You and your family deserve healthy, delicious treats that provide lasting nourishment throughout the day. That’s why Moonshot is dedicated to bringing you the flavors you love most with a healthy, climate-friendly twist.
Our savory treats will leave you feeling energized and ready to face the day while reducing your environmental impact.
What Makes Something Plant-Based?
At Moonshot, we believe in creating food that is good for you and good for the world around you. That’s why our snacks emphasize plants instead of meat and fish. But what makes a diet plant-based?
Definition
A plant-based diet focuses on ingredients derived from plants, which includes more than just fruits and vegetables. With plant-based eating, you’ll also get to enjoy nuts, seeds, oils, and grains. Legumes like chickpeas, pinto beans, and lentils are excellent sources of protein that can be cooked and prepared in tons of delicious ways. Using plant-based ingredients, you can create dishes and flavors you’ll love.
Plant-based diets are more commonly found in environments where fresh fruits and vegetables are available all year, like Greece and Italy, which is why you may have also heard the term “Mediterreanean diet.” Even if you don’t have access to regular farmer’s markets, there are many different ways to approach a plant-centric lifestyle during changing seasons! Squash and sweet potatoes are wonderful for autumn days, and you can prepare root vegetable stews in the winter. Stone fruits and citrus fruits are excellent options when the warmer months roll around.
There are many benefits to following a plant-based diet. It’s beneficial to the heart, it helps reduce the risk of developing conditions like diabetes, it can minimize acne, and it may even provide support for those struggling with mental health.
Plant-Based vs. Vegan
While a vegan diet includes a lot of the same recipes and ingredients as a plant-based diet, it differs in a few key ways. The goal of a plant-based diet is to reduce the amount of meat you consume and to emphasize grown ingredients. With a vegan diet, all meat and animal foods are to be avoided. Vegan diets don’t necessarily emphasize a reduction in processed foods like plant-based diets do. Oreos are vegan, but they’re not plant-based.
Anyone, no matter your current diet, can incorporate more plant-based food items. For example, you could consume fish or meat on occasion, depending on your preferences and dietary needs. By eating more plant-based items, you will reduce the amount of dairy and other animal byproducts you consume, but you may not eliminate them completely.
A plant-based diet can be geared toward any lifestyle–there are many different ways to personalize your diet and reduce your environmental impact.
How To Know If a Snack is Plant-Based
One of the most challenging aspects of eating healthy, both for yourself and the environment, is giving up your favorite highly processed snacks. But don’t worry! Here at Moonshot, we provide alternatives to your favorite mid-day treats so you can eat planet positive without giving up great flavors and textures.
Ingredients To Avoid
Here are a few ingredients you’ll want to avoid when determining whether your snacks are plant-based:
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Added Sugars: One of the most important aspects of a plant-based diet is reducing the amount of added sugars you consume. Instead, search for healthy, natural alternatives to refined sugar like honey and fruit. Artificial sweeteners and sugar substitutes should be avoided, as well.
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Refined Carbs: Carbs are plant-based, but not all plants are healthy for your heart or your body. Refined white carbohydrates, like the kind that go into white rice and white bread, can have adverse effects on your body that you’ll want to avoid.
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Sodium : Salt shouldn’t be avoided entirely unless directed by a healthcare professional. However, many dishes and packaged foods are processed and preserved with excessive amounts of salt or other high-sodium food additives that can contribute to high blood pressure and other conditions. The majority of sodium consumed actually comes from processed and prepared foods, not your salt shaker, so cutting out those items will go a long way to reducing your intake!
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Food Dye: A lot of snacks and processed foods rely on artificial coloring to make the product more appealing. Not only can this dye cause health complications over time, but it’s also commonly found in foods that should be avoided due to other factors.
Research Labels On Products
You can use the labels on a product to determine if it’s the right fit for your diet. It’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with common labels and healthy eating terminology, so you know what to look for when it’s time to find that next great snack. Here are a few of the most commonly used terms:
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Organic: Organic may feel like a buzzword, but it’s a helpful term to determine where your food comes from and how it was grown. Organic food is grown without pesticides or fertilizers–at a safe distance from any harmful chemicals.
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Non-GMO: GMO stands for genetically modified organisms, which means the food was produced or changed in a lab. GMO foods cannot be classified as organic, and since there is still a lot to be learned about the long-term implications of GMOs, many plant-based diets recommend avoiding them.
