The Best Vegetarian Snacks To Buy In Bulk From BJ's Wholesale Club

As a vegetarian, choosing the right store can be important when stocking up on snacks, since you'll want both good prices and selection. BJ's Wholesale Club offers great deals on groceries, including produce, frozen, and pantry essentials. Walking their aisles, you'll find BJ's also carries tons of tasty snacks that are vegetarian-friendly. The best part is that they sell these foods in bulk portions, so they'll last a while.

According to Refinery29, you'll find that vegetarian snacks tend to be in better supply than vegetarian meals. Whether you prefer to heat up something hearty, blend a healthy smoothie, or munch on something quick and easy, there is an array of options at BJ's. In addition to vegetarian foods from well-known brands, they also offer snacks from their private label, so you can save extra money while still getting a quality product.

The USDA states that snacking has increased among U.S. adults over time. They also say that snacking can now constitute between 24 and 40 percent of our daily caloric intake on average. So, snacks make up a big part of our diet, and it's important to choose a nice mix of options that will keep us both happy and healthy.

When you get a craving for something sweet, but want to avoid candy, fruit jerky is an excellent choice. The Solely Organic Fruit Jerky multipack is a nice introduction if you've never had it before. Rachel Ray Mag points out that fruit jerky is not only tasty, but can also be packed with nutrients.

These dried fruit strips from Solely include mango, banana and pineapple flavors, for an excellent variety. The bag comes with seven strawberry strips, and four of the other two flavors, for 15 strips total per pack. The whole bag can be bought for $15.99 at BJ's Wholesale Club.

Of course, sweet fruits tend to contain a lot of sugar, which is still present even after the fruit has been dried. According to Fooducate, the mango Solely strips have around 12g of sugar each, though they don't have any added sugars. So, although these are a quick and somewhat healthy choice, you probably don't want to binge on them. This is the sort of thing that is perfect to take on-the-go when you need a quick energy boost between meals.

Rather than reaching for potato chips, you might want to try veggie straws as an alternative. The Garden Veggie Straws by Sensible Portions are available at BJ's in a 30 bag assortment, with 20 bags of original sea salt and 10 bags pf zesty ranch flavor, for $11.99 per box. Each bag contains 1 ounce of veggie straws, making this crunchy snack a good choice for limiting yourself to small portions.

According to the Sensible Portions website, their sea salt Garden Veggie Straws have 30% less fat compared with popular potato chip brands. So, you can feel a little less guilty about munching on these as opposed to other types of chips. Of course, not everyone agrees that veggie straws can be considered a healthy snack. Eating Well suggests that although veggie straws aren't exactly a bad choice, choosing fresh veggies would certainly be better.

All things in moderation, right? Maybe veggie straws today, and raw carrots tomorrow.

The Raised & Rooted brand hit the scene last year as Tyson's response to increased demand for plant-based options. The new brand is now carried in most large grocery chains, including Target, Walmart, Giant and Kroger. Their frozen meatless nuggets are now available at BJ's too, in a giant 24 oz. size, available for $10.99 per bag. These nuggets have great flavor as a chicken nugget substitute, and can easily be heated up in an air fryer or pan. Don't forget to pour a bit of your favorite dipping sauce too.

The Raised & Rooted website states that these offer 8 grams of protein and 4 grams of fiber per serving. Plus, they don't contain soy: They contain, "a blend of pea protein isolate and golden flaxseed."

If you've heard concerning news about soy, and are trying to avoid it, you're not alone. As Harvard Health Publishing explains, soy products can contain chemicals similar to estrogen, and these may have negative health effects. With these pea-protein nuggets though, you don't have to worry about that.

Sometimes, you just need to eat a cupcake. Luckily, vegetarians don't have to give up all the good things in life, and can still enjoy this sweet snack. At BJ's, a 12-pack of these "from our bakery" cupcakes costs $8.99, making each one cost less than a dollar. Many of the cupcakes available come in colorful options, even including rainbow and galaxy theme icing designs at some locations. 

Cupcakes are not a low-calorie, nor a low-sugar food, as EatingWell reminds us. So you'll definitely want to exercise some moderation and share these cupcakes with others if you take a pack home. It's fine to indulge sometimes, just be sure not to eat cupcakes every day unless you want to risk some serious health consequences. When balanced out with healthy foods, these cupcakes from BJ's are a great way to treat yourself to some sweetness. You'll also save time by letting them do the baking for you.

