Mastodawn

I'm casting about for a new snack food.

Top priorities:
- It needs to be crunchy.
- It needs to be consistent as far as texture and flavor across the whole batch.
- Relatively cheap
- Relatively healthy-ish

High preferences:
- Salty
- Decent shelf life
- Minimal prep time

If it's something I have to "fix" or cook myself, I want to be able to do it in easily and large batches (hence shelf-life making the list) so that when I want to snack, I don't have to deal with a lot of prep every. single. time.

Currently, I'm snacking on goldfish (original flavor only) or tortilla chips.
I've snacked on pretzels and almonds in the past.
Also worth noting that I hate popcorn, peanuts, and pickles.

What I'm mostly hoping for with this post is something out of left field that I otherwise might not have stumbled over.

Thoughts or recommendations?

#AskFedi #AskFoodi #HealthySnacking

So far...

*goldfish = 0.182 $/oz (7.29 for 40oz)
*tortilla chips, El Milagro = 0.187 $/oz (2.99 for 16oz)
*tortilla chips, Tostidos = 0.358 $/oz (4.29 for 12oz)

chickpeas, canned = 0.077 $/oz (requires prep)
cucumbers, fresh = 0.113 $/oz
Cheerios = 0.166 $/oz
*goldfish = 0.182 $/oz (7.29 for 40oz)
*tortilla chips, El Milagro = 0.187 $/oz (2.99 for 16oz)
*tortilla chips, Tostidos = 0.358 $/oz (4.29 for 12oz)
almonds, California = 0.393 $/oz
almonds, sliced = 0.439 $/oz
almonds, salted = 0.493 $/oz
fried pork rinds = 0.665 $/oz
rice cakes, salted = 0.776 $/oz
chickpeas, roasted & salted = 0.938 $/oz (no prep)
seaweed, roasted & salted = 3.912 $/oz (no prep)

oat balls = NaN $/oz (too complicated to calculate, requires prep)
namkeen = NaN $/oz (not available)
lentis, roasted & salted = NaN $/oz (not a thing apparently)

Notes:
- prices based on my local 24-hour grocer, because they're more convenient while I'm working graveyard shifts
- ignoring sales
- may be updated periodically
- *=existing preferences
- cucumbers weight estimated by average, priced individually, but breaks 1 of my priorities and 2 of my preferences
- I'm not all too clear on the differences between almonds, though the sliced ones are in the baking aisle instead of the snack aisle
- I know the $/oz metric is unfair to seaweed, but everything is sold by weight instead of volume and that's hardly my fault

@pockets don't know if it was mentioned in the full thread but you can pickle those cucumbers as well. Something I occasionally do a really quick brine of white wine vinegar, sugar and some salt. Let it simmer in a saucepan till they dissolve, take off the heat, add slices and in 15 mins voila 🥰 good way to be less bored with them

I found this recipe too that I want to try, might fit the bill for you too?
https://chefmaniac.com/easy-pickled-cucumber-salad-that-lasts-for-weeks-but-youll-eat-it-sooner/

Easy Pickled Cucumber Salad That Lasts for Weeks (But You’ll Eat It Sooner!) – chefmaniac.com

Fresh Pickled Cucumber Salad – Crisp, Zesty & Fridge-Friendly Introduction If you love a good crunchy, tangy bite that you can pull out of the fridge anytime...

chefmaniac.com

Marty Fouts May 26

@pockets I have settled on fried pork rinds. The downside is that they are greasy. The upside is that they have zero carbs.

The only healthy crunchy snack I have ever discovered is celery but I always end up spreading something on it.

I hope someone else has a better suggestion

@MartyFouts @pockets +1 on pork rinds.

Also, I like the smaller, crunchier ones that have the fat on them still. Vs the huge puffy ones that are only purely skin.

Just be careful to reseal the bag well, and/or finish eating a bag of them within a week. When they go stale.. it's rough 😭

@MartyFouts
Celery? Yuck.

I'll look into the pork rinds though. Not a fan of the greasy aspect, but I'm not rejecting it out of hand either.

Thanks for the suggestion.

Ben Zanin May 26

@pockets @pockets ooh have you tried roasted laver? Flat seaweed sheets, usually roasted with a bit of salt and toasted sesame oil? Deeeeelicious, satisfying, and a little bit crunchy.

@gnomon
I have tried a seasoned seaweed product in the past and thought it was quite nasty.

I don't know if what I had before was quite what you described. I doubt I could even find the stuff I've had before.

I'm not going to reject it completely out of hand, but it's probably going to be fairly low on the list to-try (depending on what other comments I get).

