Paleo/GAPS SNACK FOODS~ Looking for Convenience Items to BUY that have Great Ingredients?

I may receive a commission if you purchase through links in this post. I am not a doctor; please consult your practitioner before changing your supplement or healthcare regimen.

It’s true that I’m hardcore when it comes to diet and healthful choices. But I’m not without my memory. I know that eating really well is a process. Buying no packaged foods is not a reality for most people. I’d like to provide links to a few easy-to-digest, mostly healthy treats for those of you in this boat.

Regarding these foods’ nutrition, they are not meant to be staples, but rather special snack foods. I am not advocating them as the ultimate health foods. Homemade, whole foods are the best! Factory made foods always come at a cost. They can’t nourish the way fresh, local food does.

One of my favorite jobs is serving as a recipe consultant. It is through this position I’ve gained empathy and have seen the spectrum of different families’ processes.

When you can’t make everything and you’re switching to a real food diet you may feel you need foods to replace the dry cereal, chips and convenience foods you used to eat. It helps kids to transition and it helps you to have foods to grab, while you’re still figuring out what to make and how to make it and how much time you have to make your new meals.

So called “healthy” snack foods abound, especially nut based granola bars.  But it’s hard to find them with sprouted nuts or grains and without agave syrup, brown rice syrup or fructose. (Unsprouted nuts and grains can wreak havoc on our digestive tracts. Even Larabars contain unsprouted nuts.)

Here are some whole food snack foods that have no canola oil, polyunsaturated oils, unsprouted nuts or grains, refined sugar or agave. They’re guilt-free and will buy you time. They also happen to be gluten-free and grain-free, although I know some of you can have these foods sprouted.

Some of them are priced at a premium. The goal is not to heap up an expensive grocery bill. We all have to budget. So buy what you think will help your family and be aware that some of them have small packages for premium products.

Cheers, friends and kudos, for changing your diet to benefit your health and healing! Hopefully these products will help you in your process.

Some of these, by the way, are affiliate links. So Eat Beautiful makes a teeny commission when you buy through them. Thanks in advance.

FIRST UP~ GOURMET SNACKS

Gourmet sprouted nut butters sound intriguing? Here’s a relatively new company on the scene, that uses sprouted nuts and really fun ingredients. Their flavors include Cinnamon Red Maca and Coconut Cardamom. Jem.

Nuts.com provides Raw Sprouted Granola, with Almonds, Buckwheat and Goji Berries. Not all of their offerings are good options; so be aware.

Very impressive ingredients for a cozy, “trashy” treat! Coconut Butter Vanilla Cake Batter Spread! Great for topping waffles, pancakes, bread, muffins or straight from the spoon.

NEXT UP~ TRADITIONAL SNACK FOOD

Grass-Fed Beef Jerky Sticks!

If you really want a bit of classic breakfast cereal with milk poured over it, this is a good option. Coconut Flakes Cereal

For a real potato chip, this non-GM product offers only 3 ingredients: potatoes, olive oil and sea salt. And they’re yummy. Steer clear of polyunsaturated fats that most chips are fried in (think safflower and sunflower oils) and be glad there’s now an alternative! Olive Oil Potato Chips

A whole food fruit treat with only 3 ingredients. However, do eat these in moderation, as they contain fruit juice concentrate which is just “sugar” in disguise.  FruitChia 6-Flavor COMBO-PACK

For a super healthy version of fruit leathers, try my Winter Squash (think pumpkin pie) Fruit Leather recipe.

If you don’t want to make your own sprouted nuts, here they are. Walnuts are my favorite; but all sprouted nuts are lovely.

Walnuts~  Organic, Unpasteurized Sprouted Walnuts

Pistachios!~ Organic, Unpasteurized Sprouted Pistachios
    

Almonds~  Organic, Unpasteurized Sprouted Almonds

Pumpkin Seeds~ Go Raw Sprouted Pumpkin Seeds are more economical than most sprouted nuts and very high in protein.

Sprouted Almond Butter

If you’re looking for candy, these can’t be beat. Our family loves both of these products, each with only three ingredients: honey, unsweetened chocolate and mint. The Heavenly brand, pictured on the left, is for dark chocolate enthusiasts and health foodies; the Trader Joe’s brand, pictured on the right, is great for all.
Heavenly Organics Raw Honey Chocolate Pattie, Mint
Trader Joe’s Dark Chocolate Honey Mints

LAST UP~ ANCIENT SNACK CONCEPTS REINVENTED

A sampler pack of Paleo Epic Bars, each with sustainably-sourced meat and spices. I get these for my hubby so he doesn’t go too long without food when he’s working. Epic Bar Sampler

Not sure what images pork rinds evoke in your mind, but you if you like chips these are great. Our kids love them and they’re cooked in olive oil. They are called Pork Clouds.  These are the Rosemary & Sea Salt flavor.

What are your favorite high standard snack foods? Leave a link below in the comments.