It seems like every day I hear about a new online subscription service that is willing to automatically deliver stuff to your home on a monthly basis.
Sit back and relax while someone does all your shopping for you? Sure. Sign me up.
There are toy subscriptions, cleaning supply subscriptions, make-up subscriptions, etc. But I don’t think any of them has gotten me as excited as NatureBox.
Why?
Because, SNACKS.
I’m a snacker. A grazer, a nibbler, a small plates eater. If I didn’t live in a society with sanctioned meal times and people who consider lunch a social activity, I’d probably be feasting round the clock on handfuls of chips and cookies.
I like sweet and savory; usually, I feel the need to follow one up with the other. That’s not to say I eat overly indulgent things. Since I snack often, I like to keep things tasty, healthy and hearty. Quality chocolate, organic chips with whole ingredients and lots of nuts for when I need some protein.
My kids are snackers too. They’d gladly skip dinner if I let them and there is not a pick-up or a drop-off made without numerous snack requests. “What do you have in your bag?” is always the most popular question of the day and god help me if I forgot to load up.
The bigger issue is that both girls tire fast of their snack options. Pretzels are boring, once loved almonds are now rejected and even the kid-sized nutrition bars we used to get away with calling a “treat” have fallen out of favor.
When it comes to snacks, variety is where it’s at, which is why NatureBox is such a perfect fit for us. If you go to their site, you’ll find over 100 “crave-worthy” options. They’re all really unique snacks too. Like Jalapeño white cheddar popcorn, dark chocolate pretzel pops and praline pumpkin seeds….
Go ahead. Browse their snacks. Try to come back before you start drooling.
The toughest thing you do once you sign up for a NatureBox account is pick five snacks you want to try first. How do you choose between dark cocoa almonds and cashew crumble?
I HAVE NO IDEA.
I guess you count on the fact that you’ll try new stuff with the next box and EVENTUALLY, you’ll get to eat everything. I was especially lucky since I got to pick eleven snacks for our review.
When our NatureBox came, I thought the best way to experience it (besides inhale it all on the spot) was conduct a taste test with the girls. After all, you can’t risk bringing the wrong snack to after school pick-up.
There will be hell to pay.
1) White Truffled Popcorn
This was the first snack we tried (their request) and the snack the girls ate the most, continually coming back to it throughout our taste test. Harlow loved it but said, “It tasted a little different”. That would be the truffle. Plus, she kept calling it “poppycorn” instead of “popcorn” which was the cutest thing ever.
There is video:
Three days later and Harlow is still talking about her “poppycorn” even though the bag is long gone.
2) Peanutbutter Nom Noms
Harlow loved these as well and proceeded to get chocolate all over her face as she munched on these hearty whole grain cookies.
Mazzy was not the biggest fan.
“It’s okay if I don’t like them because it’s a taste test and I’m supposed to tell you I don’t like it, right, Mom?” Yep. That’s true.
3) Sea Salt Sun-Crunch
At first Harlow was reluctant and said, “My Ruth told me I don’t have to try them”. Ruth is our nanny during the week and Harlow tries this excuse whenever I ask her to do something she doesn’t want to do. “It’s okay. You don’t have to try them, ” I assured her. “Okay, I’ll try them,” she conceded. “Mmmmmmm!!! I like them!”
The sea salt sun-crunch were actually my favorite snack of the bunch and I am not ashamed to admit I finished off the bag later that day.
4) Strawberry Carrot Fruit Chews
The fruit snacks were the big winner with Mazzy. “These are DELICIOUS. They are VERY GOOD. Very juicy and kind of like a healthy licorice.”
The “healthy licorice” reference is because Mike and I are big Twizzler fans but don’t let Mazzy eat them because we say they are not healthy for kids.
5) Sea Salt Pop Pops
I would tell you about the sea salt pop pops but they disappeared. It seems Mike took them into the other room to watch golf and came back with an empty bowl. I guess that’s a “thumbs up”.
6) Roasted Peruvian Corn Kernels
Mike disappeared with these as well. “MIKE! I AM TRYING TO WRITE A BLOG POST OVER HERE!!!!” They also got a “thumbs up” (aka returned in an empty bowl).
7) Double Berry Fruit Peels
Mazzy loved these. “Mmmmm…. it tastes like a gummy bear. When you put it up to the light, you can see the sun shining through it.” You have to admire Mazzy’s dedication to good food review critique. Was she reading Frank Bruni late at night or something?
“Harlow, what do you think?” I asked.
