Unique and Delicious Shelf-Stable Treats Getting Us Through Social Distancing
Being stuck at home all the time stinks—but having the right snacks on hand can make the experience a lot better.
Unfortunately, the same old treats can get a little tiresome after a while—and with the fridge and freezer committed to the staples that'll get your family through a pandemic, you don't want to be hogging that precious space. Thankfully, there are some amazingly unique and tasty snacks out there that can survive for ages on the shelf and are available online, so you don't have to leave the comfort of your home.
Incredible companies from all over the nation have been sending us their best snacks to try, and here are our top picks.
Bohana
Love popcorn, but hate getting those pesky kernels stuck in your teeth? Bohana might be exactly what you need to try while you're stuck at home. These snacks are made with popped water lily seeds, rather than corn, giving them a distinctive shape in a low-calorie, plant protein-packed snack with amino acids and antioxidants, without corn, grains or gluten. It comes in super snack-able Himalayan Pink Salt, Wild White Cheddar and Soulful Sriracha Spice flavors, and allows you to treat yourself simply. Six-pack of 2 oz. bags sell on their website for $24.99, with free shipping.
Kip's Granola Bark
Sometimes, you just need a snack that satisfies your cravings for sweetness and crunch at the same time, and Kip's Granola Bark is perfect for both. Not only is it really tasty with a gratifying bite, but it's free of the top eight allergens—peanuts, nuts, shellfish, fish, wheat, dairy, soy and egg. It currently comes in two flavors—Cocoa Crunch, and Cinnamon Crunch—and even though we don't have any food allergies, we're still obsessed with the flavor. We also love that they come in bite-sized pieces, so you don't get granola crumbs absolutely everywhere like you might with a traditional crunchy granola bar. 6.4 oz. bags are available for $7.99, or you can stock up and by 12-packs of their 3.2 oz. bags for $59.88, all with free shipping.
Everipe Super Food Smoothie Kits
Making smoothies with tasty frozen fruits makes a lot more sense when you're not stockpiling other important foods in the freezer, just in case. That's where Everipe Super Food Smoothie Kids come in. They contain only dry ingredients and can store in the pantry, containing freeze-dried fruits, nuts and seeds, and no extra sugar. All you have to do to turn them into a delicious and surprisingly nutritious smoothie is pour the freeze-dried fruit and superfood packet into a blender with water (or milk) and ice, then blend away for 90 seconds. They're fast, as well as plant-based and free of dairy, gluten or preservatives, and they taste so good you'll barely believe they came out of a packet.
Wiley Wallaby
You haven't really had licorice until you've had Wiley Wallaby's licorice bites. The pieces are soft, chewy and absolutely bursting with flavor, and the strawberry-flavored red licorice puts all the other brands to shame. Even the black licorice—which we usually can't stand—has a light, almost root beer-like flavor that made it surprisingly stackable and hard to resist. Plus, they come in a number of fabulous additional flavors, from watermelon to huckleberry, and also feature a line of organic chews. Their classic licorice flavors sell for just $3.99 for a 10 oz. bag, while the organic flavors cost the same price for a 5.5 oz. bag, and shipping is free on orders over $49.
Chocolate Pizza Company Peanut Butter Wings
We were intrigued when he heard of an establishment called the Chocolate Pizza Company, and even more so when we heard they had something among their offerings called Peanut Butter Wings. They're salty, ruffled potato chips covered in a later of peanut butter and then coated in rich chocolate, and they are the definition of decadence. The crunch and salty flavor of the chips are the perfect contrast to the peanut butter and chocolate, but they're so indulgent you won't be tempted to scarf them down all at once. An 8 oz. box is $10.95, while the 16 oz. box goes for $18.95, and you can get free shipping on orders of $35 or more with the code SHIP35.
