’Tis the season for holiday celebrations! Unfortunately, that also means seasonal depression, unbearable snowstorms and final exams abound.
One foolproof solution to avoiding the winter scaries is holiday snacks. Fortunately for us, Evanston has countless grocery stores near campus offering tons of festive treats. But with bank accounts creeping dangerously close to zero as the quarter comes to an end, here’s a list of holiday-themed items from grocery stores that give you the most bang for your buck.
Drinks
The perfect way to warm yourself up while not emptying out your wallet is to make your own festive drinks. Personally, as an avid Starbucks holiday drink lover, my New Year’s resolution is to spend less money on drinks.
If you make your own coffee, the perfect way to spice up your drink is by adding the Gingerbread Oat Creamer from Trader Joe’s. One carton is $1.99, and it is dairy, lactose and gluten-free. With spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom and ginger, the creamer will add a warm holiday taste to any drink.
What’s Christmas without hot chocolate? World Market sells Hot Cocoa Mix in multiple flavors like milk chocolate, dark chocolate, peppermint bark and pistachio for $9.99 each. The 10 oz. cocoa mix is perfect to share with your friends for a cozy night in.
Eggnog is a staple Christmas drink and convenient to be served hot or cold. Jewel-Osco’s Half Gallon Lucerne Eggnog offers a great deal for $5.49. Despite its relatively simple ingredients — milk, eggs, sugar, spices and more — the flavorful drink is perfectly suited for the winter season.
Snacks
My ideal day during the holiday season is a movie night with friends, cuddled up in fluffy blankets and munching on holiday-themed snacks. Many grocery stores offer a variety of munchable snacks, but here are a few popular recommendations with the best price.
While eating a whole bag at once is not advised, Whole Foods Market’s Chocolate Candy Cane Sandwich Crèmes are a tempting holiday snack for $4.89. Their other items from 365 Everyday Value, like the Gingerbread Cookie with Cream Cheese Filling, are great to share with friends (or indulge by yourself).
Jewel-Osco’s Overjoyed Chocolate Peppermint Smores Clusters Mix consists of all the popular festive ingredients: marshmallows, graham cereal, chocolate and peppermint candy pieces. For $2.99 a bag, it is a four-in-one deal, with every bite uncovering a layer of festive flavors.
World Market offers fun snacks from all over the world. A common crowd pleaser is the limited edition peppermint flavor of the Japanese snack Pocky, which costs $7.98 for a set of two.
Trader Joe’s is one of the most popular grocery stores when it comes to holiday-themed snacks, offering a variety of seasonal items. One of their most popular snacks is Jingle Jangle, which is a tin full of milk and dark chocolate-coated pretzels for $9.99. The pretzels are all covered with different toppings, giving you a flavor surprise with every bite. Some pretzels are covered in broken Joe-Joe’s cookies, red candies, peanut butter cups, white chocolate drizzle, caramel popcorn and more.
As the finals season approaches, take a moment for yourself and take a trip to the grocery store. A few snacks to treat yourself never hurt, and with these recommendations, it’ll lift your holiday spirits!
Eat, drink and be merry!
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