For those who love Asian cuisine, having some vegetarian spring rolls stocked in the freezer is essential. These mini vegetable spring rolls from Ling Ling are available at BJ's in a 30-roll box. Located in the freezer aisle, the $10.99 bulk pack comes with sweet chili dipping sauce included. They're certainly less expensive than ordering takeout.

You can bake these in the oven, or cook them with an air fryer or on the stovetop with a little oil. They can also be warmed in a toaster oven or even the microwave, according to the package. However you heat them up, this is a great afternoon or evening snack.

The Ling Ling company was started by Taiwanese immigrants in San Francisco, and offers other authentic frozen Asian dishes at stores nationwide. Their Mini Vegetable Spring Rolls have only 210 calories per serving, so if you want something to tide you over between meals, these are a good option.

If you want a little hummus, but don't want to fuss with a whole tub, Sabra offers portable packs of their classic hummus that include pretzels for dipping. These single-serve snack packs include 6 cups each and cost $8.99 at BJ's. With 10 grams of protein, they are totally plant-based and good for vegans and vegetarians alike.

You could also enjoy these with carrot sticks, or cucumber slices, though that will require a little more effort. The nice thing about these packs is that they're perfectly proportioned and ready to go. You can throw one in your bag and take it to work or school for a quick snack that is also healthy. According to SF Gate, some benefits of choosing healthy snacks are increased energy and supplying yourself with nutrients. Health says that hummus is a good choice, but especially healthy if you scoop it with fresh veggies.

However you choose to eat it, this is a snack you don't need to feel bad about. Plus, it tastes great.

If you've never tried an acai bowl, now is a great time to start. Sambazon is the largest acai supplier worldwide, according to their website, and offers bags of packaged acai that can be blended into a tasty treat. Sold for $9.99 at BJ's, each frozen bag contains 8 packs of organic acai. These packs are perfect for blending into smoothies and acai bowls. Just add your favorite juice, and some chopped fruit, and blend the mix into a nutritious and flavorful snack.

For acai bowls, you may also want to top off your blended creation with some crunchy granola. Honey and almond varieties go well with the acai flavor, but you can experiment and decide what your favorite granola is. Some people also enjoy topping their acai bowls with bee pollen or coconut. You can add extra fruit too after blending and pouring, such as sliced banana or berries. Once you've had an acai bowl, you'll understand why many people pay upwards of $10 to order these at healthy restaurants and smoothie stops (via Spoon University).

They are absolutely delicious, and luckily you can make them at home for much less.

Swing by your local BJ's to pick up a Kind Minis Variety Pack for $16.99 if you want to stock up with on-the-go snacks. There are 32 bars per box, with 16 Dark Chocolate Nuts & Sea Salt flavor bars, and 16 Caramel Almond & Sea Salt flavor bars. If you've already had a full-size Kind bar, you'll love these. With only 90 calories per bar, this is a great choice when you just need a little blood sugar boost but don't want to eat too much.

Kind bars tend to include a delicious blend of nuts, grains and other healthy ingredients. Bustle investigated whether Kind bars are good for you, and found that while they may not be "healthy" exactly, they do tend to be a healthier choice than many other popular snacks, and even other nutrition bars. So, if you're looking for something you can throw into your glove box or purse as a quick bite, that's better for you and lower in sugar than a candy bar, you may want to have a box of these in your pantry.

Macarons are light, chewy cookies that originated in France, according to Food Network. These tend to be made with ground blanched almonds and egg-based meringue, so they are vegetarian-friendly. BJ's carries an assorted package of macarons in their frozen section. Their package of 36 includes equal servings of six flavors: coffee, raspberry, chocolate, vanilla, lemon, and pistachio. This colorful and indulgent snack comes in at a good cost per cookie, too. With the package price being $16.99 for 36 cookies, each one costs about fifty cents.

In general, macarons tend to be expensive compared with other cookies. Ventured explains that this is due to their status as a luxury item, and cost of production. From the deluxe packaging they are usually found in, to their expensive ingredients, and complex baking process, making macarons is no cheap feat. Many macarons will set you back $2 or $3 each when purchased directly from a bakery. So if you've been craving this luxurious cookie, you should give the ones at BJ's a try. Go ahead, treat yourself.

The Nongshim brand has excellent vegan soup options, including this Soon Kimchi Noodle Soup. This recipe is a bit spicy, but good if you want a flavorful snack to hold you over between mealtimes. To prepare, just add hot water and let sit for a few minutes, like other instant noodle cups. You can also pour the water first and microwave the cup to cook the noodles instead. These cost $11.99 at BJ's for 12 cups, so about $1 each.

