The growth of the vegan movement has led to greater demand for plant-based versions of traditionally non-vegan foods. One area seeing particular innovation is vegan snacks – especially crunchy, salty treats that compassionately satisfy appetites. With creative approaches by both new vegan food companies and established players, there is now a wide selection of accessible-priced vegan snacks on store shelves. Home cooks are also getting creative and making tasty recipes like kale chips at home. So whether store-bought or homemade, vegans can find snacks to conquer even intense salty cravings.
The Rising Popularity of Plant-Based Eating
Analyzing trends makes it clear that plant-based eating is on the rise. According to a 2020 study by Mattioli et al published in the journal Nutrients, approximately 9.7 million Americans identify as vegan – almost 10 times higher than just six years prior. Additionally, vegetarianism and flexitarian diets are growing as more consumers express concern over the environmental, health, and ethical impacts of animal agriculture. 39% of Americans now actively try to incorporate more plant-based foods into their diets.
As more evidence emerges linking plant-based diets with sustainability and disease prevention, these trends show no signs of reversing. The $7 billion plant-based food market has taken note, expanding vegan product availability across every aisle of the grocery store – especially the snack section.
Rising Demand Driving Supply of Vegan Snacks
In step with shifting diets, dedicated vegan snack foods are hitting store shelves at a rapid pace. Market research firm Fact.MR projects that vegan snacks like meatless jerky and plant-based potato chips will grow into a $73 billion industry by 2026 – up from $23 billion in 2020. Savory snack categories in particular are exploding, with sales of vegan potato chips increasing nearly 30 percent year-over-year in 2020. Other popular salty snacks like puffed peas and chickpeas grew over 2500 percent from 2019 to 2020 according to data from the Plant Based Foods Association.
Both new vegan brands and food giants like Frito Lay and General Mills have added vegan snacks to meet demand. Frito Lay recently reformulated classic chips like Lay’s and Ruffles to use alternate cooking oils like sunflower instead of milk and cheese powders. They also acquired the hip vegan snack brand Bare Snacks in 2018. General Mills owns Caulipower – makers of cauliflower-based vegan snacks in uniquely flavored options like “buffalo” and “nacho cheese”. Additionally, new names like Outstanding Foods (makers of PigOut Pigless Pork Rinds), Poppy’s Snacks (chickpea puffs), and Snacklins (cheese-free vegan cheesy snacks) demonstrate small disruptor brands also seizing opportunity in the accelerating plant-based snack segment.
Homemade Snacks: The DIY Approach
For those wanting to control flavors, textures, and ingredients, vegan cooking bloggers and best-selling authors have risen to the occasion – creating recipes for homemade plant-based snacks. Cookbooks from influencers like Hot for Food, Sweet Potato Soul, and Isa Chandra Moskowitz include recipes ranging from Smoky Tomato Kale Chips to Crispy Hippie Nachos made with walnuts and cashew cheese sauce. Their creative efforts make plant-based snacking accessible for the home cook.
Online sources like Pinterest have thousands of snack ideas as well – from jackfruit nachos to ranch kale chips and more. Food bloggers recommend perfecting favorites like crunchy, protein-packed toasted chickpeas tossed in seasoning blends. They also encourage playing with vegetables like jicama, radishes, bell peppers, and sugar snap peas for scooping up salsa, hummus, and other dips – adding crunch without excess oils used in frying. These homemade snacks satisfy in healthy, cost-effective ways.
Recommended Recipes: DIY Vegan Salty Snacks
Some tasty vegan salty snack recipes to try at home include:
- Smoky Tofu Jerky – Marinated then baked tofu with a savory, jerky-like texture
- Crispy Cajun Chickpeas – Chickpeas tossed in cornmeal and cajun spices
- Nacho Kale Chips – Massaged kale chips with nacho cashew cheese seasoning
- Crunchy BBQ Soy Curls – Rehydrated textured soy protein baked with BBQ sauce
- Chili Lime Jicama Fries – Crisp jicama fries with zesty chili seasoning
- Ranch Roasted Radishes – Baked radishes with DIY ranch seasoning
Mindful Indulgence of Salty Cravings
Snack time conjures appetites for many food qualities – both texture and flavor. And the savory satisfaction of salty snacks remains desirable for even devoted plant eaters. Thankfully for vegans, the growth of the movement has brought accessible options for mindful indulgence. With the expanding selection of ready-to-eat vegan snacks plus boundless recipes for home-cook creations, there are now diverse ways to conquer cravings for that salty crunch.
So next time hunger arrives alongside a savory snack craving, vegans can turn to either grocery store shelves or kitchen pantries knowing delish options exist. They can feel empowered to make choices aligned with personal values – whether environmental, health-focused, or driven by animal compassion. Without reliance on animal products, the plant-based snack realm continues to ripen in exciting ways, offering endless possibilities for satisfying salty snack attacks.