Prevail Beef Jerky
Jerky is one of our go-to snacks, and Prevail Beef Jerky, is one of our favorite brands because of their dedication to keeping things real. Their jerky is free of soy, hormones and antibiotics and GMOs, has no added nitrates or nitrates, and is made with 100% grass-fed beef. Plus, the flavors are out of this world. While their Original flavor is totally classic, the Lemongrass adds a special zing, Spicy will leave you panting, and Umami is packed with so much meaty flavor it's hard not to eat it all at once. They retail for $7.99 per 2.25 oz. bag, and shipping is free for orders over $40. They're also currently offering 20% off your first order.
CHUM Fruit Bites
If you've always loved fruit leathers, you're going to love CHUM Fruit Bites. They're delicious all-natural fruit snacks that come in snackable triangle-shaped bites, and they are made with 100% fruit. Seriously—look at the packaging, and the only ingredients you'll see are apples, pears, and whatever fruit is the main flavor of the package. They're high in fiber with no added sugar, and you get a full cup of fruit per serving. And did we mention that 15% of their proceeds go to wildaid.org to help save wild animals? 12-packs of 20g bags are currently on sale for $12.99, and shipping is free.
Laiki Rice Crackers
If the words "rice crackers" leave you yawning, think again, because these are one of our very favorite snacks on the list. They're so crunchy, light and satisfying that it's hard to stop snacking on them, and you can nibble without guilt because they're vegan, wholegrain, gluten-free and non GMO. They're also amazing in your favorite soup. They come in plain Black Rice and Red Rice flavors—with the only ingredients being rice, palm fruit oil and sea salt—as well as a Red Rice With Cracked Black Pepper and Black Rice With Vegan Cheddar flavor. We seriously can't pick a favorite. They come in 3.53 oz. bags, with four selling for $15 and eight selling for $30, as well as 48-packs of 0.74 oz bags for $44.24, with shipping at a flat rate of $5.
Buddy's Allergen-Free Cakes
Mug cakes are such a blessing during social isolation, and Buddy's Allergen-Free Cakes are keeping us very happy. They come in eight ridiculously tasty flavors, but they're also vegan and free of the top allergens, including gluten, dairy, egg, sesame, celery, crustaceans, mustard, peanut, soya, nut, lupin and fish. Just throw the mix in a mug with three tablespoons or your favorite milk and one tablespoon of oil in a throw them in the microwave for a minute, and then top with frosting and you've got a delicious cake on your hands. Three-packs sell for $14 on their website, and shipping is always free.
Papa Steve's No Junk Raw Protein Bars
If you're craving protein-rich snacks after your at-home workouts, but dislike artificial junk, you need to try Papa Steve's No Junk Raw Protein Bars. They're made by hand using only real, organic ingredients, with no preservatives or added sugar, at each bar boasts at least 12 grams of vegan protein. They're also non-GMO, gluten-free and soy-free, and with 15 awesome flavors, you're bound to love at least a few. So far, our favorites are the Apple Cinnamon Pecan and Banana Oat Chocolate Chip. Boxes of 10 2.11 oz. bars are available for $34.88, or you can get a sample pack of all 11 vegan flavors for the same price, and shipping is free.
free2b Sunflower Butter Cups
Reese's has some competition with free2b's incredible Sunflower Butter Cups. Not only are they as rich and satisfying as the classic, but they're also vegan, and free of gluten as well as allergens, so almost anyone can enjoy them. They're also incredibly satisfying, and you only need one to satiate your cravings. These come in both dark and regular chocolate cups in standard and mini sizes. three-packs of 4.2 oz. bags are currently on sale for $13.99 each , while 12-packs of 1.4 oz. bags are selling for $19.59, and shipping is free or any orders over $27.
free2b Bagel Chips
free2b is anything but a one-trick pony. In addition to their tantalizing Sunflower Butter Cups, they also have a few other offerings, including delicious gluten-free bagel chips in Plain and Everything bagel flavors. These chips are super crunchy and satisfying, perfectly emulating the flavor of your favorite bagels, and we love the added garlic, onion and poppyseed of the Everything chips.Three-packs of 3 oz. bags are currently on sale for $8.39, and shipping is free if you spend more than $27.
