8 Snackle Box Ideas That Prove This Food Trend Isn’t Just a Fad

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What started out as a joke has become a whole category of snacking —and admittedly, it’s intimidated me. I love the concept of a “snackle box,” AKA taking a tackle box and filling it with a variety of snacks, but what do you fill in all of those tiny compartments? And how tedious are they, honestly, to throw together? (Especially when compared to my usual strategy of cramming my tote bag with an armful of snacks hastily grabbed from my pantry as if I were competing in Supermarket Sweep .)

“Yes, I feel like this is something a ‘cool aunt’ would do, and might be used ONLY for special occasions, but it does the trick,” Michaela Blaney, who’s credited with launching the trend, told Table Pittsburgh magazine back in 2022. While the snackle box makes for a great way to enjoy a variety of foods at once, it’s also been a useful way to get picky eaters to try something new.

“My friend used it to play a snack bingo as they drove to their next activity; ‘eat something that’s GREEN!’ Tricked ya, kid,” Blaney shared.

In the name of research, a desire to get my own picky eaters to expand their horizons—and my own love of Girl Dinner -esque grazing on lil’ bits of everything—I tested all kinds of snackle box ideas to come up with a few easy, tried-and-true variations to share.

My Top 3 Snackle Box Ideas at a Glance

What’s the Best Snackle Box to Use?

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You could use a classic tackle box, but I prefer the Melii snackle box . It’s made of food-safe plastic, it’s top-rack dishwasher safe and the lid stays put (but is easy enough for small hands to remove it). Best of all, it features removable dividers, so you can adjust the number of compartments and their sizes.  There’s also a smaller, six-compartment box that’s great for kids’ lunches.

What Should You Fill in a Snackle Box?

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Honestly, this is a chance to clear out your pantry’s odds and ends, so the only limit is your imagination. But, if that feels overwhelming, the easiest way to fill a snackle box is to approach it one of two ways: with a theme or following what I’m calling the SSVT Method .

A theme-based snackle box can be based on where you’re headed (a plane ride may mean sticking to solid treats that won’t be an issue to get past TSA, for example) or a person’s interests. The latter is fun for gifting, should you decide to give someone a “taste of New York” or a “dessert lovers’ box” for their birthday or during the holidays.

What’s the SSVT Method for filling a snackle box, you ask? It calls for one row of the following, to get a tasty, well-rounded mix of things to nosh on:

• Sweet: fresh fruit, chocolate (and chocolate-covered fruit), candy, mini pancakes or waffles, small cookies or protein bars, fruit leather and fruit snacks
• Savory: pretzels, tortilla chips, pita triangles, mixed nuts, and charcuterie
• Virtuous: chopped veggies, peeled and sliced boiled eggs, lean meats and cheeses—healthier snacks so the box doesn’t become an ode to junk food
• Textural: Goldfish! Pretzels! Crackers! Pita crisps! Anything that provides a variety of textures to nibble upon. These can also be good palate cleansers.

Just note that if you put anything perishable inside the snackle box, you may want to stow it with an ice pack. And toss it after two hours at room temp, per the USDA’s recommendations .

Now that you’ve (hopefully dramatically) read my Snackle Box Manifesto, let’s get to some examples, eh?

3 Easy Snackle Box Ideas to Try ASAP

1. The Classic, Healthy-Ish Snackle Box

candace davison

You don’t need a different snack for every box—a checkerboard pattern of two different snacks is a fun, surprise-and-delight moment here—but if you stick to the SSVC guardrails, it’s not so hard to pull off. This one’s great for plane rides and long road trips, when you want something other than fast food (or sad airport newsstand sandwiches) to pad your stomach.

Here’s what I used:

2. The Movie Night Snackle Box

candace davison

This box works as a great set of treats to enjoy on your sofa during a night in, or you could give it as a gift. For the latter, I’d recommend leaving the popcorn out of the box, and wrapping it with a pack of bagged popcorn (and maybe a Netflix or Disney+ gift card). You could also drizzle melted chocolate atop popcorn, let it harden, then break it up into bite-sized pieces to fill the center compartments, if you’re feeling extra fancy.

Here's what I used:

3. The Tailgate/Watch Party Snackle Box

candace davison

Whether you’re a sports fan or simply watching for the Taylor Swift fashion , great snacks are a must. These boxes are just the right size for couples to share, and they’re a great way to enjoy a variety of snacks without balancing drippy dips on a flimsy paper plate. (Pro tip: Save yourself some effort and stock up on store-bought dips.)

Here’s what I used:

Ready for More? Here Are 5 Other Snackle Box Ideas to Try

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