The Best Canadian-Owned Snacks to Power Your Journey
Whether you’re on the trails or embarking on a road trip, snacks provide the energy, hydration and nutrients needed to power through any activity, making them essential for every outdoor adventurer. From protein-packed bites to crunchy seed crackers, these Canadian brands offer nutrient-dense, lightweight snacks that are easy to carry and perfect for fuelling your journey.
Real Food Bars by Made with Local
Based in Nova Scotia, B Corp-certified Made with Local creates small-batch snacks using simple, locally sourced and organic ingredients with no artificial flavours, preservatives or additives. Their wildflower honey comes from Alberta and Ontario, wild blueberries from Ontario and regenerative oats from the Prairies. These oats, grown with eco-friendly practices that restore soil health and reduce carbon emissions, form the base of their Real Food Bars in flavours like Peanut Butter Blondie, Lemon Square and Coconut Dark Chocolate, offering six to eight grams of protein per bar. Their product lineup also includes Protein Nut Butter Cookies, packed with 16 grams of plant-based protein per serving.
Shop here: Real Food Bars
Energy Bites by nomz
Crafted with wholesome, plant-based ingredients, nomz, founded in Toronto, provides a nutrient-dense snack that delivers long-lasting energy without the crash. Perfect for outdoor adventures, the energy bites come in convenient, on-the-go packs, each containing two bites per pouch. Available in four delicious flavours including hazelnut, almond, coconut and pistachio, these energy bites are packed with healthy fats, fibre and protein. For a smooth, creamy twist, try their nut butters in pistachio, macadamia and hazelnut.
Shop here: Energy Bites
Beef Jerky by McSweeney’s
For 30 years, McSweeney’s, based in Calgary, has been crafting premium jerky and meat snacks, making them a trusted go-to for adventurers across the country. Focusing on real, high-quality cuts of meat, slow marinated and naturally smoked for maximum flavour, you can enjoy their lineup of Canadian beef, pork and turkey jerky, meat and pepperoni sticks, or try their steak strips, which offer thicker, juicier cuts for a hearty protein boost.
Shop here: Beef Jerky
Roasted Chickpeas by Three Farmers
Founded by farmers in Saskatchewan, Three Farmers creates nutrient-dense, plant-based snacks made from sustainably grown pulses and seeds. A delicious and healthy alternative to chips, their snacks are packed with plant-based protein and fibre. The lineup includes roasted chickpeas, lentils and fava beans in bold flavours like dill pickle, barbecue and sea salt and lime. Each serving provides 10 grams of protein and 10 grams of fibre for chickpeas, and 13 grams of protein and eight grams of fibre for fava beans. With a focus on traceability, you can scan the bag to see where your snack was grown.
Shop here: Roasted Chickpeas
Crackers by Eve’s Crackers
Crafted with simple ingredients, Eve’s Crackers uses Prairie-grown flaxseeds instead of grains to deliver a crunchy, satisfying snack. Born in British Columbia, these naturally gluten-free, dairy-free crackers are loaded with plant-based protein and fibre. Flavours include Chili Pepper Pumpkin Seed, Black Sesame, Savoury Sunflower and Cracked Pepper, with five to six grams of protein and six to seven grams of fibre per serving of five crackers. Enjoy them on their own, dip them into hummus or guac or build a quick campsite charcuterie board.
Shop here: Crackers
Dried Cranberries by Patience
Based in Quebec, Patience grows and harvests organic cranberries with care, embracing the time-intensive process from seed to dried fruit. Since 2015, they’ve offered juices, whole and sliced organic dried cranberries and organic dried blueberries. Their SourCran lineup features flavoured dried cranberries in raspberry, watermelon, strawberry, cherry and peach. High in fibre and energy-boosting carbs, snack on them solo, stir them into oatmeal, toss them in salads at camp or mix them into homemade trail mix for a flavourful, nutrient-packed boost.
Shop here: Dried Cranberries
Understanding Labels
When choosing products that support the Canadian economy, you’ve probably noticed a mix of labels on store shelves. But they don’t all mean the same thing. To clear up the confusion, here’s what you need to know about these claims, based on standards set by the Competition Bureau.
Product of Canada
A product that’s labeled “Product of Canada” requires at least 98% of its ingredients to come from Canada, and the processing must occur within the country. For example, a bottle of Canadian maple syrup that’s harvested, processed and bottled in Quebec is considered a “Product of Canada.”
Made in Canada
For a product to carry the “Made in Canada” label, at least 51% of its total cost, including labour and production, must be Canadian, even if some ingredients are imported. What matters most is that the product undergoes a significant transformation in Canada, whether through cooking, blending, assembling or processing into something new.
Packaged in Canada
A product that’s “Packaged in Canada” indicates that while the final product, such as frozen mangoes, was packaged domestically, its ingredients may have come from elsewhere.
Hornby Organic is another Canadian made snack. https://hornbyorganic.com/