The Most Popular Snack In The U.S. Is Not What You'd Expect

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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).

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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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