Functional Snacks and Beverages: Nourishing Choices for Every Lifestyle

Snacking: an essential part of our fast-paced lifestyle. We all do it and love it, especially when the snacks we enjoy make us feel good. The days of empty-calorie snacks are dwindling as people become more conscious of their health and strive to live their best lives.

In other words, we’re demanding better snacks—better taste, better options, and better nutrition. Fortunately, the food industry is listening and responding with a range of snack foods made with simple and functional ingredients that taste great and offer benefits beyond essential nutrition.

Functional foods take us back to the basics of nutrition: whole grains, minimally processed ingredients, less sugar, fewer fillers, and GMOs, plus added superfoods or adaptogens to help you benefit most from your snack. It’s an exciting trend in food, built on the philosophy that food is medicine, and at Market of Choice, we’re here for it!

All this healthy snacking is sure to give you a thirst. Fortunately, the beverage industry has jumped on board, too, rolling out new drink choices packed with nutrients and electrolytes to supplement your diet and lifestyle.

Here are a few of our favorite functional snacks and beverages to check out in the aisles of your Market of Choice.

Superfood Snack Bars

Snack bars are a staple for hiking trips or any outdoor activities. We love having them on hand for road trips or as an afternoon snack on a busy weekday. These superfood snack bars not only deliver on functional benefits but also on taste, making you feel indulged and satisfied.

GoMacro Bars: These snack bars are a convenient, all-natural, plant-based source of macronutrients (carbs, protein, and fat) your body needs to function best.

Blake’s Seed-Based Crispy Treats: Anyone with a nut allergy knows how tough it can be to find a nut-free snack bar. Blake’s great-tasting treats are free from the top 10 allergens, including gluten, dairy, egg, soy, fish, and nuts.

Junkless Chewy Granola Bars: What makes Junkless different from the typical granola bars isn’t so much about what’s in it as much as what’s not. Made with whole foods, 100% whole grain oats, natural peanut butter, authentic fruit pieces, and 34% less sugar than the leading brands, Junkless meets your need for taste and nutrition.

Dave’s Killer Bread Amped-Up Protein Bars: Baked with organic peanut butter, chia seeds, rolled oats, and chocolate chunks, Dave’s makes a killer whole-food protein bar.

Better-for-You Sweet Snacks

Let’s face it: some of us like the surge of dopamine we get from sugary foods. It lifts your mood and gives you a little energy, too. Unfortunately, sugary foods are also linked to some unfavorable health outcomes. If you love sweets (like we do) but are dedicated to a healthier lifestyle, reach for these instead. We guarantee they will satisfy your cravings in a healthier way.

Bakeology Cookie Bites: These delicious treats are sweetened with just the right amount of natural cane sugar, made with organic ingredients, and vegan and gluten-free, too. See for yourself! All ingredients used to make Bakeology cookie bites are listed on the back of the package. We’re partial to the Snickerdoodle, but you may also like their chocolate chip, vanilla chai, lemon, or cookie bites.

Purposefuel Snack Bites: Love rich chocolate? These little bites give you all the goodness of chocolate without the sugar. They’re so decadent, you won’t believe they’re healthy.

Monkey Brittle: It only takes three ingredients to make Monkey brittle, resulting in a crunchy, superfood snack that tastes just like banana bread. We find that kids love this snack!

Crunchy, Savory Snacks

Crunchy snacks are great for reducing stress and anxiety, but if your crunch is filled with guilt, that only adds to your stress in the long run! The workaround is finding a healthier snack with the crunch factor you crave. Here are a few of our favorites.

Biena Snacks: They began by roasting chickpea snacks, but this company has expanded its line to include veggie crisps and crispy edamame.

Lesser Evil Popcorn: We often forget that popcorn is a healthy snack when it isn’t smothered in greasy butter. Lesser Evil keeps it simple, using organic popcorn, extra virgin coconut oil, and Himalayan pink salt to season. And it’s minimally processed for maximum snackability.

