Are veggie sticks healthy?

Not always. While the name suggests something fresh and nourishing, most store-bought veggie sticks are highly processed.

In fact, many brands contain:

• Only tiny amounts of powdered vegetables
  
  
• A base of potato starch or corn flour
  
  
• Refined oils and added salt
  
  
• Artificial colors to mimic vegetable tones
  
  

So while they may look like carrots or spinach, they often have more in common with potato chips than salad.

The problem isn’t the word “veggie” it’s what’s hiding in the label

What makes a snack healthy isn’t the marketing, it’s the ingredients and how it’s made.

Here’s what to look for on the label:

• Refined flour base (like potato starch or corn flour) = low in fiber and nutrition
  
  
• Refined oils (like palm oil or sunflower oil) = high in omega-6 fats
  
  
• Vegetable powder (not real pieces of veg) = low actual veggie content
  
  
  

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So how can you know what’s really in your snack? That’s where GoCoCo helps

We get it: food packaging can be confusing on purpose. But with the GoCoCo app, you can:

• 📱 Scan the label and instantly see if your snack is ultra-processed
  
  
• 🚫 Get alerts for added sugars, emulsifiers, or inflammatory oils
  
  
• ✅ Compare products and find options with whole ingredients
  
  
• 🍠 Discover healthier alternatives, like roasted chickpeas or real veggie chips
  
  

No more guesswork. Just real feedback in real time, right from your phone.

Better ways to snack on vegetables

If you're craving something crunchy, here are a few easy, whole-food alternatives:

• Carrot or cucumber sticks with hummus
  
  
• Roasted chickpeas with olive oil and herbs
  
  
• Air-fried zucchini chips
  
  

Whole-grain crackers with avocado or white bean spread
🥄 Pro tip: if you’re counting calories or trying to snack smarter, aim for a small handful or fill a quarter of your plate.