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

The Eater employees lately had a spirited change 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 it’s a must to gloomily admit to your self that you have to be, like, caring what you eat, and doubtless consuming much less fuel station meals, and guaranteeing that you simply eat sufficient protein and all that jazz. There was a very long time when this offered 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 bear in mind once we all ate kale chips in 2015, pretending to take pleasure in 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 expertise may go no additional. However then, the 2010s introduced us a wave of protein-rich and low-carb variations of our outdated favorites, a lot of that are suspiciously good.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 chance 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 turned 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 various kinds of sugar-free, high-protein, high-fiber cereal, Catalina Crunch additionally makes 4 various kinds 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 when you 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? Nicely, the brief reply is since you’re anxious it doesn’t style good. However this “better-for-you” snack combine truthfully 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 data for you.

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

Hilary Pollack

This can be 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 already know, all of the substances that make a savory snack so delightfully flavorful and snacky. I’ve not but efficiently been in a position to get my fingers on the Honey Mustard and Creamy Ranch (!) flavors, however after I do, they’ll hate to see me coming.

With Easter 4/20 (I believe we are able to simply acknowledge it) this weekend and a forecast of heavy snacking, it looks like an opportune time to share my obsession with these things. In any case, when you’re going to gleefully plow via a bag of Cheddar snack combine, it would as nicely make it easier to hit your protein and fiber quotas.

Catalina Crunch Cheddar Snack Combine is offered at Catalina Crunch.