Assist! I’m Obsessed With Catalina Crunch’s Excessive-Protein Cheddar Snack Combine

The Eater employees not too long ago had a spirited trade about our favourite fuel station snacks, and mine, unequivocally, is cheddar-flavored Chex Combine (ideally bought with a York Peppermint Patty, a canned iced tea, and an unpleasant pair of wrap sun shades from the rack close to the checkout stand). There’s simply one thing in regards to the umami explosion of tacky taste crystals coating a medley of crunchy textures, from pretzels to little sourdough crostinis.

That is how I ended up hooked on Catalina Crunch’s cheddar-flavored Protein Snack Combine. I’m actually consuming a bag of it as I kind this.

There comes a time in each millennial’s life when you need to gloomily admit to your self that you ought to be, like, caring what you eat, and doubtless consuming much less fuel station meals, and making certain that you just eat sufficient protein and all that jazz. There was a very long time when this introduced a conundrum, as a result of the concept of genuinely “wholesome” chips or sweet that didn’t style like barnyard hay or endocrine disrupters appeared ridiculous. Like, I do know higher than to maintain my pantry stocked with Cheetos, however keep in mind once we all ate kale chips in 2015, pretending to get pleasure from these fish-food-flavored flakes as they joylessly lodged in our tooth? That was unhappy. All of us watched with horror as the nice Olestra drama of the late 90s transpired, and it appeared like meals know-how may go no additional. However then, the 2010s introduced us a wave of protein-rich and low-carb variations of our outdated favorites, lots of that are suspiciously good. We’re undoubtedly in an period of “protein mania,” however that’s arguably higher than being in an period of mindlessly consuming merchandise loaded with completely unchecked fats, salt, preservatives, and empty energy.

Hilary Pollack

Maybe no high-protein cereal and snack model has gotten extra consideration than Catalina Crunch, based in 2017 by Krishna Kaliannan, who has type-1 diabetes and seen a possibility out there for tasty breakfast cereals that wouldn’t spike his blood sugar. Thus was born Catalina Crunch’s flagship product, a darkish chocolate breakfast cereal, and the model’s line quickly expanded as demand went gangbusters and its merchandise grew to become an enormous hit at Costco. Final yr, the corporate surpassed $100 million in retail gross sales — actually staggering stuff — and have become the fastest-growing well being cereal firm. Now, along with 9 several types of sugar-free, high-protein, high-fiber cereal, Catalina Crunch additionally makes 4 several types of Oreo-esque sandwich cookies and 5 completely different flavors of snack combine, the latter of which is principally means more healthy Chex Combine.

Look, Chex Combine isn’t horrible so that you can start with, however if you happen to may eat a model that has 5 occasions as a lot protein and fiber, considerably fewer carbs, and half the sugar… why wouldn’t you? Effectively, the brief reply is since you’re apprehensive it doesn’t style good. However this “better-for-you” snack combine actually tastes simply pretty much as good, if not higher, than my fuel station go-to. It additionally occurs to be keto-friendly and gluten-free, if that’s necessary info for you.

Have a look into a bag. We’ve acquired the cheese crunchies. We’ve acquired the quadrilateral crispy little Chex-like thingies. We’ve acquired pretzels, made out of chickpeas and nonetheless extraordinarily pretzel-y! And we’ve acquired cashews, the one nut I genuinely get pleasure from consuming entire.

Hilary Pollack

It is a top-tier snack combine and it additionally occurs to be very tacky — necessary issue — and the seasoning is made with all the best hits: Cheddar cheese (duh), bitter cream, milk, salt sugar, buttermilk, onion powder, paprika, garlic powder — you realize, all of the elements that make a savory snack so delightfully flavorful and snacky. I’ve not but efficiently been capable of get my fingers on the Honey Mustard and Creamy Ranch (!) flavors, however once I do, they’ll hate to see me coming.

With Easter 4/20 (I believe we will simply acknowledge it) this weekend and a forecast of heavy snacking, it looks as if an opportune time to share my obsession with these things. In any case, if you happen to’re going to gleefully plow by way of a bag of Cheddar snack combine, it’d as nicely enable you hit your protein and fiber quotas.

Catalina Crunch Cheddar Snack Combine is offered at Catalina Crunch.