redbook s n - blue moose...so they “hit the spot in a slightly healthier way when you’re craving...
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snackA W A R D S
R E D B O O K
There’s beauty in simplicity—and these chips
are proof. “They may not be as exciting as other
choices, but hot damn, they are perfect,” said chef
Allison Robicelli, who referred to them
as “the gold standard.” “They would be magical in my tuna sandwich,”
added Alleyne. $3.99 for an 8.5-oz bag
With about 11 grams of protein and 8 grams of fiber,
this’ll tide you over when you can’t stop for a proper meal. “The hummus isn’t
too garlicky, and the included chips have a great
texture,” said food blogger Serena Wolf. Plus, “the packaging is super-
convenient,” noted cookbook author Kiera Stipovich.
$2.99 for 5.2 oz
a l l-t i m e c l a s s ic
mo st f i l l i ng
K E T T L E B R A N D S E A S A LT P O TAT O C H I P S
Unlike many other tortilla chips that can
break apart before you open the bag, these
have “a hearty, satisfying texture,” said chef
Stephanie Alleyne. “The salty corn flavor
would be great with salsa or guac,” noted cookbook
author Genevieve Ko.$2.99 for a 5.5-oz bag
b e st w i t h di p
F O O D S H O U L D TA S T E G O O D M U LT I G R A I N
T O R T I L L A C H I P S
B L U E M O O S E O F B O U L D E R R O A S T E D R E D
P E P P E R O N -T H E - G O H U M M U S
It’s rare to find a cracker that doesn’t make
you pine for cheese. Hungry Girl columnist Lisa Lillien gave these, which have
“tons of flavor and a little fiber,” a thumbs-up.
“They’re a combination of all the good crackers I’ve
ever had,” said Ko’s 13-year-old daughter, Natalie. $3.29 for a 4-oz box
mo st f l avo r f u l
V A N ’ S T H E P E R F E C T 10 C R A C K E R
We rounded up a panel of foodie judges (and a few of their particularly picky kids), who ripped open hundreds of packages to find the ultimate solutions for any craving you might encounter. The resulting winners will keep you full and happy under even the hangriest of circumstances.
SALTY
MARCH 2017 / REDBOOKMAG.COM 127Photographed by MELISSA PUNCH
ST
UD
IO D
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128 REDBOOKMAG.COM / MARCH 2017
REDBOOK SNACK AWARDS
We may have found the holy grail of
snacks. This salty- sweet treat that Ko
called “ideal for stress eating” was a favorite of almost everyone.
But no worries: A 130-calorie serving
gives you about 2 cups, so “you get a good bang for your
calorie buck,” explained Lillien.
$3.79 for a 7-oz bag
P O P C O R N I N D I A N A K E T T L E C O R N
SWEET
No disrespect to classic Oreo
cookies, but this more delicate version
was a surprise hit—“light and
wafer-like, with a rich, crisp, and creamy
punch,” said Stipovich. Or in the words of
Alleyne’s 9-year-old son, Griffin: “These are
the bomb!” $4.59 for
a 10.1-oz pack
b e st c ho c o l at e f i x
O R E O T H I N S C H O C O L AT E
Testers praised the chips’ “solid
crunch,” but they really won over
cinnamon lovers. “The sugar-and-spice balance is just
right—and there’s a hint of salt,”
said Ko. Alleyne’s 12-year-old son, Leo,
wholeheartedly agreed: “It’s really hard
not to love these.”$2.79 for a 7.33-oz bag
c r i s pi e st b i t e
S TA C Y ’ S C I N N A M O N S U G A R P I TA C H I P S
“Like an instant bagel and cream cheese without the long line at
the bagel store,” proclaimed Alleyne’s son Griffin about this to-go
pack that’s surprisingly hearty, whether for breakfast or between
meals. “The chips have a big crunch and are tasty with the creamy, seasoned dip,” said Stipovich.
$1.99 for 2.5 oz
mo st sat i s f y i ng
P H I L A D E L P H I A M U LT I G R A I N B A G E L C H I P S & C R E A M C H E E S E
D I P C H I V E & O N I O N
Call this tray of cranberries, almonds, and chunks of sharp
cheddar a sort of portable hors d’oeuvres platter, making it “less
monotonous than plain cheese,” said Ko. “The triple threat of protein, fiber, and healthy fat left me feeling happy,
full, and energized,” Wolf noted.$3.69 for three 1.5-oz packs
t o p f l avo r c o m b o
S A RG E N T O B A L A N C E D B R E A K S N AT U R A L W H I T E C H E D D A R
C H E E S E W I T H A L M O N D S A N D D R I E D C R A N B E R R I E S
You know you’ve got a winner when the kids are hooked—and
these are made of whole grains so they’re healthy-ish. Stipovich’s two nieces (ages 5 and 2) were both fans, and two of Ko’s daughters (ages 13 and 10) loved how the
cheese flavor didn’t taste “fake” as in many other chips. $3.29 for a 7-oz bag
k i d favo r i t e
S U N C H I P S H A R V E S T C H E D D A R
Don’t bother trying to eat just a couple of these. According to
Robicelli, “it’s a classic for a reason.” The “light and airy” puffs are baked and made with natural ingredients,
so they “hit the spot in a slightly healthier way when you’re craving
something cheesy,” said Wolf. $2.69 for a 4-oz bag
mo st a ddic t i v e
P I R AT E ’ S B O O T Y A G E D W H I T E C H E D D A R
CHEESY
Boxed cookies aren’t usually in the gourmet aisle, but these ought to be.
