by Nick Maleki
If there’s one thing cannabis connoisseurs can relate to almost universally no matter how they choose to indulge in the plant, it’s that devilish urge to eat everything you can get your hands on.
Let’s be real: unchecked, it’s not a very sustainable way of living. However, if you’re inclined to adapt your diet to your consumption of cannabis, there are plenty of healthy options that don’t require you to sacrifice the familiar flavors you enjoy. Here’s a list of 13 healthy (and delicious) munchies to help you maintain your active cannabis lifestyle.
1. Mangoes
The mango above all other fruits should be the best friend of any new or longstanding cannabis consumer, and pairs particularly well with sativa-forward cannabis products like our Over the Rainbow Pen. Aside from the fact that it’s rich in vitamin C and potassium, it also has myrcene, a terpene that helps enhance your high and reduce the time to its onset. Be sure to consume 30-60 minutes before your cannabis for the most effective results.
Preferred Dish: Mango and Papaya Salad (140 Calories)
2. Nuts
If you don’t have any food sensitivities preventing you from eating nuts, then you should have this snack pretty high on your next grocery list. Nuts contain fats and proteins that help break down THC and make your high more stimulating or longer-lasting. Be sure to avoid nuts with high amounts of salt: purchasing unsalted nuts that you can add your own seasonings to means they can be consumed at a higher volume with less consequence. But be sure not to indulge past a one-pound bag here, due to the previously mentioned fats.
Preferred Dish: Assorted Unsalted Trailmix (175-200 calories)
3. Popcorn
Popcorn, believe it or not, is one of the best low-cal options for anyone, high or sober, to chow down on in large quantities. Options that have reduced sodium, use whole-grain popped corn or contain organic low-fat seasonings can have servings with as low as 100 calories while still maintaining a pretty high overall quantity. Stove popping your favorite kernel blend is also a great way to control salt and fat content — not to mention gives you the ultimate control over the flavor profile you choose to season your popcorn with.
Preferred Dish: Homemade Stovetop Seasoned Popcorn (100-150 calories)
4. Sweet-Potato Fries
The french fry is a classic staple of the overall munchy menu, but the traditional fried, oily and salty fast-food option isn’t really a sustainable snack for most. The best alternative is the sweet-potato fry. It’s an even healthier munchy when homemade and baked in the oven instead of deep-fried.
Preferred Dish: Homemade Baked Sweet Potato Fries (260 calories)
5. Kale Chips
If you’re the type that has to have something both crunchy and salty but you don’t want to deal with the caloric intake, kale chips may be the perfect alternative for you. These are good either store bought or homemade, and are an incredibly healthy munchy option that you can feast on to your heart’s content. They are super high in A & B vitamins as well.
Preferred Dish: Baked and Seasoned Kale Chips (110 calories)
6. Low-Cal Ice Cream
Contemporary technology is crazy (to put it mildly), and the options for ice cream have never been this accessible for anyone trying to maintain a diet. Brands like Yasso offer Greek yogurt flavors that have 100 calories per bar, meaning after a nice sesh with cannabis you can have quite a bit of frozen delights and have zero regrets.
Preferred Dish: Yasso Mint Chocolate Chip Bars (100 calories)
7. Whipped Cream
This one is for those who are high and hungry but in a pinch with the options available in the fridge. Homemade whipped cream in a bowl is a surprisingly low-cal and delicious option when the munchies hit and you need to eat something sweet on the spot. Add some fresh berries and you have a decadent dessert that takes hardly any effort at all to put together.
Preferred Dish: Homemade Whipped Cream by the Spoon (15-50 calories)
8. Fruit
If you eat fruit like candy even when you’re not high, then fruit assortments of any variety are something you can’t go wrong with. You can eat as much as you want to with absolutely no regrets, so if you’re not feeling culinarily creative after your cannabis hits, feel free to cut an apple or peel a banana or three.
Preferred Dish: Fresh Fruit Salad (130 calories)
9. Brown-Rice Bowls
Rice bowls are some of the best gluten-free munchy options around, and depending on the kind you make, they can serve as a full meal too. Brown rice is an even healthier alternative to white long grain; add some arugula or mixed greens, dressing and a healthy protein option, and you have a delicious and healthy meal for anytime the munchies strike.
Preferred Dish: Spicy Thai Chicken and Brown Rice Bowl (300 calories)
10. Edamame
Similar in function to kale chips, edamame satisfies that salty and crunchy craving while being an incredibly healthy option. There are people who swear by edamame and religiously eat it at any occasion. If you like legumes, this is a can’t-miss snack.
Preferred Dish: Garlic Roasted Edamame (69 calories)
11. Whole-Wheat PB&J with Organic Jam
Who can go wrong with the timeless classic of PB&J? Now you have to make sure the ingredients are right here: no mass market jams or peanut butter loaded with preservatives. Make sure your bread is whole wheat or multigrain, the jam is organic or a preserve and the peanut butter is ground fresh from your local Whole Foods or farmers market. When you’re high, on the fly and trying to find the right healthy munchy, there’s no stabler or more consistent option than good old peanut butter and jelly. It’s got that nostalgia element that takes you right back to when you were a kid, it’s a feeling like no other.
Preferred Dish: PB&J on Whole Wheat Bread, with Fresh Ground Cashew Butter and Apricot Preserves (250 calories)
12. Avocado Toast
Despite being a kind of a running joke in the greater Los Angeles area, avocado toast on whole wheat or multigrain bread is one of the most delicious and refreshing munchy options you can find. Cannabis connoisseurs, don’t sleep on this one — it’s suspiciously delicious and comes with amazing health benefits.
Preferred Dish: Avocado Toast on Multigrain Bread (260 calories)
13. Yogurt
If you’re into something a little more sweet than savory, a yogurt cup with honey and granola and even some diced-up fruit is so delicious after waking up and smoking some flower. This healthy munchy is only for those who can tolerate lactose, but it really hits the sweet spot after a sesh, especially in the morning.
Preferred Dish: Parfait with Fresh Berries, Granola, and Honey (350 calories)
What’s your favorite healthy munchy? Follow us on social @mistifivape to share!
Nick Maleki is a freelance writer and cannabis connoisseur based out of Los Angeles, California.
Sources
The Healthy – https://www.thehealthy.com/food/healthy-snacks-for-adults/
Pot Guide – https://potguide.com/blog/article/do-mangoes-intensify-the-effects-of-cannabis/
Healthline – https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/12-proven-benefits-of-avocado#TOC_TITLE_HDR_5
One Green Planet – https://www.onegreenplanet.org/vegan-food/healthier-snack-recipes/