If you're not familiar with kimchi, this soup may be a good starting point to try it out. Delish explains that kimchi refers to a Korean method of fermenting vegetables with salt, although people often talk about the fermented vegetables themselves as kimchi. It has a unique flavor that is both sour and salty, and in the case of this noodle soup, you'll taste some spiciness too.

If you're not sure whether you'll like this flavor, you can always pick up an individual cup from your local retailer, as these are carried at Kroger, Food 4 Less, and more. Just make sure to then buy the bulk pack from BJ's so you'll save money.

These frozen fried plantains from Goya are a great option when you want a hearty snack. Throw them in your air fryer and sprinkle with salt, or give them a quick pan fry with a bit of oil. At BJ's these cost $5.49 for a 40 ounce box, which should last you a while.

Tostones are a traditional Latin American dish, popular in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean, according to Taste Atlas. Typically these are made by smashing slices of unripe plantain and frying them, but you save a lot of work by purchasing this box from Goya. Once you take these out of the freezer, all you have to do is cook them. You may also want to toss a little salt on afterward, for extra flavor.

Plantains are actually classified as a fruit, and are very similar to bananas. So you might not expect to get such a hearty and delicious snack out of them, but prepare to be surprised. This side dish is a favorite of many vegetarians, and you should give it a try.

If you're someone who believes that breakfast time is any time, you should pick up this giant box of Wellsley Farms French Toast Sticks from BJ's Wholesale Club. Weighing in at a whopping 3.5 pounds, you'll likely need to make some space in your freezer for this one.

Each frozen box costs $7.49 at BJ's and contains about 14 servings of 4 sticks, so 56 sticks total. They're also split up into two bags, so once you've eaten half, you can take the remaining bag out of the box to conserve space.

French toast sticks are made with eggs and milk, so are not vegan, but are good for vegetarians who love breakfast snacks. These are also microwavable, so you can quickly warm them up and have something to eat in minutes. The package does not include syrup, so be sure to have some on hand. Actually, you'll probably need to have about a gallon on hand to take these on. BJ's does sell syrup in bulk as well.

If you're a cauliflower addict, as many vegetarians are, you'll love these panko crumb cauliflower wings from Stuffed Foods. The buffalo style wings are available in a 32 ounce box for $9.99 at BJ's. Cauliflower wings are a great vegetarian substitute for chicken wings, and go just as well with ranch dressing. You'd be surprised how many foods cauliflower can imitate. There are great recipes for cauliflower tacos, mashed potatoes and a number of other foods too. It really is a versatile vegetable.

In an air fryer, you can heat these up in about 10 minutes. You could also pop them in your toaster oven, or pan fry them. The fact that these are fried means that this isn't exactly the healthiest way to eat cauliflower, but they sure are tasty. Making your own buffalo cauliflower wings takes quite a bit longer, because of all the prep time. So if you want a quicker option, these are your best bet.

Dried strawberries are delicious, and Tru Fru found a way of making them even better — they added chocolate. Each 16 ounce package of these Tru Fru chocolate-covered dried strawberries costs $9.99 at BJ's. Sweet and gluten free, these strawberries are a health food and a candy in one.

According to a Springer study, dried strawberries can retain enough of their vitamin C and antioxidant properties, as compared to fresh strawberries, to still be considered a nutritional snack. Dark chocolate has also inspired a number of studies looking to prove whether or not it is healthy. The general consensus, as explained by Scripps, is that dark chocolate also contains healthy properties and antioxidants, and is especially good for heart health. Compared with other types of chocolate, dark chocolate seems to be the winner in the health department.

With that in mind, feel no guilt if you decide to try out this tasty snack. We all need a little sweetness in our lives, and this is certainly a better choice than the candy bar alternatives you might see during checkout.

For $12.99, you can pick up a 20 ounce bag of healthy and delicious, unsweetened dried mango at BJ's. This organic dried mango is from BJ's private label brand Wellsley Farms, and gets great reviews online. Because it's unsweetened, you can expect to get more of the tangy natural flavor of dried mango, and less of the artificial and processed sweetness of dried mango with added sugars.

To keep yourself feeling full, even as a strict vegetarian, Insider recommends eating dried fruits like these mango slices. Dried fruits can be good sources of fiber, plus they will contain the same nutrients as they had when fresh. Dried mango is great for sharing, and because it is so flavor-rich, kids tend to love it too. It's not messy, and makes for an awesome vegetarian snack. Dried mango will also last a long time, so you don't have to worry about it expiring quickly. All around, this is a great choice to have at home.