“When you put it up to the light, you can see the sun shine through it.”
Perfect. Always copying her sister.
8) Chocolate HAZELNUT Granola
Mazzy called it “kind of cerealy but tasty”. She liked the chocolate pieces the best. Harlow said “When you put it up to the light, you can see the sun shine through it.”
“Uhhh… Harlow, that’s not even the granola. Let’s move on…”
9) Cashew Crunch
Nobody would try it. FOOLS. More for me!
10) Dark Chocolate Almonds
“These look like poop,” Mazzy declared. She was right, they did. “They are very chocolatey. Too chocolatey.” My 5yo is a tough critic. “Yummy chocolate,” Harlow disagreed. “Put them closer to me.”
If you want my opinion, the dark chocolate almonds are perfectly delicious. And rich enough so you only have to eat a few to get your chocolate fix.
11) Mini Belgian Waffles
These were a big hit with both Harlow and Mazzy, probably because we are a family of waffle lovers. “Do you have syrup?” Harlow asked. “No. Do they need syrup?” “No,” answered Mazzy. “I like them just like this.”
High praise from my picky 5yo!
All in all, NatureBox was a great experience with different snacks that appealed to different members of the family. I now know Mazzy loves fruit snacks and is less crazy about crunch, while Harlow will eat almost anything she can pick up with her hands. Mike appears to be a huge fan of snacks that involve kernels (who knew?) and I LOVE LOVE LOVE everything sesame.
We kept some snacks at home for the kids and split up the others to take to our respective offices. Now, I can’t wait to pick snacks for my next box.
Like the dark chocolate pretzel pops… Or the cinnamon swirl kettle kernels… Or the sweet onion kale chips…
Oh no, I think I’m drooling again.
Want to win a year subscription to Naturebox?
Of course, you do. That’s 12 monthly boxes with a total of 60 different snacks! To enter, visit NatureBox’s Snack Catalogue and then leave a comment below telling me the first snack you would select for your box. If you can’t decide, feel free to name more than one!
For a second entry, tweet the following and then leave a second comment saying you did so:
I just entered to win a year subscription to @Naturebox via @mommyshorts! http://bit.ly/1HpUSwV
Winner will be announced June 5th.
You can also get a naturebox free trial by clicking here!
Good luck, godspeed and happy snacking!
—————————-
WINNER UPDATE: Congrats to Brynn Becker and her love of Mini Belgian Waffles! Please contact abby@mommyshorts.com to claim your prize.
Cherry Berry Bonanza
Asiago & Cheddar Cheese Crisps!
Guacamole bites for me, though my 18mo could put some hurt on those chocolate banana chips.
Hands down: Dark Cocoa Almonds! But they all look so delicious!
My 3 year old is always asking me what snacks I have in my bag too! Everything looks so delicious but 2 we’d definitely try first are sea salt pop pops & strawberry carrot fruit chews.
I love nuts, so I’m sure I would enjoy anything in that category 🙂
Almond mocha bars!
Praline Pumpkin Seeds look delish!!
YUM! I’d add Sweet & Salty Nut Medley to mine!
Strawberry Lemonade Fruit Stars…I love strawberry lemonade so these sound really yummmmmy.
Parmesan garlic pop pops sound delicious!
Oooh. The Jalapeno cheddar popcorn or the peanutbutter nom noms.
Mini belgian waffles! Everything looked good. I STRUGGLE finding foods my kids will like!
Garlic plantains!! As long as I can keep them from my husband (we’re BIG garlic fans at our house)
Mmmmm, Praline Pumpkin Seeds sound delicious!
Just tweeted, too!
mini belgian waffles
Asiago and cheddar cheese crisps 😉
Dark Chocolate Trail Mix
https://twitter.com/ccboobooy/status/601767610183786496
Dark cocoa nom noms! And lemon tea biscuits! Or pretty much anything in the baked goods section…
strawberry lemonade fruit stars or the mini belgian waffles or many, many other choices.
Mmmmmm, salt & pepper pistachios.
Peanut butter nom noms! Yum yum!
Sweet blueberry almonds- oh yummmmmmmmmm!!!!!!
belgian waffles for my husband and sour cream and onion almonds for me
Coffee kettle popcorn to start!
Mini Belgium Waffles!!
My mouth was watering as I read through the options! If I had to choose one I would pick the salted caramel pretzel pops. Yum!!!
The Asiago and cheddar cheese crisps are calling my name!
That Jalpeno White cheddar popcorn sounds delish!
