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Welcome to Snack Drop, a (new!) column where we give you the lowdown on all of the best new(ish) to market snacks that have come across our desks this month.
This month: mini probiotic yogurts, a grain-free cereal with 11 grams of protein, and the buffalo-flavored popcorn we're eating by the handful.
Lovebird Protein Cereal
Lovebird makes an organic grain-free cereal that’s one of the best cereals on the market right now period. The brand just came out with grass-fed high protein cereal made with just eight ingredients including grass-fed whey for the protein source and organic coconut sugar as the sweetener. If you also once loved Cocoa Pebbles like me, the cocoa flavor, which has organic cocoa powder, is delightful and has 11 grams of protein per serving. It’s great on its own right out of the bag for an afternoon snack (I can’t get over how delightfully puffy the texture is) or in a bowl of milk as a post-dinner midnight treat. —Kate Kassin, editorial operations manager
Siggi’s Yuzu Skyr
I love Siggi’s delightfully thick, creamy Icelandic-style skyr. I also love anything yuzu flavored, especially in the winter, when we could all use a little brightness in our diets. Siggi’s tropical yuzu, their newest seasonal release, is hence a product made for me. This one has yuzu juice, plus mango and pineapple puree, for a not-too-sweet zingy flavor. I’ve been opting for the tropical yuzu as an afternoon treat (although still one with 15 grams of protein) rather than in the morning, where, as a purist, I prefer the plain flavor to which I can add in my own fruit and granola. —K.K.
Coconut Cult Probiotic Coconut Yogurt Minis
I’ve been a fan of Coconut Cult’s highly probiotic yogurt for years, and am delighted to see it back in the zeitgeist as folks pay more attention to gut health. The brand recently launched minis, which solve a couple of concerns that their larger jars present. Food shouldn’t have rules, but the yogurt is so active that the brand recommends a 4-tablespoon serving size as you’re easing into experiencing its effects (plenty to top some oatmeal or chia pudding, but a little weird if you’re used to making a big yogurt bowl in the morning). The mini containers hold just two servings of yogurt, so you can enjoy more flavor diversity—I’m very into the banana cream pie, with the lemon meringue and berry close runners up. I still think I prefer their 4- or 8-serving containers, which come in glass jars, but Coconut Cult’s minis are cheaper, so if you’ve been curious to dip your toe into the cult before diving headfirst into a bigger jar, they’re a great option. —Rebecca Firkser, Test Kitchen editor
Realsy PB&J Dates
Realsy’s nut butter filled date snacks made our Healthy Snacks roundup for their simple ingredients (almond or peanut butter, organic Medjool dates, and sea salt) and for their convenient packaging, either individually wrapped sizes or in resealable packs of three. The brand’s new flavor is PB&J might just be my new favorite of the bunch. It has organic strawberry powder that subtly gives the peanut butter filling a fruity boost and keeps it as a snack that’s just sweet enough. While I appreciate the single serve packages, I’ve been eating two or three when my afternoon energy slumps and hunger hits. —K.K.
Lexington Bakes Protein Bars
Sitting next to Alaina and Kate every day, I always have direct access to new and interesting snacks. I’d say maybe 90% of the time I more or less know what to expect from a prepackaged treat—pleasant enough, but with an undeniable note of shelf-stable artificiality. Lexington Bakes, at first glance, looks like a regular schmegular snack, the kind you’d buy in bulk at Costco and throw in a lunch box every day. However, they’re less like a processed protein bar and more like something you’d get from a bakery. The raspberry crumble tastes like fresh butter— probably because it has actual butter in it—and the vanilla almond chocolate chip bar has a moreish balance of sweet and salty with chunks of Raaka chocolate and Fleur de Sel. Unsurprisingly, the fresh ingredients and lack of preservatives mean that these have to be stored in the fridge, but the can stay fresh for about 7 days at room temperature. This isn’t a problem for me, because I actually prefer eating them chilled. —Wilder Davies, commerce writer
Lesser Evil x Primal Kitchen Buffalo Popcorn
This was my first season playing fantasy football (shout out to my lovely boyfriend, who coached me through waiver claims). As a result, I've fully embraced all the game day traditions, and nothing says football like buffalo wings. I always keep a bottle of Primal Kitchen's buffalo sauce in my fridge for the classic dish, so when I saw Primal Kitchen was collaborating with everyone's favorite popcorn brand, Lesser Evil, I knew I had to try it. These kernels deliver. They have a bright, vinegary tang up front, followed by a subtle heat that makes them addictively craveable. Stock up for the Big Game coming up, or stash a bag as an afternoon snack. Fair warning: It's dangerously easy to eat by the handful.—Olivia Tarantino, senior commerce editor
Issei Dark Chocolate Covered Mochi Gummies
I’m a sucker for the bouncy chew of mochi, so it’s no surprise that I’ve been known to hoard packets of Issei’s fruity mochi gummies whenever they’ve shown up at our office. The brand’s newest launch is a trio of limited-edition dark chocolate-covered gummies, available in coconut, cherry, and a special Valentine’s-themed strawberry flavor. The thin chocolate coating pairs nicely with the gummies’ soft, subtly sweet mochi interior. I’ve been eating a handful at my desk as a post-lunch treat. —Alaina Chou, commerce writer