Paleo Snack Foods (Or, how not to starve when traveling)

I don’t regularly snack. Freedom from snacking is an exquisite revelation. Years ago, when I ate a diet high in refined carbs, I craved carbs like nobody’s business. I snacked religiously to avoid hunger-induced irritability (otherwise known as hangry).  When got off the blood-sugar roller coaster by increasing my healthy fats and eliminating processed carbs, I transitioned my body into three square meals a day without hunger or cravings between meals.

And while I prioritize the ritual of preparing and enjoying complete meals, sometimes life happens. Sometimes crazy days happen, and I need to bring a quick meal with me. Sometimes travel happens, and I need an airplane-ready meal. Sometimes eating at poor-quality restaurants happens, and I need to supplement a stingy salad with some acceptable protein and healthy fats.

With all that said, I maintain these standards for my paleo snack foods:

• Grain and dairy free
• Low sugar, so no dried fruit, Larabars, dates, etc.
• Low in polyunsaturated fats, so judiciously choosing nuts/seeds with healthy fat profiles. (Learn about omega 3 and PUFA in nuts/seeds here.)
• Non-perishable options for traveling, but I’ve also included some perishable options which I bring in a lunchbox with an icepack

Non-Perishable Paleo Snack Foods

Note on sourcing: I get most of these snack foods at Thrive Market, because it saves me 25-50%. To save you even more, I collaborated with Thrive to get you a FREE jar of organic coconut oil with your first order! Sign up here to get the free coconut oil.

Vital Proteins Collagen – available here – to stir into any beverage for nourishing protein.

Canned sardines – available at most grocery stores (I like the Wild Planet brand) – another emergency protein source.

Go Raw Sprouted Pumpkin Seeds – available here – these raw seeds are soaked and dehydrated, rendering them vastly more digestible, crunchy, delicious, and addicting. I consume these judiciously because they are high in PUFA, but they are packed with minerals including zinc.

Go Raw Coconut Crisps – available here – I love these sprinkled on salads for crunch, and keep a bag on-hand as an emergency snack. To clarify, I’ve linked the Lime flavor which  is not shown in the photo above. Thrive doesn’t yet offer the Salt and Vinegar flavor.

EPIC Bars – this one and this one are my favorite flavors. These two options are nut/seed free and low in sugar.

Coconut Manna – available here – Meal delay? A spoonful of coconut manna will usually keep your blood sugar in check. If you are not familiar with coconut manna, which is also called coconut butter, it’s not to be confused with coconut oil. Think about the difference between almond butter and almond oil.

Sprouted Nut/Seed Butters – available here – As I mentioned above, soaking and dehydrating nuts/seeds makes them much more digestible by reducing anti-nutrients. It also emphasizes the nuanced flavor. I’ve sung the praises of these sprouted nut/seed butters for years.

Macadamia Nuts – available here – When it comes to the fatty acid profile, macadamias win. They offer the least amount of PUFA, with a fat profile similar to olive oil. Further, they are low in phytic acid, so it is not as important to soak/dehydrate them.

Perishable Paleo Snack Foods

Buttermints – recipe here. These won’t spoil at room temperature, but will lose their shape and melt. They keep well in a cooler with an icepack. Just a few will fill you up until mealtime, thanks to all the nourishing fats.

Cake batter collagen protein bars – recipe here. An easy recipe featuring nutrient-dense, protein-packed collagen and coconut butter.

Hard-boiled eggs

Clementine oranges

Cooked meatballs or sausage patties

Crudités  – with Primal Kitchen Paleo Mayo or homemade pesto for dipping

Avocados and sea salt – Have you been known to carry an emergency avocado?

Do you have any other low-sugar paleo snack foods you recommend for traveling?