Alleyne commended the “authentic lemon flavor,” while Robicelli liked how “the whole
grains give them a toasted nuttiness.”
And happily, there are no hydrogenated oils
or high-fructose corn syrup.
$3.69 for a 9-oz box
mo st s o ph i st ic at e d
B A C K T O N AT U R E C A L I F O R N I A L E M O N
C O O K I E S
a l l-a rou n d c row d pl e a s e r
130 REDBOOKMAG.COM / MARCH 2017
NUTTY
FRUITY
Forget the canned fruit cocktail you
remember from when you were a kid. Lillien called this new-and-
improved take “definitely a winner.” “The oranges taste fresh, not mushy or
cloying,” added Alleyne, who loved
that “it’s both a snack and a refreshing
drink in one.” $2.69 for a pack of 2
j u ic i e st t r e at
D E L M O N T E F R U I T R E F R E S H E R S
M A N D A R I N O R A N G E S I N C O C O N U T W AT E R
Don’t be fooled by the kiddie squeeze
pouch. You get a pop of real blackberries, and chia seeds are a
nutritional powerhouse that delivers “a healthy dose of omega-3 fatty acids and fiber,” said Wolf. And, as Lillien
pointed out, this 70-calorie pick “just
tastes good!”$1.79 for 3.5 oz
ta st i e st l ow- c a l s nac k
M A M M A C H I A B L A C K B E R R Y B L I S S
C H I A S Q U E E Z E Who knew dried fruit could be this
delicious? The lightly sweetened slivers with
a hint of salt “take coconut to a new
level,” said Stipovich, whose husband picked
these as his favorite though he’s not even
a fan of coconut. “Nice and crisp, and
great all around,” noted Robicelli.
$4.99 for a 3.3-oz bag
mo st u n u s ua l
B A R E T O A S T E D C O C O N U T C H I P S
Finally, emergency munchies that won’t get smushed in the chaos
of your bag, thanks to a sturdy plastic container. The “perfectly
portioned” chip-and-dip duo is the “ultimate comfort-food combo,” said Wolf. Ko added that it’s “almost
hearty enough for a meal.” $1.99 for 1.3 oz
mo st l i k e ly t o s u rv i v e i n you r h a n dbag
J U S T I N ’ S S N A C K P A C K C L A S S I C P E A N U T B U T T E R W I T H
B A N A N A C H I P S
STEPHANIE ALLEYNE Chef and catering director
ALLISON ROBICELLI Chef, food writer,
and author of Robicelli’s:
A Love Story With Cupcakes
LISA LILLIEN REDBOOK contributor and founder
of Hungry Girl
GENEVIEVE KO Food writer and author of Better Baking
KIERA STIPOVICH Coauthor of
Ultimate Appetizer Ideabook
SERENA WOLF Founder
of the blog Domesticate-Me
and author of The Dude Diet
Lillien raved that there’s “a true burst of chocolate
and peanut butter in every bite.” And while it tastes indulgent,
Wolf also appreciated that the bar is made only with natural
ingredients. “Plus, it’s loaded with protein and fiber to
give you energy,” she said.$1.59 for 1.6 oz
b e st pr e-wo r kou t b o o st
L A R A B A R P E A N U T B U T T E R C H O C O L AT E C H I P
“One package really fills you up,” Robicelli said about this protein- and whole-grain-filled snack. But it’s not just for grown-ups. “I’d feel better
giving my kids this over a sugar- and fat-laden granola bar,” added Alleyne.
Her son Leo sure didn’t complain: “Mom, it tastes like cookies!”
$3.69 for a pack of 5
g r e at e st g r a b-a n d - g o b r e a k fa st
B E LV I TA S A N D W I C H P E A N U T B U T T E R B R E A K F A S T B I S C U I T S
These chewy, bite-size pieces (150 calories for 4) earned high marks from Lillien because they
“feel like candy or cookies but have a good calorie count.” Stipovich
loved the “sophisticated” mix of dark chocolate, fruit, and nuts, saying it “tasted more adultlike than most bars on the market.”
$6.99 for a pack of 5
t o p c a n dy- c r av i ng c ru s h e r
G O O D N E S S K N O W S S N A C K S Q U A R E S C R A N B E R R Y A L M O N D
D A R K C H O C O L AT E
REDBOOK SNACK AWARDS
There are a lot of yogurts out there, and that’s what made this competition so tough. This winning whole-milk option not only keeps you full longer, but “the fruit tastes like real blueberry
compote, not canned pie filling,” said
Robicelli. “I can’t get over the creaminess—
heaven!” said Wolf.$1.79 for 5.3 oz
S T O N Y F I E L D O RG A N I C W H O L E
M I L K G R E E K B L U E B E R R Y Y O G U R T
c r e a m i e st
MEET THE
JUDGES