You're lacing up your sneakers, headphones are in, and your gym bag is by the door. But have you actually eaten anything? If your pre-workout routine usually involves grabbing whatever is closest, you're not the only one standing in front of the pantry wondering what will actually fuel your session without weighing you down.
That's where snack choice matters. The right pre-workout bite gives you steady energy and something satisfying in your stomach before you start moving. We're big believers in choosing snacks made with real food ingredients, avocado oil, and seasoning, so today we're rounding up our favorite pre-workout snacks that fit the bill, from Jackson's picks to other brands we love and a few easy DIY options you can make in your own kitchen.
Why Avocado Oil Shows Up So Often in Pre-Workout Snacking
If you've been paying closer attention to ingredient labels lately, you've probably noticed avocado oil popping up more and more in the snack aisle. That's not an accident. Avocado oil is pressed from the flesh of the fruit itself, and it's naturally rich in monounsaturated fats, which the American Heart Association notes can be part of a balanced diet.
Many snack brands have also started shifting away from oils that are high in omega-6 fatty acids, since some research suggests that an imbalance between omega-6 and omega-3 intake may be linked to increased inflammation in the body. That's a bigger nutrition science conversation than any single snack can settle, but it's part of why so many label-readers now look for avocado oil as their fat of choice.
At Jackson's, our snacks are always cooked in avocado oil. It's a simple ingredient choice that lets the seasoning and real veggie or sweet potato flavor shine through, whether you're grabbing a bag on your way to spin class or packing one in your gym bag for after.
Store-Bought Pre-Workout Snacks Made with Avocado Oil
Convenience matters when you're rushing out the door. Here are packaged snacks worth keeping stocked in your kitchen or gym bag, all made with avocado oil.
Jackson's Variety Pack Super Veggie Straws® in Avocado Oil
Light, airy, and endlessly snackable, Jackson's Super Veggie Straws® are made with a veggie blend of yellow peas, brown rice, cassava, and sweet potato, plus avocado oil and seasoning. This variety pack gives you a few flavors to rotate through so pre-workout snacking never feels boring.
- Highlights: Crunchy, airy texture with a veggie-forward blend and multiple flavors in one pack
- Dietary Specifics: Vegan, gluten-free, kosher, non-GMO, top 9 allergen-free
- Why: Easy to toss in a gym bag, satisfying without feeling heavy before a workout
Jackson's Wavy Sea Salt Sweet Potato Chips in Avocado Oil
Made with real sweet potatoes, avocado oil, and seasoning, this wavy cut brings a sturdy, satisfying crunch that holds up whether you're eating them plain or dipping. Sea salt keeps the flavor simple, so it's a snack you can reach for any time of day.
- Highlights: Sturdy wavy cut, simple sea salt flavor, kettle-cooked crunch
- Dietary Specifics: Vegan, gluten-free, kosher, non-GMO, paleo-friendly
- Why: A carb-forward option that pairs well with a quick pre-workout snack routine
Siete Queso Puff Snacks
These grain-free puffs use lentil flour and avocado oil to create a cheesy, craveable bite without traditional corn or dairy-heavy ingredients.
- Highlights: Puffy texture, queso-style seasoning made with nutritional yeast
- Dietary Specifics: Grain-free, gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, non-GMO (per brand)
- Why: A fun, flavorful option to break up your usual chip rotation before a workout
Barnana Lime & Sea Salt Plantain Tortilla Chips
These tortilla chips swap corn for plantains, cooked with avocado oil and finished with lime juice powder and sea salt for a citrusy, salty crunch.
- Highlights: Plantain-based, citrus-forward flavor, sturdy chip texture
- Dietary Specifics: Gluten-free, grain-free, non-GMO, paleo-friendly (per brand)
- Why: A great dippable option if you like a little zing before you hit the gym
LesserEvil Avocado-licious Organic Popcorn
Air-popped popcorn finished with organic avocado oil and coconut oil, this is a lighter option if you want something to munch on without a heavy feeling in your stomach before exercise.
- Highlights: Air-popped, light texture, simple seasoning
- Dietary Specifics: Organic, non-GMO, no added sugar (per brand)
- Why: A lighter carb option for those who prefer to snack close to workout time
Gimme Sea Salt & Avocado Oil Seaweed Snacks
Crispy roasted seaweed sheets finished with avocado oil and sea salt make for an ultra-light, portable snack that's easy to toss in a bag.
- Highlights: Three-ingredient snack, crispy texture, portable single sheets
- Dietary Specifics: Gluten-free, vegan, keto-friendly, paleo-friendly (per brand)
- Why: A low-calorie option to nibble on if you're working out on a lighter stomach
Daily Crunch Cherry Berry Nut Medley
This trail mix blends sprouted almonds, walnuts, and cashews with dried cherries and blueberries, finished with avocado oil for a bit of extra richness.
- Highlights: Nut and dried fruit combo, natural sweetness, satisfying crunch
- Dietary Specifics: Gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan (per brand)
- Why: A good balance of carbs and fat if you have a bit more time before your workout
Root Chips - Beet
Thin slices of real beets, flash-crisped in avocado oil and finished with sea salt, these veggie chips bring color and crunch to your snack rotation.
- Highlights: Whole vegetable base, vibrant color, light crunch
- Dietary Specifics: Vegan, non-GMO, kosher (per brand)
- Why: A veggie-forward snack that adds variety alongside chips and puffs
As FlavCity's Bobby Parrish put it about Jackson's Sea Salt chips: "Avocado oil, sweet potatoes, sea salt. That's it." And customer Kathy S. shared her own take: "These are the best tasting, and are the only sweet potato chips I've found that I can actually have! Using avocado oil and all clean ingredients is a game changer for me!"
DIY Pre-Workout Snacks You Can Make at Home
Sometimes the best pre-workout snack is the one already sitting in your fridge. These three ideas are simple to prep and easy to customize.
Apple Slices with Almond or Nut Butter
Slice up an apple and pair it with a spoonful of your favorite nut butter. It's a classic combo of carbs and fat that's ready in under two minutes.
Veggie Sticks with Homemade Guacamole
Cut up carrots, celery, or bell peppers and pair them with fresh guacamole made from mashed avocado, lime, and salt. Crunchy, hydrating, and easy to prep ahead of time.
Homemade Trail Mix
Combine your favorite nuts, seeds, and dried fruit in a jar for a grab-and-go mix you can portion out for the week. Add a few dark chocolate chips if you're in the mood for something sweet.
Always Check Your Labels!
Formulations change, and not every product from a brand is made the same way. Just because one item in a lineup includes avocado oil doesn't mean every flavor or product from that brand does. Always check the current label on any packaged snack, especially if you have allergies or specific dietary needs.
Here's the good news: Jackson's snacks are always cooked with avocado oil, always vegan, and always made in a top 9 allergen-free facility. You can trust that consistency every time you reach for a bag.
Fuel Up the Way That Feels Good
Choosing pre-workout snacks made with avocado oil doesn't have to be complicated. Whether you grab a bag of Jackson's Super Veggie Straws® on your way out the door, reach for a handful of trail mix you made yourself, or try one of the other brands on this list, you're setting yourself up for a snack you can feel good about before you break a sweat.
As one Jackson's customer, Sonya, put it: "With 3 kids always on the go between school and sports, these are a great convenient snack that my kids love and I feel giving them without all the extra saturated fat and bad stuff other snacks have!" That same convenience works whether you're headed to soccer practice or your own workout.
Ready to stock up? Shop Jackson's Super Veggie Straws® or explore the full Jackson's snack lineup and find your new pre-workout favorite. Your next workout snack is one crunchy bite away.
