Holiday BBQ’s. Days at the beach. Hikes in the countryside. With summer upon us and the many excursions we plan to indulge in during the sweltering months ahead, maintaining our nutritional and wellness goals may be a challenge. If a diet low in refined sugars, seed oils, and minimally processed foods, with an emphasis on high-fiber and healthy fats for snacking and on-the-go treats, are a priority, I’ve curated some of the best snacks, sweets, and travel-friendly treats that I’ve recently discovered.
Let’s start with the trickiest temptation – sweets. Female-founded after a celiac diagnosis, Mightylicious offers 7 gluten-free, kosher cookies baked with non-Gmo ingredients in a base of rice and tapioca flour, all of which are free of refined white sugar, hydrogenated oils, and preservatives. The vegan options include plant-based versions of Oatmeal Raisin and Oatmeal Coconut, rendered earthy and nicely textured with the addition of crunchy coconut flakes.
For chocoholics, Chocolate Chip and Vegan Double Dutch Chocolate Chip cookies are sweetened with cane sugar for a satisfying treat that only clocks in at 90 calories each. For sweet tooths that allow eggs (cage-free) and butter, the Salted Peanut Butter, Brown Butter Chocolate Chip, and Brown Butter Shortbread are worth the splurge. Even though portioned and vacuum sealed in 3 sets of 4, they disappeared within a matter of days.
I’d recommend the Salty Peanut Butter in all its soft chewiness with a glass of almond or sunflower milk. The Brown Butter Shortbread, buttery and toothsome, deserves to be savored, bite by bite on its own. This cookie is such a triumph – sweet and salty with crispy bits for texture – it makes a stellar gluten-free pie crust to showcase the best summer fruit and custards, like blueberry or lemon meringue.
On days when strictly plant-based morsels are calling your name, a network of artisanal sustainable farms in Uganda turns out delicious blends of dried tropical snacks with exotic flavors and superfoods that will become staples year-round. Fave vegan go-to Jackfruit is coated in ginger and lime for a sweet and slightly spicy modern version of a fruit roll-up.
The crispy Salted Olive Oil Plantain Chips are the perfect sweet sub for tortilla chips when paired with guacamole or pita chips for hummus. The award-winning star of the brand, Moringa Hibiscus Pineapple is unforgettably delicious as a snack or cocktail garnish. Picked at the height of sweetness, it delivers an ambrosial finish without added sugar, one that bests other dried fruit, not to mention the dose of superfoods. All flavors are available in travel-friendly mini vacuum packs tailor-made for 100 calories or less portion.
For grain-free, supplement-level sweet cravings, paleo-friendly Kroma incorporates ethically sourced, organic superfoods – maca, matcha, hemp, and turmeric – for functional nutrition that contributes to full mind-body wellness. After coming to market with a Cleansing Reset of powders, elixirs, and broths to detox and rev up metabolism in 2012, Kroma just launched a vanilla cinnamon-flavored nutritional powerhouse. Packed with Goji berries, Mulberries, Coconut, Cashews, and Pink Himalayan Salt, the grain-free, maple-syrup sweetened Super Granola calls out for just a dollop of coconut yogurt and/or OMG Cookie Batter with a cup of green tea. One ¼ cup serving is only 140 calories, including 4 grams of sugar.
For a super portable, savory snack (or light) savory meal when camping, Kroma makes one of the few gluten-free ramen cups out there. Trust me, I’ve scoured many Asian and health food markets for this unicorn to very little avail. As an added bonus, Kroma’s Super Ramen is more than a quick serving of mid-afternoon carbs. In a base of Kroma’s signature protein-rich 24k Chicken Bone Broth, it’s the first gluten-free bone broth ramen on the market. With the addition of coconut milk, turmeric, and rice-based vermicelli, it delivers 15g of protein per serving. Like the commercial varieties, just add boiling water and let sit for a satisfying bowl of umami-rich nourishment.
Non-perishable protein-only snacks, tinned fish aside, may be the most difficult to come by. While on vacation in Micronesia, an enterprising young couple was inspired by local, sustainable practices the indigenous fishermen have honored for years – drying fish with aromatics – to found Pescavore.
The sustainably-sourced line of tuna jerkies are available in globally-inspired flavors: Caribbean Jerk, Island Teriyaki, and Smoke Poke. Composed of locally-caught yellowfin tuna, gluten-free soy sauce, and spices, they are chewy and not so hard you’ll worry about dental issues when biting into them like most popular protein jerkies. Each travel-friendly pack is only 100 calories. I recommend starting with the Sampler Pack for a taste of all three which are equally delicious.
Speaking of savory cravings… on hot summer nights when an impromptu girl dinner is in order, nothing beats the salty, crunchiness of crackers or chips to accompany dips or fashion impromptu hors d’oeuvres.
Female-founded Every Body Eat specializes in guilt-free, non-GMO snacking options that are both vegan and certified gluten-free. I opted for the grain-free White Pepper Garlic chips. A blend of sunflower seeds, flax seeds, and cassava flour, these are my new favorite, crispy accompaniment for hummus or a sun-dried tomato dip that combines the creaminess of hummus from cannellini beans and top quality olive oil with the sweet, earthy tang of sun-dried-tomatoes. Fan favorites Cranberry Crispbread Cracker and dairy-free Cheese-Less sell out frequently – stock while you can.
On hot nights when still craving a crispy treat, Cliff Family artisanal nut blends combine certified organic ingredients from their Napa Valley farm and vineyard with the hottest, culinary-forward, perfectly balanced flavor profiles that make stellar additions to desserts and charcuterie boards. From Organic Hot Honey Cashews & Peanuts, Organic Tamari Glazed Mixed Nuts, and Organic Rosemary Almonds & Pistachios, each is seasoned with only organic oils, herbs, and spices.
Happy Snacking. Check out “Winter Wellness Staples – Snacks and Sweets” for a curated list of sustainable chocolates, gluten-free baking mixes, and Asian-spiced almonds.
