacks

Bare Snacks offers an assortment of healthy vegan-friendly snacks that are available at 7-Eleven stores nationwide. The fruit-forward snacks will help give you some much-needed energy while on the road and prevent you from going for more sugary treats. The Fuji & Reds Apple Chips, Cinnamon Apple Chips, Toasted Coconut Chips, and Simply Banana Chips are all vegan.

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2. PigOut Pigless Pork Rinds

If you’re looking for something salty to nosh on while you drive you’re in luck. 7-Eleven stores sell PigOut Pigless Pork Rinds in many flavors including Hella Hot, Nacho Cheese, Original, Salt and Vinegar, and Texas BBQ. The vegan rinds are the latest foodie innovation from Beyond Burger creator, Chef Dave Anderson. PigOut is high in protein with 25 grams in each full-size bag. The snack is baked and free from gluten, soy, GMOs, cholesterol, and trans fats.

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3. Lenny & Larry’s

For a filling snack that will satisfy your sweet tooth pick up The Lenny & Larry’s Complete Cookie. The 4-oz cookie has up to 16g of plant-based proteins and 10g of fiber. It’s dairy-free, no egg, vegan, and Non-GMO Project Verified. Treat yourself to a few of the delicious renditions including Birthday Cake, Chocolate Donut, Apple Pie, and more.

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4. Quinn Pretzels

Need something with a crunch? Quinn Snacks’ Pretzels are all vegan (except for the honey pretzels) and available at 7-Elevens. As a bonus, Quinn pretzels are made from natural gluten-free whole grain sorghum. The pretzels are non-GMO, certified gluten-free, grain-free, paleo-friendly, vegan, and dairy-free. This salty snack hits the spot for those salty cravings.

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5. Gas station road trip snacks

Fortunately, many road trip snacks are accidentally vegan. If you can’t find the above products at your pit stop lookout for nuts and seeds for a healthy snack. If you want to indulge in a less healthy snack pick up Oreos, Cliff bars, Lays barbecue chips, original Fritos, original Ritz crackers, traditional Chex Mix, Takis Fuego, Spicy Sweet Chili Doritos, Swedish Fish, original Pringles, original Sun Chips, Chick-O-Sticks, or Gardetto’s original recipe.

The post The 5 Best Vegan Snacks to Bring Along on Your Next Road Trip appeared first on The Beet.

“We heard loud and clear from our customers after the tobacco decision that they held us to a higher standard,” Adam Maruskin, Director, Merchandising Snacks, Grocery and Healthy Foods at CVS Health told The Beet in an interview. “We spent a lot of time talking to our customers and our field teams and the number one thing we heard was that customers want access to healthier food options in our stores. Considering this, we realized we have a huge opportunity to be a partner for customers looking for healthier options who need and want convenience.”

From niche brands to mainstream players, CVS is packing some serious vegan-snacking heat.  The company also says it’s added options that cater to different dietary preferences like vegan, gluten-free, keto and more. They’ve also made a play to create trend-centric and dietary-focused displays in select stores to showcase vegan, paleo, raw and other niche food options to make it easy for customers to find the items that fit their lifestyle more easily.

We’ve tracked down some of our favorite vegan-friendly brands and items you can find on the shelf at CVS:

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1. Chocolate Banana Granola Bar, MadeGood

One full serving of veggies in a delicious, chocolatey granola bar? Yes, it’s true with MadeGood. This all-vegan brand makes gluten-free, allergy-free, organic snacks that are packed with hidden veggies. They are committed to making snacks with a lower carbon footprint, supporting organic farmers…and of course, making delicious and clean snacks that kids and adults alike love. Their Chocolate Banana Granola Bar is all the goodness—no garbage or guilt—packed into a bar.

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2. Organic Chickpea Puffs, White Cheddar Flavor, Hippeas

With the name “white cheddar” in the title, you might be thrown to learn these perfectly “cheesy” puffs are in fact vegan. With only 140 mg of sodium and 130 calories, plus a little fiber and protein, these are your perfect on-the-go snacks. Hippeas is also doing good in the world with its environmentally friendly crop, chickpeas, and also supporting Feeding America and other charities around the US.

3. Kettle Corn Chia Flax Quinoa Chips, Gold Emblem Abound 

Gold Emblem is CVS’ own better-for-you product line that includes a wide array of items from snacks to beverages that are free from artificial flavors and preservatives. Not all Gold Emblem snacks are vegan, but many are like their Kettle Corn Chia Flax Quinoa Chips. These puppies are light, crispy with that perfect mix of salty and sweet, plus they contain a minimal ingredient list.

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4. The Complete Cookie, Peanut Butter, Lenny & Larry’s

By now you’ve heard of Lenny & Larry’s cookies, beloved by the masses—from athletes to kids, there is no one that would turn down a plant-based protein-packed cookie from Lenny & Larry’s. You’ll find a variety of Lenny & Larry’s offerings at CVS including their signature The Complete Cookie—the peanut butter flavor is delectable. When co-founders Benny and Barry—two self-proclaimed gym rats—started making these better-tasting protein-bar alternatives in 1993, who would have known they’d go mainstream and help make plant-based protein the new cool? Thanks Benny and Barry…for making Lenny & Larry’s!