Thanks for the suggestion.

PastaThief May 26

@pockets Some cereals hit those criteria pretty well. You'd have to check their nutritional information on the "healthy-ish" part. But I know a lot of people who just do dry cereal as a snack. Zero prep time and you get a whole box for a few bucks.

That's a good idea. And admittedly not something I immediately thought of myself (which is the entire point of the asking).

Thanks!

krys🦊/midi🦎 theriansymbol May 26

@pockets
goldfish is... some kind of brand thing, right? it has to be. you can't be snacking on goldfish

I can't even imagine it. like they're chips? or more like... chicken wings? sorta thing? how many per day? do they come in a bag? do you... raise them yourself?

original flavour????? goldfish?????

(ive looked it up now. They're small crackers. how cute)

have you tried any seaweed based snacks? I have no recommendations in terms of brands and such, but they fit your criteria I think.

@pockets lentil or chickpea chips. although they're more expensive than the potato equivalent.

J Miller May 26

Maybe roasted chickpeas? Try store bought first to see if you like them. They are considerably cheaper if you make your own, though. And you can adjust the seasoning to your taste.

@JMMaok
I know nothing of chickpeas, so I will have to look into them.

Thanks for the recommendation.

@pockets seedless cucumbers. The kind that are really long and usually individual wrapped in plastic. (Should cost 60¢ up to $1.50 a piece usually)

I like to just munch on one of those. Cool and crisp and fresh. You can eat the whole thing in one sitting, or snap it in half and keep the remainder in fridge.

Alternatively you can slice them into coins and marinate in a bowl or Tupperware with salad dressing of choice (suggest Italian dressing if need an idea).

@colinstu
I do like cucumbers. I don't think I've ever had seedless ones before.

Unfortunately, fresh fruit and veg tends to break the "consistent texture and flavor" and "decent shelf life" premises that I need.

Thanks for the suggestion though.

@pockets pic for the size of them (left is common). They usually stay good in the fridge for a week, sometimes a lil longer. Just an idea! 2-3 of them a week usually tides me over just fine.

Hope you can find some suitable snacks!

NoraBell 🏳️‍⚧️🌈May 26

@pockets If you're good with oats...

I like to make little "trail mix" balls. I take chopped mixed extra fancy nuts (so theres not walnuts or peanuts, I'm allergic) and mix them with oats and honey, top with flaky salt or whatever other seasonings I'm feeling at the time and bake until golden and crispy.

@NoraBell
Interesting.
I'll have to look into that.

(I'm not allergic to peanuts, I just really don't like them or the butter derived from them.)

Thanks.

NoraBell 🏳️‍⚧️🌈May 26

@pockets Oh really important thing I forgot to mention. If you want them to be crispy/crunchy instead of chewy, you have to pre-toast the oats in the oven!

Sarma / Amras May 26

Haldiram's has a decent selection: https://www.haldirams.com/savories/namkeen.html

(you should find a local importer rather than buying direct, but this is their full selection)

Haldirams Nagpur | Buy Namkeens Online - हल्दीराम नमकीन

Shop Haldiram namkeen online. Indulge tasty & spicy namkeens from India's most loved namkeen brand. Free shipping available. Order now!

@amras
I'm sorry, I don't quite understand what you're recommending.

Is this a "you just gestured to all of me" scenario?

Sarma / Amras May 26

Sorry. I'm recommending Namkeen. In general. I'm hoping that you can find a specific type you like.

I'm hesitant to recommend just one because I don't know what's available in your region and I don't really have a favorite.

@amras
Thank you for the clarification.
I'll take a look.

Autumn Meadow May 26

@pockets
You already mentioned tortilla chips, my ideal go to. Another one I like? Store brand ripple potato chips paired with Helluva Good Ranch dip. Takes so little effort, and even if you eat the whole tub of ranch, it's only 500 calories... That's twice as healthy as a pint of Ben & Jerry's.

Another snack I love from time to time? Salted cashews. They're super calorie dense and high in fat and protein, so I tend to feel good after eating them.

Happy snacking!

@meadow
I don't generally care for potato chips.
I've had plantain chips, and those are pretty good, but also more expensive.

I don't know why, but I always perceive salted nuts to be more expensive than other snacks. I don't know if they actually are or not.

Thanks!

Autumn Meadow May 27

@pockets
I buy my cashews at Market Basket. Two pound bulk bags for under $20.

Now I want cashews. 😁

Kevin Davy May 27

@pockets
Biscuits, baked cheesy snacks.