Food Lens

Snacks

42 snacks explained — what each is, how to buy and store it, its nutrition, and safe swaps.

Raisins Concentrated sweet, wine-like, jammy, and chewy with a slight tang.
Nuts Rich and buttery raw, toastier and more savory once roasted.
Pistachios Lightly sweet and subtly savory with a delicate nuttiness; firm yet yielding, with a distinctive grassy-green aroma
Dark chocolate Bitter and intense, with deep roasted-cocoa notes and little sweetness.
Applesauce pouches Smooth, sweet, and mildly tart, softer and more uniform than chunky homemade applesauce.
Banana chips Sweet and crunchy with a concentrated banana flavor, richer when fried.
Beef jerky Intensely savory and chewy, with flavor ranging from smoky and peppery to sweet or spicy depending on the marinade.
Biscuits Mild and buttery with a soft, flaky, slightly crumbly texture.
Candy Overwhelmingly sweet, with flavor and texture varying enormously by type, from chewy and fruity to smooth and chocolatey.
Cheese crackers Savory, cheesy, and slightly salty, with a light, crisp crunch.
Chewing gum Intensely flavored at first bite, fading gradually the longer it's chewed, with a firm, stretchy, rubbery texture throughout.
Chocolate Ranges from bitter and intense in dark chocolate to sweet and creamy in milk and white chocolate.
Crackers Dry and crisp, ranging from plain and neutral to heavily seasoned depending on variety.
Dried fruit Intensely sweet and chewy with a concentrated version of the fresh fruit's flavor.
Fruit leather Sweet and fruity with a chewy, slightly sticky texture, more concentrated in flavor than fresh fruit.
Fruit snacks Sweet and fruity with a chewy, gummy texture, generally sweeter and less complex in flavor than real fruit.
Gelatin dessert Sweet and fruity with a distinctive jiggly, semi-solid texture that melts in the mouth.
Graham crackers Mildly sweet with a warm cinnamon-honey flavor and a firm, slightly crumbly crunch.
Granola bars Sweet and nutty, with texture ranging from soft and chewy to firm and crunchy depending on the brand and ingredients.
Gummy bears Sweet and fruity with a chewy, springy texture.
Hard candy Intensely sweet, often fruit- or mint-flavored, with a hard, glassy texture that slowly dissolves.
Licorice Sweet and herbal with a distinct anise-like flavor, in black licorice specifically.
Lollipops Intensely sweet and fruity or flavored, with a hard, glassy texture that slowly dissolves as it's sucked.
Marshmallows Sweet and mild with a light, airy, spongy texture that turns gooey and caramelized when toasted.
Microwave popcorn Buttery, salty, or variously flavored depending on the bag, with the familiar light, crisp texture of popped corn.
Milk chocolate Sweet, creamy, and mild, with a smooth, melt-in-the-mouth texture and less intense cocoa flavor than dark chocolate.
Mints Cool and sharply minty, ranging from mild to intensely strong depending on the brand and format.
Popcorn Plain and faintly sweet on its own, mostly a vehicle for butter, salt, or whatever seasoning gets tossed on.
Potato chips Crisp and salty, with flavor ranging from plain to heavily seasoned.
Pretzels Salty and slightly malty with a dense, chewy or crisp bite depending on style.
Protein bars Varies by brand, generally sweet with a dense, chewy texture, sometimes with a distinct protein-powder aftertaste.
Pudding cups Sweet and creamy with a smooth, thick texture, and flavor depending on the specific variety.
Pumpkin seeds Nutty and earthy, with a satisfying crunch, more pronounced when roasted and salted.
Rice cakes Mild and neutral with a light, airy crunch, taking on the flavor of whatever topping is added.
Saltine crackers Mild, plain, and slightly salty, with a dry, crisp, flaky texture.
Seaweed snacks Salty and savory with a light oceanic note, crisp and almost brittle in texture.
Shortbread cookies Buttery, crumbly, and only lightly sweet, with a dense, sandy texture.
Sunflower seeds Nutty and mildly sweet, with a deeper roasted flavor when toasted and salted.
Tortilla chips Corn-forward and salty with a crisp, sturdy crunch that holds up well to dips and toppings.
Trail mix A mix of sweet, salty, and nutty flavors and textures, varying by exactly which nuts, fruits, and sweets are included.
Veggie chips Varies by vegetable, generally light and slightly sweet or earthy, with a crisp, airy crunch similar to potato chips.
Wafers Light, sweet, and crisp, with a thin, airy texture and a smooth cream filling between the layers.

Browse all foods