I've been back at home and away from campus for about seven weeks now. In the beginning, I was thrilled to be cooking all the time, but the excitement has worn off a bit. Here are my favorite snacks for when I don't feel like pulling out a pan and instead want to pull out my laptop and binge watch Netflix! Also, a huge thank you goes out to all of these companies for allowing me to sample their products!
Skinny Dipped Almonds
I absolutely love chocolate and almonds, so Skinny Dipped almonds are right up my alley. They taste like a dessert, but also have the valuable nutrients of almonds! Skinny Dipped was kind enough to send me multiple flavors, and my favorite shocked me. While I truly do love all of them, I was a bit nervous about the Dark Chocolate Raspberry ones. I had no reason to be, though. My fears of an artificial raspberry flavor were immediately dissolved with my first bite, and Dark Chocolate Raspberry became my favorite flavor!
That's it. Fruit Bars & Truffles
I've tried That's it.'s fruit bars before and really enjoyed them, but what really caught my attention was their Dark Chocolate Truffles. Made with figs, these treats are nice and sweet but also low in calories. They became my go-to dessert during midterms. I'd look forward to having a fruit bar for breakfast and some truffles during my late night study sessions. That's it. got me through midterm exams, and if they can do that, they can get you through this quarantine.
Lily's Chocolate
In case I haven't said it enough, I'm a chocolate fanatic! That's why I love Lily's sweets. Its chocolate is low in sugar but exploding with flavor. My favorite chocolate bars of theirs are the Hazelnut Milk Chocolate and the Coconut Dark Chocolate. As you can see in its Instagram post, Lily's chocolate is both perfect on its own or with your expertly curated quarantine snack array!
FitJoy Pretzels
My family loves pretzels, so when I introduced them to the FitJoy pretzels, they were extremely excited. These pretzels are gluten free, dairy free, grain free, and plant based, so they are perfect for people with dietary restrictions! They're also made with cassava flour. Dip them in peanut butter, spread some cream cheese on them, or eat them plain! I recommend pairing them with your favorite Netflix show to help pass the time.
Chike High Protein Coffee
With this extra time on my hands, I've been trying to work out a lot. I'm also obsessed with coffee (just ask my friend and fellow Spoon writer Lexi Minutillo!) I was so excited to try Chike's protein coffee. They sent me multiple different flavors, a shaker bottle, and the kindest handwritten note! I received Chike's package the day I found out I had to move off campus, and the note really brightened my day. Since I've been home, I've been refueling with this protein coffee. Lots of times, protein shakes can have an odd under taste, but Chike's don't! I'd highly recommend them if you're a coffee addict like me.
CELCIUS Energy Drink
Before a long run or a difficult workout, I've been drinking a CELCIUS energy drink. I was skeptical at first, since a zero sugar preworkout energy drink that helps accelerate your metabolism and burn body fat seems too good to be true, but here we are! After drinking a CELCIUS, I've had some of my most effective workouts. These energy drinks will definitely become a staple for me, especially because they taste great!
It can be difficult to stay upbeat while stuck at home all day, but I've found that trying new snacks like these sparks joy in my life! I encourage you to try these and other new snacks to add some variety to your days. Stay home, stay healthy, and stay hungry!