Plant-based diets are more than just a trend, and the prevalence of plant-based substitutes for meat products in both fast-food and the grocery stores, such as the Impossible Burger, Beyond Meat and meatless plant-based chicken tenders, shows that consumers are ready to give plant-based meal and snack options a go, potentially for the long-term.
While including plant-based options in your three square meals a day is fairly easy thanks to the freezer section at your grocery store, how can you get more plant-based and good-for-you options introduced into your snacking routine?
Well, what we like to call The Original Plant-Based Snack (trademark pending 😉) otherwise known as sunflower seeds, is a perfect plant-based option because, well, it came directly off of a plant! Once the big beautiful yellow sunflowers we love in the summer and early fall have reached the end of their annual life, the petals will die and the inner portion of the sunflower, where all the sunflower seeds live, is ready for harvest. From there, you can simply rub the seeded area with your hands, and the seeds will fall right off, ready for roasting or seasoning or eating fresh off the sunflower head! Low-salt sunflower seeds, like Chinook Seedery sunflower seeds, are harvested, combined with our unique flavors made from real food and spices, and go straight into the pouch. From field to pouch, we keep our seeds just as nature intended, no extra processing or magic required. How’s that for plant-based?
If you’re not looking to make the full jump into plant-based everything (we love a good burger ourselves), or you’re still interested in eating meat but are curious about adding plant-based options into your diet, sunflower seeds are nutrient dense and filled with protein, making them a healthy and plant-based snack regardless of your regular diet!
Sunflower seeds are not only low in carbohydrates, but they’re filled with fiber, vitamin E, plenty of mono and polysatured fats, and plenty of plant-based protein. In fact, one serving of sunflower seeds has roughly 6 grams of protein, and about 2.5 grams of fiber. The sunflower superfood is also rich in magnesium, folate, phosphorus and B6, which are all essential nutrients and vitamins that help the body function and stay in tip-top shape. If you’re interested in getting some extra plant-based protein and nutrients, sunflower seeds are a flavorful and nutrient dense snacking option to fuel your busy days.