Best New Snacks for Back to School

At the risk of sounding like materialists, having new stuff really softens the blow of back to school. Yeah, summer’s over and your alarm is about to start going off at 5:30 a.m. again, but, hey, new folders! New pencils! And, if you play your cards right, new snacks in the ol’ lunchbox. Whether you’re a parent tasked with packing your offsprings’ lunches or a responsible teen packing their own, here are the coolest new snacks to have in the pantry. Like, literally why splurge on that papaya-colored Yeti if you aren’t going to fill it with the good stuff.

For the Marshmallow Fan: Hostess S’mores Cupcake

As a former teacher and occasional babysitter, I will be the first to say that giving children sugar before packing them off to school is cruel to teachers. However, an occasional Twinkie will brighten up any early Monday morning, and as long as you don’t do it all the time, your child’s educator will forgive you. These are the best Hostess Cupcakes we’ve had in a while—the marshmallow fluff is fluffy, and the chocolate icing on top adds the perfect bit of texture. This is a fun, nostalgic back to school snack, and I think the sugar high is worth it.

For the Adventurous Palate: Spicy Dill Pickle Goldfish

I was a weird child, and would have loved finding these in my lunchbox! Spicy Dill Pickle Goldfish made it to our top three in our rankings of the best dill pickle flavored snacks for a reason—they are garlicky and vinegary, and pack a punch, but in a good way. We recommend these if you have a kid who’s bored of regular Cheddar Cheese Goldfish, or a tween who’s down to try something new.

For the Trend Setter: Blueberry Pie Oreos

Messing with Oreos is risky business, but sometimes it pays off. These Blueberry Pie Oreos rule—seriously, these were passed around the Sporked office, and the verdict was unanimously positive. Do you know how rare that is? These are definitely a fun midweek surprise, and they’re limited edition—so grab ‘em while you can.

For the Picky Eater: Uncrustables Raspberry

We tried all the Uncrustables flavors, and these were an absolute hit. I don’t have children (thank the lord), but if I did, this would go in their lunchboxes—the bright raspberry jam really has that tart real fruit flavor, and with the classic peanut butter and white bread, it’s the perfect bite.

For the Easy Snacker: Pop Secret Sea Salt Popcorn

Pop Secret’s new sea salt popcorn is everything you want in a bagged popcorn—yeah, it isn’t as good as freshly popped popcorn, but what is? This buttery, salty, and crunchy popcorn is an easy no-fuss snack for when you’re on the go—a perfect Ziplock baggie snack (or Stasher!) for antsy children.

For the Fantastic Four Fan: Frosted Blue Raspberry Poptarts

Did you hear? The new Fantastic Four Pop-Tarts are out, and they actually taste pretty good. They’re blue raspberry flavored, which generally isn’t a flavor I’ll endorse on account of it being fake—but I did like these. So if you’re looking for a new Pop-Tarts option for a back to school snack, this could be a new fave.

For the Pumpkin Spice Lover: Little Debbie Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal Creme Pies

This is, shockingly, the first flavor variant of the much loved Little Debbie Oatmeal Creme Pie! Pumpkin pie feels fitting, given that it’s now August and fall is ‘round the corner—and I think the PSL flavor profile, coupled with the oatmeal cookies and rich creme, has huge potential. I used to love themed lunchboxes, so if you’re itching to do a fall themed lunch, these should be on your grocery list.