Hey Waste-nauts, it’s been a busy week so I thought we could talk about snacks. Waste Not, Eat Lots!

Volume VIII: Peanut Butter Lollipop

Snacks are important for today’s on-the-go individual. Sometimes you just need that quick bite to keep you going through the day. To that end, the best snacks are those that are versatile, that can satisfy any craving at any time. There are two problems with modern snack foods, however: (1) They are sort of superfluous; when grocery shopping on a budget, snacks are the first things to get cut from the shopping list. (2) They are all so delicious that if you do buy them, there’s a very good chance that you finish them within 24 hours and are left with a snackless house almost immediately anyway. Either way, here’s a nice solution that’s stood the test of time from my childhood and is still a staple in my diet.

Step 1: Grab a jar of peanut butter. The natural stuff (100% peanuts, with the oil that you have to stir) is so very far superior to the synthetic crap (corn syrup + Elmer’s glue) that I wouldn’t even try this recipe with the lesser varieties. Seeing as how there’s just one ingredient to this dish, it’s pretty important.

Step 2: Get a spoon and take a big scoop from the jar. Then eat it.

That’s all, folks! I’m pretty sure peanut butter is a good source of a few things (nutrients?) that we all need, so that’s a nice bonus to the central fact that it tastes totally awesome. For me, it’s somehow capable of satisfying both my sweet tooth and the other twenty-seven which crave the savory. I eat peanut butter lollipops for breakfast, after school, for dessert, to combat boredom, etc. This dish is less about creative ingredient combinations and more about being creative with your meal times. I’d like to know when eating one of these isn’t a good idea.

Speaking of good ideas, if you’re having yourself a quick dessert and nobody’s looking, you can make things interesting by implementing Step 3: Squirt chocolate sauce into your mouth after you take the bite.