The Rise of Gluten Free and Vegan Diets in the UK
More people than ever are becoming mindful of what they eat, not just for personal health, but for ethical and environmental reasons. In the UK, over 1 in 100 people are diagnosed with coeliac disease (Coeliac UK), while more than 1.2 million people now follow a vegan diet, according to The Vegan Society. These figures continue to grow, especially among younger generations and health conscious professionals.
This shift is also shaping workplaces. HR teams and office managers are increasingly seeking allergy friendly snacks for the office that cater to diverse dietary needs. Whether it’s about managing gluten intolerance, adopting a plant based lifestyle, or simply snacking smarter, demand for gluten free vegan snacks is on the rise.
So, how do you satisfy everyday cravings while staying true to a gluten free and vegan lifestyle? Let’s explore the best vegan gluten free snack swaps for the most popular cravings, featuring snacks available in the UK.
1. Craving: Crisps
Mainstream Choice: Walkers Cheese & Onion
Swap With: Eat Real Lentil Chips: Sea Salt or Chilli & Lemon
These lentil based crisps are gluten-free, vegan, and lower in saturated fat. Made from lentil flour, they’re crunchy, packed with flavour, and free from artificial ingredients. Bonus: they contain 30% less fat than regular potato crisps.
🟢 Why it’s better: Higher protein content, free from dairy, and made from pulses, making it a more wholesome alternative.
2. Craving: Chocolate Bars
Mainstream Choice: Cadbury Dairy Milk
Swap With: Moo Free Chocolate Bars or NOMO Creamy Choc
NOMO (No Missing Out) is a leading UK brand offering dairy free snack alternatives that are also gluten free. Their creamy chocolate bars are made from rice syrup and cocoa butter, satisfying chocolate lovers with a rich, smooth taste.
🟢 Why it’s better: Free from dairy, gluten, eggs, and nuts perfect for allergy-prone offices.
3. Craving: Biscuits
Mainstream Choice: McVitie’s Digestives
Swap With: Rhythm 108 Sweet ‘n’ Salty Almond Cookies
Rhythm 108 uses oat flour, coconut oil, and natural sweeteners. Their products are certified organic, gluten free, and vegan, offering a luxury feel without the allergens.
🟢 Why it’s better: No palm oil, no artificial additives, just indulgent, guilt free snacking.
4. Craving: Sweets / Gummies
Mainstream Choice: Haribo Starmix
Swap With: Jealous Sweets or Free From Fellows
Jealous Sweets are made in the UK and come in fun flavours like strawberry, mango, and sour watermelon. They’re gelatine free, gluten free, and vegan and they look great in office snack displays.
🟢 Why it’s better: No artificial colours or flavours; suitable for children and adults alike.
5. Craving: Protein Snacks
Mainstream Choice: Whey Protein Bars
Swap With: Tribe Vegan Protein Bars or Pulsin Choc Fudge & Peanut Bar
Both Tribe and Pulsin offer plant based protein bars that are gluten free, high in fibre, and made without dairy. With flavours like Choc Peanut Butter or Cocoa Orange, they’re perfect for a midday energy boost.
🟢 Why it’s better: Plant based protein supports muscle recovery and energy without dairy based fillers.
6. Craving: Cheese-Based Snacks
Mainstream Choice: Mini Cheddars
Swap With: Cheesies: Mature Cheddar (plant based version) or Nush Cashew Cheese Spread with Gluten Free Crackers
While many cheese flavoured snacks contain dairy, you can now find dairy free snack alternatives that capture the tangy, umami flavour. Try Nush with vegan crackers like Clearspring Organic Rice Crackers for a satisfying combo.
🟢 Why it’s better: Gut friendly, lactose free, and lower in saturated fats.
7. Craving: Baked Goods (Brownies & Muffins)
Craving: Baked Goods (Brownies & Muffins)
Mainstream Choice: Mr. Kipling Cakes
Swap With: Rhythm 108: Double Chocolate Hazelnut Biscuits
Rhythm 108 While technically a biscuit, their soft baked texture and rich flavour satisfy that cake like craving. They’re organic, gluten free, and plant based, perfect with coffee or tea breaks at work.
🟢 Why it’s better: These ready-made snacks are minimally processed, contain no artificial ingredients, and are allergen-friendly perfect for inclusive office snacking and health conscious individuals.
Why Inclusive Snack Options Matter in the Workplace
Workplace wellbeing is no longer just about desk chairs and standing desks, nutrition plays a critical role in employee performance and morale. Offering healthy office snack box options that include gluten free vegan snacks shows your commitment to diversity and wellbeing.
✅ Inclusive Snacks Support:
- Employee satisfaction: 67% of UK employees say perks like healthy snacks improve their workplace experience (SnackNation).
- Diversity and inclusion: Inclusive snacks send a signal that everyone matters, whether they’re coeliac, lactose intolerant, vegan, or simply health conscious.
- Productivity and focus: Stable blood sugar from whole food snacks supports better concentration and fewer energy crashes.
Many HR teams now opt for corporate snack boxes vegan gluten free to create a positive and inclusive environment. These boxes eliminate the guesswork and ensure there’s something for everyone.
What to Look for in an Office Snacks Subscription in the UK:
- Clearly labelled gluten free and vegan products
- Trusted UK brands like NOMO, Pulsin, Eat Real, Livia’s
- Rotating selection to keep the variety exciting
- Customisation options for teams with mixed dietary needs
Explore Our Curated Gluten Free and Vegan Snack Boxes
At Snack Packs, we’ve made healthy office snacking easy. Our office snacks subscription UK service delivers exciting, curated boxes packed with gluten-free vegan treats, perfect for staff rooms, client gifts, or remote onboarding kits.
We work exclusively with trusted UK brands and include a variety of:
- Sweet and savoury snacks
- High protein bites
- Allergy friendly sweets
- Biscuits and indulgent treats all 100% vegan and/or gluten-free
Conclusion
Snack cravings don’t have to mean compromising on health or inclusivity. Whether you’re at home or managing a team, these vegan gluten-free snack swaps prove that tasty, allergy-friendly snacks for the office are just as satisfying as traditional options, if not more!
Ready to upgrade your snack game?
👉 Explore our gluten-free and vegan snack boxes or contact us here to create a custom office package today.