Buying Vegan Snacks: Three Snack Foods You Wouldn’t Have Thought Were Vegan

Ahoy all you vegans out there! I know you love snacky, naughty, junk food items just as much as the rest of us… if only you had the chance, eh? But sometimes, when you’re making your way down the snack food aisle of your local supermarket, you can get a surprise. If you bother to read the labels carefully, that is!

If you’ve just got into veganism, then you’ll be just feeling your way around. Perhaps you aren’t aware yet that there are certain foods that are kind of ‘famous’ for being vegan when you, er, wouldn’t expect them to be! They seem like kind of ‘meaty’ snacks, is what I’m saying!

So here comes a list of vegan snacky treats that you’d never have thought you could snarf down… guilt-free!

Who’d have thought?  Well, here’s the proof: there’s a big green ‘V’ on the front, and next to that the bold words, “Vegetarian & vegan”.  Who am I to argue with Mr S?  (I couldn’t possibly argue.  I was too busy wolfing them down.  Delicious!)  Is that bag a little crumpled?  Has that bag been opened and the contents been poured down someone's gullet.?  Ahem.  I couldn't possibly say. 

I’m not saying they’re going to do anything great for, oh, your arteries or blood pressure or any of that nonsense.  Clearly, they’re not tofu and bean sprout stir fry or anything else you can feel virtuous about in health terms.  But they’re kind to little fluffy bunnies and they taste GOOD!

Walker’s BBQ Rib Crisps

That’s potato chips to you Americans! Meaty, salty, full of flavour – but not full of anything that used to be attached to an animal. There’s been some debate lately about whether Walker’s are still vegan (or whether certain flavours still are) and whether all flavours are produced on the same production lines and therefore may be ‘tainted’ by non-veggie flavours (for the truly strict vegan.) However the Vegan Society is still listing BBQ flavour as vegan which is good enough for me. Always remember, check before you eat and take online advice at your own risk!

Seabrook Canadian Ham Crisps

Aaaah, Seabrook, the crisp of the North! These very, very fine potato chips are largely found north of Watford in the UK, and are vastly superior to any other brand of potato chip to be found in the British Isles. (It’s a known fact.) Plus, they have numerous delicious vegan flavours, including the wondrously ‘meaty’ Canadian Ham, but also Smoky Bacon and numerous other less surprising flavours. Sadly, their finest flavour, Spring Onion, appears to have been discontinued. It’s a damn shame. (And if you would like to protest, bear in mind there is a Facebook Seabrooks Spring Onion page and campaign on the subject.)