Meals and Snacks with New ZENB Veggie Sticks |#ZENBChallenge

Being a predominantly plant-based family, I am pretty conscious of what we eat, where our food comes from, and what goes into our bodies. Food is fuel, and you need to be eating the right kinds of foods in order to feel at your best. I started this way of eating from a health point of view, and it has not only been a benefit to my health, but also the health of my family. 

I am always looking for food and products that can make this way of eating simpler. No matter what it is in life, if something is a hassle, then it’s not going to happen. So anything that makes eating plant-based and delicious food much easier is a must for me. Because of my hormone imbalance I also try to look out for food that is organic, because I don’t want anything else added into my diet that I don’t need. 

I have been trying out the new ZENB Veggie Sticks over the past week, to see how I can add them into our lifestyle each day, and I have got to say, I am impressed. Not only are they delicious, and come in four great flavours (beetroot, carrot, pumpkin, and red pepper), but the Veggie Sticks are organic, gluten-free, and vegan-friendly. The ethos of the brand is all about sustainability and embracing tasty and veggie-based food, which is great. 

Whole Vegetables to Raise Awareness of Food Waste

Each of the Veggie Sticks contains as much of the whole vegetable as possible, from the peel and core to the stem and seeds, so you get plenty of plant-based vegetable deliciousness, as well as being a source of fibre. I don’t know about you, but I know that we as a family can create a lot of food waste when we haven’t eaten things before they go off, or we make too much and then it doesn’t get eaten. We have been using a compost in our back garden for a couple of years now, so although it is good to not waste anything, I know that we can put up our natural food waste on there to use again later down the line, so it all comes back full-circle. So, it is good to know that ZENB use as much of the vegetable as possible in their Veggie Sticks.

The Veggie Sticks also contain additional ingredients, which I thought were super tasty, with puffed brown rice, red quinoa, and almonds, all helping to enhance the flavour of the vegetables. I like the texture that comes from these natural additions too, as it gives it a bit of a crunch. 

Day One

One of the first things that comes to mind when I think of Veggie Sticks, is adding them to something like a salad, I love mixing spinach, a homemade slaw made with white and red cabbage, tomato, carrots, and lime juice, along with some cucumber and avocado. Topped off with a red pepper ZENB Veggie Stick and you’ve got plenty of veggie deliciousness on your plate.

Day Two

If you are looking for a meal packed with lots of things in the fridge that need to be used up, then soup is a great idea. You can put so many different things in soup, but one of my favourites is spicy carrot and sweet potato, with added pumpkin and Carrot Veggie Sticks for a crunchy crouton. The recipe I use is:

• Olive oil
• 2 red onions, chopped
• 1 tbsp curry powder (heat level according to your preference)
• 400g carrots, chopped
• 2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and chopped
• 2 litres vegetable stock
• 2 tsp honey, agave, or maple syrup (optional)
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Day Three

Smoothies are a great way to pack in a lot of fruit and vegetables, as well as keeping in a lot of the fibre that you don’t get from juicing. Smoothies for breakfast are a great idea for something quick, and much like a soup, you can pretty much use up whatever you have in the fridge (even things like spinach and avocado)! A ZENB Veggie stick works well in there too, blended up for extra flavour and colour (I used the beetroot Veggie Stick). 

Day Four

Now that the summer holidays are in full swing we have been trying to get out as much as we can and enjoy the glorious weather! I like that the ZENB Veggie Sticks are great on-the-go snacks. Something like a beetroot or red pepper would be very hard to eat on a walk, but in the form of a Veggie Stick, you can still get everything the vegetable offers you, without the chopping or mess.

Day Five

As well as going out for walks and hikes in our local Surrey Hills, we do like to go out for a picnic too. Again, like with a hike, it is nice to be able to take things with you without having to think about mess or waste when you’re out in a park having a picnic. Rather than a sweet bar, being savoury, the Veggie Sticks,  make a refreshing change too!

Day Six

So many of us are used to having sweet things for breakfast, but I much prefer to have savoury. Porridge is a winner for me at any time of the year, and I even make it in my slow cooker to wake up to warm porridge in the morning. I tried crumbling the ZENB Veggie Sticks on top of my porridge in the morning, and it tasted great! I liked the crunch and the texture that comes from the vegetable, as well as the other natural and vegan ingredients.

Day Seven

On the last day of the ZENB Challenge, where I incorporated the Veggie Sticks into our lifestyle, I had them after a workout. Being a source of fibre and being plant-based, I know I’m not snacking on something filled with additives – which is always great. Now I just need to try it with a plant-based protein shake!

Veggie Sticks

The ZENB Veggie Sticks are new to the UK and ready to be tried! They can be ordered online to be delivered straight to your door, and they fit straight into your letterbox on arrival. If you fancy trying them for yourself, then you can order a trial box and just pay £2.99 P&P. Fortnightly subscription automatically starts after trail, at £9.49 per 4-pack. Terms at zenb.co.uk/terms.

Have you heard of ZENB before? Do you think this is something that your family might like to try? It would be great to hear what you think.

*This is a sponsored post with ZENB. All opinions are my own, and I would only recommend something that I would pay for myself.