The Most Popular Snack In The U.S. Is Not What You'd Expect
Thanks to nutritionists and health experts, we know that eating three meals a day is the foundation of our physical wellbeing. But an essential part of our mental wellbeing is enjoying snacks throughout the day.
Let’s be real: we almost always need a little nibble to tide us over before lunch. And nothing will pull us out of the 3:30 slump like indulging in a little treat. Whether your definition of a snack means peanut butter and apples or cracking open a can of Diet Coke, small bites are what keep the world moving.
Everybody has their own unique snack preferences. But according to a study conducted by market research firm HubScore, residents of each state play favorites. In honor of National Snack Day (which is today, by the way), HubScore revealed the most-searched-for snacks in all 50 states.
And there are some shocking regional patterns that we did not expect. For instance, a whopping 18 states preferred Rice Krispies Treats over any other snack. The marshmallowy snack has broad appeal on both coasts, with Rice Krispies Treats capturing the popular vote from Alaska and Oregon all the way to Maine and New Hampshire.
The other front-runners in the great American snack race are Doritos and Cheetos. The former, which took the top spot in HubScore’s 2023 map, is the number one choice in 16 states. And those 16 states are primarily centered around the Southeast, with a few noted exceptions (we see you, Rhode Island).
On the other hand, Cheetos are decidedly the favorite among snackers in the Southwestern corner of the country. Eight states, most of them along along the southern border, selected the cheesy corn puffs as their favorite snack, from California all the way to Louisiana. But you’re also likely to spot some Cheeto fingers in Nebraska and Illinois.
Those three snacks dominated the results, but a few outliers found their way onto this year’s map. Chex Mix is the snack of choice in Hawaii, Montana, and North Dakota. Fritos took the top spot in Oklahoma, Wyoming, and South Dakota. And Lay's is the name of the game in New York and Connecticut.
But there’s one sneak that somehow ended up on the map, thanks to the residents of New Jersey. Cheerios are the Garden State’s favorite snack for some unknown reason. Is the entire state populated by teething babies? Do they just eat cereal for every meal? We have a lot of questions.
Want to see what snack your state prefers? You can check out the results here and the full list below:
Alabama: Doritos
Alaska: Rice Krispies Treats
Arizona: Cheetos
Arkansas: Doritos
California: Cheetos
Colorado: Rice Krispies Treats
Connecticut: Lays
Delaware: Doritos
District of Columbia: Doritos
Florida: Doritos
Georgia: Doritos
Hawaii: Chex Mix
Idaho: Rice Krispies Treats
Illinois: Cheetos
Indiana: Rice Krispies Treats
Iowa: Rice Krispies Treats
Kansas: Rice Krispies Treats
Kentucky: Doritos
Louisiana: Cheetos
Maine: Rice Krispies Treats
Maryland: Doritos
Massachusetts: Rice Krispies Treats
Michigan: Rice Krispies Treats
Minnesota: Rice Krispies Treats
Mississippi: Doritos
Missouri: Rice Krispies Treats
Montana: Chex Mix
Nebraska: Cheetos
Nevada: Cheetos
New Hampshire: Rice Krispies Treats
New Jersey: Cheerios
New Mexico: Cheetos
New York: Lays
North Carolina: Doritos
North Dakota: Chex Mix
Ohio: Doritos
Oklahoma: Fritos
Oregon: Rice Krispies Treats
Pennsylvania: Rice Krispies Treats
Rhode Island: Doritos
South Carolina: Doritos
South Dakota: Fritos
Tennessee: Doritos
Texas: Cheetos
Utah: Rice Krispies Treats
Vermont: Rice Krispies Treats
Virginia: Doritos
Washington: Rice Krispies Treats
West Virginia: Doritos
Wisconsin: Rice Krispies Treats
Wyoming: Fritos
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