It is, officially, National Snack Food Month.

It is also, officially, Super Bowl week.

Shopping Siren sees a correlation. And opportunity.

For the past couple of weeks, Bag Lady and I have reveled in the organic and specialty foods at Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s in Portland. Reduced-sugar blueberry preserves! Air-chilled chicken! Lobster bisque!

But sometimes you just need potato chips. Bacon pizza. Veggie sticks dunked in tubs of something oniony or ranch-like.

I’m talking unabashed snacks.

Advertisement

It isn’t always healthy, but it’s definitely fun for a day of football watching/commercial watching/general partying. And Bliss is all about the fun.

Also, very high heels. But that’s a column for another day.

* Utz chips and popcorn, various sizes, Dollar Tree, $1

Choose from plain, no salt added and barbecue chips. Butter-flavored or cheese-flavored popcorn. And pork rinds. Because, honestly, it wouldn’t be a snack food column without pork rinds.

* Chip and dip tray, Dollar Tree, $1

Red plastic tray with four sections for chips or veggies and a center section for dip. Pick, dip and spill. It’s a snack-food tradition.

Advertisement

Pair with:

* Vine Ripe salsa, 16 oz., Dollar Tree, $1

In mild or medium spicy. Salsa goes with everything. Except — caution — pork rinds.

* Popcorn containers, Dollar Tree, $1 for large or 2/$1 for small

Red-and-white-striped containers look like old-fashioned popcorn bags … but cleanable plastic. The small ones appear to hold a single serving. The large ones are more tub-like. Personally, I believe all popcorn containers should be tub-like.

* Javi’s cinnamon churros, 5 oz., Dollar Tree, $1

Advertisement

Puffed, twisty-shaped pieces that taste, apparently, like cinnamon. Mmm.

* Roshco s’mores maker, Bed, Bath and Beyond, $19.99

Think outside the snack-food box (er, bag) with s’mores! According to the package, this set can also be used as an ice cream station or for dessert fondue. Now, that’s a Super Bowl party. Or an incredible date night. No judgment.

* Oneida large pizza stone with rack, Bed Bath and Beyond, $14.99

Stone absorbs moisture for crispier crusts. Can we all agree that’s a good thing?

* Armour Vienna sausages, 5 oz., Family Dollar, 2/$1

Advertisement

If there isn’t a snack-food hall of fame, there should be. And if there is one, Vienna sausages should be displayed prominently in the lobby by the ficus.

* Harvest Road low-fat mini pretzels, 12 oz., Family Dollar, $1

Because snack foods can be healthy. Or healthier. (Than, say, Vienna sausages and churros.)

Best find: Crispy Corners brownie pan, Bed, Bath and Beyond, $29.99

Innovative diamond-pattern design bakes each brownie in its own little cubbyhole, ensuring every piece has four baked edges. If you love brownie corners, this is bliss. If you don’t love brownie corners, I’m not sure I want to know you.

Think twice: Salter diet scale with storage container, Bed Bath and Beyond, $4.99

No surprise, this little diet scale tells you how many ounces of berries/nuts/shredded chicken you’re eating. Great for being food conscious. Not so great for Super Bowl snacking. So for one day, put away the scale and grab a handful of churro pork brownies. Hey, it is an official holiday.

Shopping Siren’s true identity is protected by a pair of stylish, sweater-wearing Doberman pinschers (who love that snack foods have a habit of dropping on the living-room floor) and the Customer Service counter at the Sun Journal. You can reach her at shoppingsiren@sunjournal.com.

Copy the Story Link

Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.