When you want a snack, you want it fast. But if you’re a runner, you also want it to provide nutrients that will help you go farther for longer. These quick and yummy snacks are perfect for vegan runners on the go!

Peanut Butter Chocolate Dates

Bite-sized and naturally sweet, these peanut butter chocolate dates can keep in the freezer for a long time. This means you can prep this tasty, nutritious snack and have it ready to go whenever you need it.

Ingredients:

• Dates (however many you want; each date is two bites)
• Peanut butter
• Vegan chocolate

Cut each date in half and place them on a baking sheet that will fit in your fridge or freezer (depending on how long you think these will last!). Smear peanut butter into the hollowed center of each date half. Finally, melt some vegan chocolate and drizzle it over the top of each bite. That’s it! Freeze what you don’t eat immediately to enjoy an extra chewy treat with chocolate that cracks with each bite.

Pro Tip

Melting chocolate on a double broiler results in a smoother, more pleasing texture, and you don’t need the specific kitchen device to take advantage of the benefits. You can simply place a ceramic bowl over a small saucepan filled with some simmering water. Put the chocolate in the bowl and stir until it reaches a smooth, silky consistency.

Savory Roasted Chickpeas

This recipe takes 2 minutes to prepare and offers a lot of protein and carbohydrates because of the chickpeas. In fact, garbanzos have more bioavailable protein than other legumes, which is just a fancy way of saying your body will absorb more of it. Therefore, this recipe is perfect for snacking on before or after a run. 

Ingredients:

• Canned chickpeas
• Roasting oil (I use olive or canola)
• Seasoning you like (I usually use salt and turmeric)

Drain, rinse, and dry your chickpeas, spreading them out on a baking sheet. Drizzle with oil and your seasonings of choice. Put the tray in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 30 minutes. I also like to put them in at 250 degrees for longer to achieve a dryer, crunchier snack.

Pro Tip

Fully drying the chickpeas is important to get the best crunch. But if you don’t want to wait for them to air-dry, you don’t have to. Just take a paper towel and pat-dry the legumes. 

Hummus, Veggies, and Pita

This wouldn’t be a list of the best quick and yummy vegan snacks for runners without mentioning hummus, veggies, and pita. The full selection is great for post-run recovery eating, but you can skip the veggies if you’re about to go on a run. After all, there is such a thing as too much fiber for runners, especially in the hours preceding a run.

Ingredients:

• Hummus
• Vaggies (my favorites are cauliflower, sweet snap peas, and cucumber)
• Pita

The instructions are simple: dig in! Other than washing your veggies, this is a no-prep snack.

Oat Energy Balls

Saving the best for last, we have oat energy balls. Oats are incredible for you and packed with protein and carbs, making these balls amazing, delicious treats to enjoy before a run.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of oats
• 1 cup of peanut butter (more or less depending on your liking)
• 4 tablespoons of sweetener (maple syrup or honey)
• Pinch of salt
• Chocolate chips (optional but worth it!)

Mix all of the ingredients in a bowl and mix until even combined. You should end up with a malleable dough-like mixture you can form into balls. If you can’t, add more oats for structure and peanut butter for “glue.” Roll the mixture into balls and place these on a baking sheet to chill in the fridge. After they chill, you can keep the energy balls in the fridge or the freezer for a chewier, longer-lasting snack.

Pro Tip

Don’t love peanut butter? Any type of nut or seed butter should work! Just make sure it has roughly the same consistency as peanut butter so that the energy balls will hold their shape. 

Wrapping Up

Are any of these snack ideas making you hungry? Whether you make bite-sized peanut chocolate dates or enjoy a refreshing plate of hummus and veggies, these recipes are quick to make and have a lot of nutritional benefits. Bon Appetit!