Purely Sprouted Snack Mix: A perfect blend of sprouted nuts and seeds with spices, herbs, fruits, and other plant-based ingredients for flavor. Whether you like it savory or sweet, there’s a flavor for you.

Artisan Tropic Plantain Strips: These gluten-free and paleo-friendly snacks are made with Colombian plantains and palm oil. They have a natural sweetness that’s so satisfying, too.

Vegan Rob’s Cauliflower Puffs: Vitamin-packed cauliflower is one of the healthiest veggies in the food groups. Vegan Rob makes it even more accessible with these crunchy, real cauliflower puffs.

Seapoint Farms Edamame: These little green soybeans contain essential nutrients and can be a healthy addition to your diet. It’s healthy for your heart and promotes healthier hair and skin. Seapoint Farms carefully roasts their edamame to retain its naturally occurring levels of isoflavones.

Amazing Mushrooms

There’s a lot of talk about the functional benefits of mushrooms, and for good reason. Mushrooms are rich in nutrients like fiber, protein, antioxidants, and various vitamins and minerals that contribute to heart health, immune function, and overall well-being.

Pan’s Mushroom Jerky: Mushrooms are packed with nutrients like vitamin D, potassium, and antioxidants. Pan’s (an Oregon company), offers the health benefits of mushrooms in a delicious, chewy jerky snack with umami flavors like teriyaki, curry, BBQ, and more.

Host Defense Mushroom Coffee:  This delicious, mushroom-based hot drink mix comes with the benefits of lion’s mane mushrooms, which are linked to better mental clarity and immunity. Lion’s made has also been found to reduce anxiety.

Functional Beverages

On a busy day, you’re lucky if you have time to grab a drink and go. We get it! Here are some functional beverages to help you get hydrated, energized, and nourished.

Pop & Bottle Oat Milk Lattes: These cold brew lattes are so refreshing on a summer morning. Crafted from organic cold brew, housemade oat milk, and dates for sweetness, Pop & Bottle is delightful and nourishing.

Celsius Live Fit Energy Drink: Energy drinks have gotten a bad rap, and for good reason, but Celsius is turning the page on unhealthy energy-boosting beverages. With their unique blend of vitamins, these delicious drinks are clinically proven to boost your metabolism when combined with an active lifestyle.

GoodBelly Juice Drink: A healthy gut is the cornerstone of a healthy body, and this juice company makes it easy to get the prebiotics and probiotics you need to keep your gut happy and your body moving.

Maka Wheatgrass Superfood Beverage: This drink combines the nutrient-dense benefits of wheatgrass with yerba mate and guayusa tea energy in a delicious, fruit-forward, energizing, and refreshing formula that’s slightly carbonated.

Olipop Prebiotic Soda: These sodas taste just like the yummy, sugary stuff you grew up loving, but with much less sugar and added prebiotics for digestive health. There’s a favorite for every taste, but try the root beer!

Ablis CBD Sparkling Beverage: Looking for a drink that calms your nerves but doesn’t put you to sleep? Albis beverages are naturally sweetened, hemp-infused, sparkling drinks for those with a sense of adventure.

De La Calle Tepache: The perfect combination of sweet and refreshing, these modern Mexican sodas are naturally fermented with pineapple, spices, and tropical fruits. It’s great for your gut and contains no caffeine!

H2: How to Incorporate Functional Snacks and Beverages into Your Diet

Incorporating functional snacks into your diet is easier than ever now that there are many delicious options on the market. Simply take note of the foods you enjoy snacking on, like chips or candy bars, then swap those out for a crunchy functional snack or whole grain snack bar.

Be sure to balance your snacks with a variety of food groups. For example, enjoy a creamy, probiotic-rich yogurt with a sprinkling of chia seeds on top.

If you’re a meal planner, make snacks part of your weekly grocery list. Having a superfood granola bar or a few low-sugar cookies ensures you’ll have a healthy afternoon snack to energize you. If you find yourself stress-eating, opt for crunchy chickpea snacks to satisfy your cravings and reduce anxiety.