Cherry Berry Bonanza, definitely
Roasted Peruvian Corn Kernels – Yum!
I’ve also heard great things about their pop pops and all the flavors
cinnamon swirl kettle kernels!
Country ranch sunflower kernels!
I’d love to try the cashew crumbles!
OMG. Those little Belgian waffles need to be in arms reach, asap.
Chocolate banana chips!!! Oooo delish!!!
I tweeted too!!
strawberry carrot chews, yum and a little healthy I’m thinking! My kids would love them!!
We are in it for apple pie oat clusters! Yummy!
I want to try the Dark Cocoa Almonds, the Sweet Blueberry Almonds, the Dark Chocolate Berry Trail Mix and SO MANY others! My kids (4 and 6) are also loving the list of yummy goodies and want to try so many!!
I just tweeted as well (@aknight8)
I LOVE dark cocoa almonds!!!
French vanilla almond granola would be delightful!
i would try the strawberry lemonade stars, the waffles and definently the dark chocolate almonds yummmm
Double berry fruit peels and chocolate hazelnut granola!! YUM
tweeted too!
I tweeted about the giveaway! My Twitter: @l_ritz
I want to try the Asiago and cheddar crisps. Thanks!
coffee kettle popcorn! any excuse for more coffee!
Mini Belgium waffles!!!
Just tweeted!
I’m a granola fan – I’d pick the Chocolate Hazelnut Granola first!
I’m going to have to say the truffle poppy corn!
Strawberry lemonade stars for my daughter and salt and pepper pistachios for me.
Dark coca almonds or the blueberry almonds, although the various popcorn flavors and granola looked amazing as well!
Everything Bagel Stix
Tweeted!
Garlic parmesan pop pops
Umm, all of them? I’ll go with the praline pumpkin seeds.
The poppycorn!
i would try the Mini Belgian waffles because waffles are a breakfast food staple in our house. I would also try the jalapeño cheddar popcorn – which I could see myself eating for breakfast as well!
Peanut Butter Nom Noms for sure! They look yummy!
OMG- The Apple Pie Oat Clusters would definitely be my first pick and then I’d have to try everything else after that. So hard to choose!
The roasted Peruvian corn kernels look amazing!!
I would be all over the white truffle poppycorn!!!
Uhh they had me at Asiago and cheddar cheese crisps!
OMG KUNG PAO PRETZELS! Also, all the fruit snacks, those mini waffles, aaand I’m starting a free trial RIGHT NOW.
I tweeted as well! (@ktlouness)
Salted caramel pretzel pops
I don’t know why but the Praline Pumpkin Seeds seem to be calling to me.
I tweeted here https://twitter.com/christilunsford/status/602664281876791296
Mini Belgian waffles!!
Salted caramel pretzel pops!
I just tweeted.
https://twitter.com/elm31881/status/602665248890327040
Cashew power clusters!!
Chocolate banana chips!
I want to try them all! The Double Berry Fruit sound delicious, I love fruit snacks.
I tweeted! Fingers crossed!
https://twitter.com/shpresime/status/602669597028851712
Whole wheat blueberry figgy bars
The white truffle popcorn and pop pops. Popcorn is my favorite go-to snack and those sound delicious.
I would love to try the lemon almond biscotti bites! But so many of them look delicious!
Pineapple coconut bars – yum!
Dark Chocolate Almonds 😉 of course!!!
Oh my gosh! Coffee Kettle Popcorn!!!!
Definitely the truffled popcorn and the peanut butter nom noms! I wish I had twitter right now so I could enter again! 🙂
The dark chocolate trail mix looks amazing!! I am always looking for healthy snacks to take with me to work. I work in an emergency call center and find myself always looking for something to nibble on. I love all the differ et options nature of gives!! Yum!
I tweeted too! 🙂
Black and white granola! Mmmm
WHOLE WHEAT STRAWBERRY FIGGY BARS, ASIAGO & CHEDDAR CHEESE CRISPS, DARK CHOCOLATE ALMONDs, and COFFEE KETTLE POPCORN.
Chocolate hazelnut granola! anything chocolate please!
Popcorn. All the popcorn all the time. And the blueberry almonds sound delightful as well!
Sour cream and onion almonds!!! Mmmm those sound delicious! And the Asiago and cheddar cheese crisps!
Coconut cashews!! Sounds so good!
mini Belgian waffles!!
The dark chocolate pretzel sound great. Also the mini waffles!
Praline pumpkin seeds!
Sticks & Stones
Chocolate banana chips