Plant-based eating has become a key trend. Especially now, during the coronavirus pandemic, there’s a growing demand for better-for-you snacks. According to the Plant Based Food Association, plant-based food sales have grown by 29% in last two years.
Seeking to erase perceptions of cardboard-like, flavorless foods, these innovative products combine good ingredients, superfoods and interesting flavors that are good enough to change most minds.
PigOut Porkless Rinds
PigOut pigless pork rinds are remarkably similar in flavor and texture to traditional pork rinds.
JEFF SKEIRIK
Plant-based snack company Outstanding Foods added PigOut® Pigless® Pork Rinds to its roster of healthy snacks. Developed by executive chef Dave Anderson, head of product development for Beyond Meat and creator of the Beyond Burger, these crunchy morsels are packed with protein, baked until light and crispy, and seasoned to create a taste that is remarkably similar to real pork rinds. Available in four flavors – Original, Nacho Cheese, Hella Hot, and Texas BBQ – each 3.5-ounce bag is packed with 25 grams of plant-based protein and free from gluten, soy, GMOs, cholesterol and trans fats. They’re also certified vegan and kosher.
As part of their social responsibility commitment, they have partnered with Snoop Dogg to donate 10% of the sales generated at Snoop’s special PigOut site, www.piglessrinds.com to his charity Snoop Special Stars, a non-profit organization that provides opportunity for inner-city children to participate in youth football and cheer.
LUPii Bites
Lupii Bars are deliciously soft and chewy, with unique flavors and packed with vegetable proteins.
JESSICA PETTWAY
When Isabelle Steichen moved to the U.S. from Europe in 2013, she noticed that Americans weren’t incorporating lupini beans into their diet as is traditional in the Mediterranean region. These legumes are a nutritional powerhouse and superfood that’s a staple in countries like Italy and Spain, commonly enjoyed pickled or in salads and pastas.
Lupini beans have 3 times more protein than quinoa and 3 times more potassium than bananas, are low in carbohydrates and have zero calories from fat. They’re extremely high in fiber, vitamins and all 9 essential amino acids, and boast a high level of prebiotic fiber that helps in the development of gut-healthy probiotics. To top it off, they’re good for soil health and require less water than other plant crops, making them a sustainable food option.
Seeking to supplement her vegan diet with plant protein as well as introduce lupini beans to American palates, Steichen and cofounder Alexandra Dempster incorporated them into a product that people already love and know – a protein bar. LUPii Bites are the first whole-bean bar to ever hit the market, made with minimally processed whole foods and only 5-6 ingredients.
“We believe that today’s consumers care about the food that they put into their bodies, as well as how their choices impact the planet,” says Steichen. “As mission driven founders, we share our consumers’ priorities, which is why we decided to build LUPii. What makes lupini beans, our hero ingredient, so special is how nutrient-dense they are, packed with protein and fiber, and how they also stand out from an environmental perspective, needing little energy to grow and supporting soil health while enhancing biodiversity.”
The moist, deliciously satisfying bars are vegan and come in three unique flavors: Tahini Lemon Cranberry, Peanut Butter Cacao Nib and Almond Butter Cinnamon Raisin.
Go Raw Sprouted Flax Snax
With 6g plant-based protein per serving, these wholesome snacks are filled with savory flavors and a crispy crunch, packed with sprouted super seeds. They are a good source of antioxidants, dietary fiber, and iron, as well as Kosher, paleo and keto friendly.
Made using organic sprouted flaxseed, sunflower seeds, and sesame seeds, these tasty mini bites are minimally processed—sprouted and dried, not baked—for a crunchy, better-for-you snack that’s organic, non-GMO, soy, gluten and dairy-free and vegan. Flax Snax comes in two savory flavors, Zesty Pizza and Spicy Fiesta.
By Claudia Alarcon contributor at Forbes.com