Crunchsters
We have to admit we were a bit hesitant about Crunchsters at first. Sprouted mung beans don't sound like they'd make for a scrumptious savory snack, but we were oh so wrong in our assumption. The original flavor, made with just mung beans, sunflower and/or safflower oil and sea salt, is so rich with flavor it's hard to believe there isn't something else to them. They're also vegan and rich in fiber, and they taste so good you'd assume they're bad for you, even though there isn't much to them. They also come in fabulous flavors, including Barbecue, Beyond Bacon, and Smoky Balsamic, but we're loyal to the original Sea Salt. Six-packs of 1.3 oz. bags are available for $9.99, three bags of the 4 oz. bags can be purchased for $14.99, or you can opt for a mixed eight-pack of the 1.3 oz bags for $14.99, and shipping is free on all orders over $50.
ONE Protein Bars
Looking for a protein boost, without all of the sugar? ONE protein bars have your back. These bars have indulgent and filling flavors despite having just one gram of sugar, and up to 20 grams of protein, per bar. Their Birthday Cake bars are a particularly decadent celebration after your workout, and their plant-based Churro bars will satisfy your sweet tooth and repair your muscles with 12 grams of plant protein. A 12-count box of Birthday Cake bars is available for $23.76, while the same number of Churro bars goes for $27.99, and select flavors are available with free two-day shipping if you have Amazon Prime.
Recover 180°
Just because you're not out and about doesn't mean that hydration isn't just as important as ever, and Recover 180°'s drinks are made to help aid in your body's recovery after any dehydrating activity, whatever your lifestyle. They contain three times the electrolytes as typical sports drinks, but with half the calories and a third of the sugar. They also include healthy doses of Potassium, Vitamin C, Niacin, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12 and Magnesium, as well as herbal extracts, and they taste great. We've been sipping on the tartly refreshing Açai Berry the last couple of weeks, but they also come in Citrus and Blood Orange flavors. Since drinking Recover 180°, we've been feeling extra alert and healthy, despite being mostly stuck inside. 12-packs sell for $35, and shipping is free if purchased through Amazon.
Old Trapper Beef Jerky
Jerky is one of our all-time favorite long-lasting, high-protein snacks, and you can't get more classic than Old Trapper. Their offerings are made with lean meats, quality seasoning, and are actually smoked over a real wood fire. We've been munching on their Old Fashioned and Peppered beef jerky flavors, which are meaty, filling and satisfying while also packing 11 grams of protein per serving. 3.25 oz. bags start at $6, while 10 oz. bags start at $14, and their six-pack sampler sells for $36, plus $7 for shipping.
Mama Geraldine's Cheese Straws
If you love real cheese, you've come to the right snack. Mama Geraldine's Cheese Straws are packed with a mighty cheese flavor for when you're craving something savory and full-bodied. Best of all, even though it's made with authentic Wisconsin cheeses, there's no need to refrigerate these delicious cheesy bites. They're available in Aged Cheddar, Parmesan Herb, Chipotle Cheddar and Pimento Cheese flavors (as well as gluten-free versions of the Cheddar and Parmesan), and if you happen to have all the ingredients you'd normally pair with a cheese board, they can be part of quite the delicious and elegant spread. They're Available in four-packs for $19.95, six-packs for $27.95 and 12-packs for $49.95, plus shipping.
Good Good
Missing jams and other spreads as you're trying to avoid sugar? Good Good has your back. They're a company dedicated to making low-carb products with no added sugar, opting instead to use natural sweeteners to provide that taste you crave. While their delicious sweet jams require refrigeration after opening, they're definitely worth snacking on, but the real star of the show is their Belgian Choco Hazel spread. Dare we say it's even better than Nutella? It's absolutely delectable spread cross toast, and we're not ashamed to say it we eat it with a spoon right out of the jar. A 350 gram jar of the hazelnut spread costs $8.99, plus shipping.
Love unique treats? Click HERE for a list of plant-based alternatives to our favorite meaty snacks.