We are a proud team of snackers, to the point that something as simple as our Buyer Lisa taking a bite of a new snack during a team Zoom is often enough to put us on a 15-minute snack tangent. What is this new snack? Is it available at Trader Joe’s? Walk us through every bite plz. We really don’t know how we’ve gone this long without a team roundup of our favorite WFH snacks. Read on for a few of our favorites:
Berries + Greek Yogurt + Candied Pecans: I’m a big fan of Greek yogurt and find that it makes for an ideal snack since it’s creamy enough to make you thiiiink you’re having something far more indulgent, when it’s actually good for you and loaded with protein to keep you full. I like to dress mine up with an assortment of smashed berries (whatever we have around, but typically raspberries and strawberries) and candied pecans for a smidge of sweetness and lots of crunch.
Banana with Peanut Butter: This has been my favorite snack for as long as I can remember and I love how satisfying and quick it is, since I almost always wait until I’m hangry before running through the kitchen in search of food. I’ve been meaning to make frozen, bite-sized versions (with the addition of chocolate chips since I’m not a monster) so that we can have a fun snack/dessert hybrid that’s always prepared for warmer months.
Chocolate Quadratini + Peppermint Tea: These little Italian wafer cookies are my kryptonite and now that they often keep them at the checkout line at Trader Joe’s, it basically means that at least two bags are making their way home with me each time I’m there. Though I’m happy eating them straight out of the bag, I find that putting some on a little plate with a large cup of Twinings peppermint tea with Laird coconut creamer makes the entire experience that much better.
Popcorn with Nutritional Yeast: I was very late to jump on the Nutritional Yeast train, but now that I’m on, I’m never getting off. Since I’m such a massive cheese fan, I never thought I’d like this powdered version that frankly tastes like a not-as-good option. But there’s just something about it that I love and when sprinkled generously over popcorn, it’s a winning combo. When we’re feeling extra fancy, we’ll do a sort of brown butter + sage combo on top of popcorn that’s also a favorite around here.
Candy: I considered breaking this down so that it was more specific, but honestly any sort of gummy, candy or chocolate will do. I keep bags of Haribo Happy Cherries in my desk drawer, a stash of Sockerbit licorice in the kitchen, bags of M&M’s in the closet under the stairs and get panicky when I run out of See’s lollipops, so I truly don’t discriminate when it comes to this category.
Honeycrisp Apple + Wild Friends’ Almond Cashew Super Butter: There’s no question I’m the least-passionate snacker on our team, probably because I don’t like crunchy things… okay, quick side bar, but hear me out: Crunchy things are usually just worse versions of the actual, better ingredients they approximate. As evidence, I present to you: Potato chips < Baked potatoes or French fries, Tortilla chips < Fresh tortilla, Cheetos < cheddar cheese. Anyways! If I find myself hungry around 4 o’clock, there’s nothing more satisfying or filling than a good ol’ apple and nut butter. Jonah and I are both crazy for Wild Friends’ Almond Cashew Super Butter, a regular grocery store splurge that’s so delicious and Portland-based!
Trader Joe’s Black Licorice: I usually have something small and sweet after lunch, like a banana, a square of dark chocolate, a Medjool date, or a handful of granola (I only realized in writing this post that I have the snacking palette of a squirrel…). My favorite thing to have on hand though is Trader Joe’s Black Licorice Twists, which is just sweet enough and the perfect post-lunch palette cleanser with a cup of peppermint tea.
Popcorn with Trader Joe’s Chile Lime and Elote Seasoning: This is less of a snack than a dinner pre-game for me, since I rarely eat it during the workday (greasy popcorn fingers and a keyboard don’t mix!), but I love making stovetop popcorn and dousing it in really good olive oil, and Trader Joe’s Chile Lime and Elote seasonings. Here’s how I make it, and evidence that our entire team is obsessed with the stuff.
BjornQuorn, Lesser Evil’s Himalayan Sweetness, and Angie’s BOOMCHICKAPOP Light Kettle Corn Popcorn: This full-blown popcorn kick started a few weeks ago when Goldune gifted me a pack of BjornQuorn and I finished it in a single sitting. The next day, I swung by the grocery story to find something comparable, and found the two kettle corn versions I mentioned above, naturally leading to a taste test with Justin. We love both options (Lesser Evil‘s is for fans of coconut), and alternate between the two in the afternoons.
Medjool Dates + Nut Butter + Hu Chocolate: This is a combination that’s still going strong in my house, mainly due to the bulk supply of Hu chocolate I purchased at the start of quarantine, but I’ve swapped the Peanut Cashew Super Butter for the smoothest, creamiest pecan butter I pick up from the Santa Monica Farmers Market. It satisfies my sweet tooth without leading to a crash a few hours later, and the addition of the nut butter satiates me until dinnertime.
Goldfish Flavor Blasted Xtra Cheddar: I’ve found a lot of comfort in some of my favorite childhood foods over the past year (Milanos, Pop-Tarts, and Honey Nut Cheerios to name a few), but there’s just something about these aquatic crackers with the additional layer of cheese dust that puts them at the top of the snack hierarchy. I’m also very committed to the Flavor Blasted version; I go for the Xtra Cheddar or nothing at all.
Honey Mama’s Cocoa Truffle Bar: Eons ago, I’d chosen this as one of my favorite discoveries of the month (thanks to our then-intern, Caroline), but I’d neglected to keep purchasing them because they were a bit pricey for how quickly I went through them. But after a recent trip to Wine + Eggs, I took home a few bars and damn – they’re officially back in the rotation.
SkinnyPop or BOOMCHICKAPOP: Here’s the thing. I like SkinnyPop a little better, but like Jess, I often find myself eating Angie’s BOOMCHICKAPOP (usually the kettle corn, let’s be honest) for two reasons: One, Angie’s packaging is so colorful and fun, so my eyes usually see it on the shelf first. And two, Angie’s was started in Minnesota, so obviously I have to support it. No matter which brand I’m eating on any given day, I’m going to be happy because popcorn is without a doubt my favorite work day snack.
Justin’s Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups: I prefer salty over sweet, but who can resist a dark chocolate Reese’s-but-better at 3pm? (I said what I said.)
LaCroix: I know LaCroix isn’t technically a snack, but considering I have one pretty much every single day, it would be a travesty not to include it. I’ve tried all the sparkling waters out there and LaCroix is still my favorite. Would I be able to pick it out in a blind taste test? Maybe. But it’s all about the Midwest love and the crazy colors for me.
Gardetto’s: I have never once eaten Gardetto’s during the work day, but only because they are my favorite snack of all time and I would eat the entire bag in one sitting. Are you team pretzels or rye chips?!
