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

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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

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