Snacks

In a time of cracker and flatbread abundance, the pedestrian saltine gets short shrift. The grocery aisle teems with boxes of whole grain crispbreads, fruit and nut studded wafers, crackers anointed with olive oil and truffles. There are whole sections devoted to crackers made of alternative flours to serve the needs of the gluten-free and dairy-free and vegan, from nutty versions to papery rice crackers that are like communion wafers for cheese.

Nuts, for those of us who aren't allergic to them, are an incredible snack. That's probably not news to you. Maybe you, like me, often think about Barack Obama sitting in the Oval Office after hours, rationing out exactly seven almonds. (A joke, it turns out, but still a compelling image). They're tasty, they have more caloric oomph than a handful of popcorn so there's a chance they'll actually fill you up, and they're great for idle snacking.

For our latest snack food taste test, we chose Cheez-Its—that quintessential orange cheesy cracker that's a fixture on convenience store shelves and in dorm rooms everywhere. We gathered 16 flavors, including a selection from the brand's newest Duoz range—which features flavor and texture combinations never before seen together in a Cheez-It box—and rallied our writers, tasters, and editors. Here are our favorites, ranked.

Are you that person who has dinners for the week picked out and fully shopped for and partially prepped by Sunday night, and every weekday you anxiously await coming home to cook your luxurious dinner? Or are you that person who drags your toes home after a long, strenuous day, desperately wanting to fall to your knees and lift your arms up to the dinner gods in the hopes that they will send you something delicious for you to eat on your couch? Well, I am certainly the latter, and to those of you that resonate with the former, I am very suspicious of your lifestyle choices. 

This article originally appeared on People.com 

On Monday, Google released their list of top-searched Super Bowl recipes by state (and Washington, D.C.)—and the results were a mixed bag of game-day classics and, well, some oddball dishes. 

I have a huge sweet tooth, but I try to be conscientious when it comes to indulging in desserts. So when I find recipes for snacks that satisfy my cravings and offer some health benefits, it's a major win-win. I've been training for a half marathon the past few months--yes, I choose to run for fun in my spare time--so I've been especially focused on laying off desserts, while upping my protein intake and eat as many energy-boosting foods as I can to get me through those long runs.

As much fun as the holidays are, from decorating and baking to shopping for gifts and enjoying the company of friends and family, they can also bring added stress and added pounds. And I don’t know about you, but I already have a long list of things to do during the hustle and bustle of the season, so throwing in the necessary task of packing clothes, other necessities, and food for a holiday trip to see the fam doesn’t exactly excite me.