It’s a common misconception that vegans only eat salads. Moreover, the only thing on their plates isn’t necessarily vegetables. Yes, there are plant-based alternatives to meat, but there are also a surprising amount of accidentally vegan products on the shelves. Some foods that omnivores enjoy are made without animal products. If you use a keen eye and patience, the ingredient lists can tell all. Find out which snacks are unexpectedly vegan right from the package.
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Gummies
If you are hankering for a chewy snack, the non-vegan culprit in most gummies is gelatin. Any fruit snack or gummy that doesn’t have gelatin in the list of ingredients is usually safe. Pectin is the most common replacement to make that familiar toothsome texture. Some of the most popular options without animal byproducts include:
- Vegan, all-natural CBD gummies
- Swedish Fish
- Sour Patch Kids
- Pectin jelly beans
Unless you’re topping a poppyseed salad with strawberry Sour Patch Kids, there aren’t any veggies involved in that list. Now you can enjoy accidentally vegan gummies. Just watch out for confectioner’s glaze on candy like jelly beans. It’s a fancy word for shellac made out of secretions from bugs. That’s not always non-vegan dependent on preferences, but it’s always a little off-putting.
Cookies
With all the unexpectedly vegan options out there, there’s no excuse to pass them by. Some of the most well-known cookies, Oreos, are vegan. Even the cream filling is made without dairy products. Usually, if there is chocolate included, you should check for milk products. You can make your own chocolate chip cookies at home with vegan chocolate chips, egg replacer, applesauce, and vegan butter or even coconut oil. Take a look at the vast collection of vegan cookie recipes on the internet for inspiration.
If you’re ready for cookies straight from the package, some of the Girl Scout cookies are vegan, like the Thin Mints and Peanut Butter Patties. Support your local troop and eat plant-based at the same time. Lotus cookies, Nutter Butters, and Trader Joe’s Speculoos cookies are also among the vegan cookie masses. Again, the ingredient list is your friend here.
Chips
If you’re in the mood for a salty, crunchy snack, there are some surprising chips out there. In the organic section of a grocery store, you can sometimes find vegan cheddar chips or veggie straws. However, plenty of the chips in the “normal” chip aisle can pass the plant-based test. Some of the most unexpected are:
- Spicy Sweet Chili Doritos
- Barbecue Lays
- Takis
This just proves that you can even eat some of the sides at a family BBQ with the rest of ’em.
Frosting
Okay, while cake icing isn’t necessarily a snack, it can be spread on a variety of things (or eaten out of the jar with a spoon). Many of the pre-packaged cake frostings at the grocery store are surprisingly plant-based. Even the cream cheese frosting is usually made with faux cream cheese flavors. It’s amazing what flavors can be concocted that would fool even the most omnivorous individuals. Again, check the ingredients list. If it’s clear, you can use the jarred icing on vegan cinnamon rolls, vegan cake, or even those Speculoos cookies mentioned above.
Crackers
Along the same lines as chips, many cracker varieties are accidentally vegan. The buttery flavor of Ritz is, in fact, not actually from real butter. Belvita crackers are a sweeter option that is usually vegan, dependent on the flavor you choose. You can also make your own crackers on a baking sheet with flour, water, and any seasoning you desire.
Cereal
Most cereals are vegan, but some Shredded Wheat varieties contain gelatin in the frosting. Just watch out for anything that says “frosted” on the label (including Pop-Tarts). Otherwise, nothing beats a late-night bowl of cereal. You can choose anything from muesli to Cheerios for a plant-based breakfast-inspired snack.
While this list isn’t all-inclusive, it obviously shows the wide variety of vegan foods and snacks that aren’t vegetables. With all of this fun food available at the grocery store, however, don’t forget to mix in some healthy snacks! Try nuts and fruit for a protein-filled, natural carb and sugar boost. From vegan CBD gummies to cake icing, it’s easy to go vegan these days.
