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Unexpected Vegan Snacks

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Winona chapter.

Though I’m not a full-blown vegan, I still appreciate being able to go the extra step sometimes. (If you’re unsure of some of the reasons people go vegan, look into the dairy industry. Factory dairy farms can be just as bad as factory meat farms.)

 

November is World Vegan Month, and I’m here to show you that being vegan does not have to be difficult. In fact, many food items you encounter every day may be vegan without you even realizing it. Here is a list of snacks that are “accidentally” vegan (taken from this Buzzfeed article and other websites):

 

  1. Oreos. This one is probably hard to believe, but it’s true! No dairy here!

  2. Dots, Swedish Fish, Airheads, and Sour Patch Kids. Some of the few gummy-type candies without gelatin!

  3. Hershey’s Syrup. Another one that may be hard to believe, but this is also made without dairy!

  4. Frito’s and Lay’s (original). Just because you’re vegan doesn’t mean you have to avoid junk food.

  5. Wheat Thins and Ritz Crackers. Good to dip in hummus!

  6. Unfrosted Pop-Tarts. Only the unfrosted, though, because the frosting contains gelatin.

  7. Pillsbury Crescent Rolls. Even though they taste buttery, they’re not flavored with real butter.

  8. Ghirardelli Double Chocolate Brownie Mix. I’m not sure what the box calls for in terms of other ingredients, but there are definitely ingredients you can swap out for others.

  9. Nature Valley Crunchy Granola Bars (Apple Crisp, Cinnamon, Peanut Butter, Pecan, Roasted Almond, and Maple Brown Sugar). Yes, these are the kind that crumble into a thousand pieces when you bite them, but they’re still yummy.

  10. Thin Mints. Yeppp, you can still enjoy Girl Scout Cookies as a vegan. Try putting them in the freezer!

I hope this will make you consider cutting back on animal products, or at least push you to do some research about the industry. There are way more vegan snacks out there than listed here, and almost anything can be made with vegan ingredients. Enjoy!  

Cassie is a senior from Eagle, WI. She is pursuing a major in English with a writing emphasis and minoring in Applied and Professional Writing and Psychology. She hopes to one day work for an editing or publishing company and write books on the side. There are few things she loves more than Disney and Bernie Sanders, except maybe animals.
I love exploring the outdoors, writing, whales, and have a major sweet tooth for cheesecake! Volleyball and hockey are my favorite sports to play and watch. When it comes to writing, I love it. I truly enjoy being able to write articles and stories about topics people would enjoy reading.