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Regenerative: We believe in regeneratively grown food that is produced without taking away from the farm or the earth. There are many approaches to regenerative farming and harvesting, but it’s often symbiotic with livestock and follows a no-till process. It may even be used to help repair ecosystems that have suffered damage. While not yet common compared to organic or non-GMO, organizations like Regenerative Organic Certified™ are creating paths to regenerative certification and labeling.
The Environmental Impact of Plant-Based Snacks
The way we have produced food in the past hasn’t always been the best option for preserving natural lands and protecting resources. We aim to change that with the ingredients and plant-based snacks available at Moonshot. Industrial meat and dairy production has significant environmental implications, which we can reduce with regenerative local farming. Our ingredients are climate-friendly, support local communities, and provide healthy, delicious options for your family.
Water is also a key ingredient in meat production, and when we reduce the amount of meat we consume, we can save water. Eating less meat also helps protect surrounding environmental systems from pollution and run-off associated with meat production. Growing and harvesting plants can nourish our bodies and communities, without creating an outsized impact on the earth.
Best Healthy Snacks
When it comes to sweet, savory, and all-around delicious plant-based snacks, where should you start? Here are some of the best healthy snacks available at Moonshot and beyond.
Moonshot Crackers
Moonshot Crackers come in three unique flavors: Sourdough Sea Salt, Rosemary Garlic, and Tomato Basil. They’re perfect for after-school snacks, dinner party appetizers, and everything in-between.
These organic crackers are made using freshly-milled heirloom wheat flour and sunflower oil, making them lighter than normal crackers while still delivering that essential crunch and tons of great taste.
Nuts
This one is easy! Aside from those who have nut allergies, you’ve already probably snacked on peanuts, cashews, and the ever-classic trail mix at some point in your life — taking part in plant-based snacking without even realizing it!
Nuts are high in vegetable protein, fiber, and minerals, and even though they are also high in calories and fat, their nutritional benefits are vast and include reduced likelihood of cardiovascular disease thanks to their cholesterol-lowering effect, as well as reduced incidence of diabetes in women.
That’s nuts! 🥜
Plant-Based Chocolate Milk and Smoothies
Make your favorite smoothies with plant-based milks like hemp and oat milk, cocoa powder, and bananas for texture, thickness, and sweetness. When you want to add a little more sweetness, try dates or local honey.
Hummus
Looking for a snack that’s a little more filling? Hummus is a spread made from garbanzo beans (i.e. chickpeas), so it’s packed with plant-based protein while also being super versatile when it comes to mixing up the flavor.
While there are plenty of premade hummus brands out there, you can try making your own at home with chickpeas, lemon juice, garlic, and whatever else you want to add. Some of our favorite add-ins are sun dried tomato, kalamata olives, and roasted eggplant– toss it all in your blender or food processor and enjoy!
When your hummus is good to go, pair with pita bread for a more filling snack— better yet, dip your favorite Earth-friendly cracker in it! 😉
Organic Whole Fruits and Vegetables
It really is all about fruits and vegetables. They can be used to make healthy and nutritious meals all year long, eaten raw for snacks or desserts, or paired with your favorite proteins, like hummus or almond butter. Explore the seasonal fruit and vegetable options available in your area and begin trying out exciting and delicious recipes for your personal plant-based diet today.
Conclusion
There are many different ways to craft a unique and sustainable plant-based diet that you and your family can enjoy while reducing your environmental impact. Plant-based diets reduce or remove the amount of animal products you consume. While not always available, the very best option is to choose foods from local, fair trade, regenerative, or organic sources, which will help uplift communities and ecosystems around the world. 🙌
You’re not alone in your plant-based journey. Moonshot is here to help you navigate the many different plant-based diet options, so you can discover all the best snacks, desserts, and staples for your kitchen with ease. Explore our delicious, flavorful crackers for your next party or celebration, and begin trying new plant-based recipes today! Eating healthy and reducing our impact on the environment can be as simple as swapping out the snacks we reach for. Together, we can create a future of clean air, clear water, and fresh food for the next generation.
Sources
What is a plant-based diet and why should you try it? | Harvard Health Blog
Are organic foods really healthier? Two pediatricians break it down | UC Davis
5 benefits of a plant-based diet | MD Anderson Cancer Center