There are more vegan-friendly snacks to find at CVS like Nora Seaweed Snacks, Enjoy Life vegan cookies and snacks, Larabar, and Vive Organics wellness shots to name a few. Plus, the CVS cold section carries Silk plant-based milks and GT’s Living Foods Kombucha drinks. So what’s next for CVS’ evolution in carrying more healthful, plant-based options?

“CVS is always looking for ways to evolve and expand our current offerings to provide customers with new healthier choices,” says Maruskin. “We’re continuously staying ahead of trends, keeping tabs on emerging categories, listening to customer feedback, and conducting research to understand where we can expand and further cater to customer preferences.”

We can’t be sure, but hopefully, this means even more vegan-first eco-conscious brands as well as more plant-based refrigerated items in CVS’ future.

The post Delicious, On-the-Go Vegan Snacks from CVS appeared first on The Beet.

1. Jack & Friends Jerky

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Just because you went vegan, doesn’t mean you don’t want a jerky break. Jack & Friends’ plant-based jerky is made from jackfruit (hence the “Jack” in the company’s name) and pea protein. Free of the top eight most common allergens, the snack is also a good source of protein and fiber with no added sugar and we hear it pairs really well with a backyard hammock and reading session.

Price: $26.50 for a variety pack (3 bags)

2. Omnom Chocolate Superchocoberrybarleynibblynuttylicious

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Mary Poppins would be sailing away on her umbrella if she fueled up with SuperChocoBerryBarleyNibblyNuttylicious, a veritable superfood indulgence made with 70% dark chocolate topped with almonds, cocoa nibs, cranberries and popped barley. Bonus: It’s loaded with fiber to help keep things moving though your system.

Price: $8.99 per bar

3. Blender Bombs’ Bomb Drizzle

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Liven up your smoothie açaí bowl, toast, oatmeal, waffles, pancakes, and more with Blender Bomb’s date-based sauce to finish off whatever sweet treat you’re cooking up. The drizzle is rich in antioxidants and made with nutrient-dense ingredients like dates and aloe, but all you’ll notice is that it tastes darn good.

Price: $15.99 for a 12-ounce bottle

4. Enzymedica Black Elderberry Plus Probiotics and Zinc On-The-Go Immune Packs

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In a rush? Place these so-called “quick melts” on your tongue as a great-tasting treat. Each serving is equal to 80 of the uber-nutritious Austrian-grown Eldercraft European Black Elderberries. In addition to these super berries, each serving also has zinc and probiotics to support your body’s immune system.

Price: $19.99 for 15 powder packs

5. Macro Snacks

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A start-up in the U.S., these vegan and gluten-free chip alternatives are equal parts delicious and good-for-you with eleven grams of protein and only 140 calories per serving. Like the name implies, Macro Snacks are macro balanced, meaning they fit into the macro diet percentages of 45% carbs, 30% protein, and 25% fat.

Price: $14.99 for six 1.2-ounce bags

6. GT’s Synergy Golden Pineapple Kombucha 

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Everybody needs a healthy libation break, especially in this sweltering heat. All the better if it’s good for you too: This tropical beverage is made with GT’s signature organic and raw kombucha, blended with organic pineapple juice, lemon juice, and sage, for a flavor combo that will delight your taste buds. You may not taste it in each sip, but the new flavor release also boasts the benefit of nine billion living probiotics to keep your gut happy and healthy.

Price: $3.99 per bottle

7. BetterBody Foods PBFit Protein Peanut Butter Spread

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Peanut butter. Everybody needs a peanut butter break, whether it’s a mid-morning rejuvenating spoonful or a post-dinner PB & banana peppers sandwich (don’t knock it until you’ve tried it). What we love about this recent launch is that it packs 42% more protein than traditional peanut butter⁠—thanks to pea protein!⁠—helping you get those muscle gains, even while your gym is closed for yet another month. Sigh.

Price: $13.48 for a 16-ounce container

8. The Good Glow Apple Cider Vinegar Shot

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Launched in June, The Good Glow’s lemon ginger apple cider vinegar shot is sure to wake you up from an energy slump with its powerful zing. Sold exclusively direct-to-consumer, these packaged wellness shots are convenient for summer sipping and brimming with health benefits⁠—ACV has been shown to boost energy, help with digestion, and the antioxidants it contains have been revealed in research to fight free radicals, which can enhance immunity. 

9. SpudLove Organic Thick Cut Potato Chips

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Sometimes, you just need a potato chip break. When a craving to chomp hits, you can’t beat these organic, non-GMO Project Verified, and gluten-free chips made from Oregon potatoes. Even better, the potatoes are cut 10% thicker than the standard width and slow-cooked in small batches to deliver a chip replete with folds, bubbles, and crunch.

Price: $35.91 for a pack of nine 5-ounce bags

The post 9 New Plant-Based Snacks with Amazing Health Benefits to Try This Month appeared first on The Beet.