Seasonal Snacks... Worth It?

BY PORTIA LI '23 & MICHAEL HE '23

It’s hard to deny that the pumpkin spice latte has become an American fall staple. Each year, this famed coffee variation brings in millions of sales. Along with being a distinguished drink itself, the pumpkin spice latte comes with its lesser-known younger siblings, ranging from the famed Trader Joe’s fall snacks to pumpkin-flavored Oreos at your local CVS.Many have deemed these seasonal foods overrated, but these seasonal snacks are essential to society because of their role in creating the ambiance of each coming season.

As the summer comes to a close and school looms ahead, seasonal snacks keep people sane. Ceaseless rain all throughout fall adds a sense of despair to autumn, creating dullness impossible to conceal. Yet, fall still manages to produce an everlasting impression. How did this come to be?  The mastermind behind this change is nothing more than the food that comes with it. These snacks add new flavor—literally and figuratively—to the snack section and the season. For instance, fall brings a variety of pumpkin-flavored options such as PSLs, pumpkin bread, and pumpkin ravioli. Nobody should underestimate the power of these iconic fall foods since they compensate for the inherent dread associated with fall. Some may dismiss seasonal snacks as insignificant, but they transform society. 

The flavoring change in seasonal snacks encourages the discovery of enjoyable flavors previously unknown to our taste buds. Specially flavored seasonal snacks are a rarity and often in high demand upon their release. Trendy consumers are not only attracted to its outward novelty but to the allure of the flavor itself. Think about it this way: why try a bland, basic cheesecake when you can indulge in the fanciful new flavors of a pumpkin-spiced cheesecake? Each season carries its own new set of flavors, compelling our taste buds to constantly chance unexplored flavors. From peppermint-flavored Ghirardelli chocolates to the tangy flavor of gingerbread cookies, seasonal snacks provide the satisfaction of trying something new each season, keeping our taste buds on their feet!

    Ultimately, trends run our society, and at every moment, people try to keep up with them. You may have found yourself buying a new pair of shoes after hearing about it from your friends: the same goes for food. Everybody wants what they can’t have, and people make an extra effort to obtain those desires to look and feel special. In keeping up with each season’s snacks, a limited-edition drink that is only available for a three-month window validates our need for staying trendy. Unlike normal foods, seasonal snacks satisfy your hunger while giving you a self-confidence boost.
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From easing the dread of back-to-school months to providing delicious changes in flavor in common foods, seasonal snacks are the key to surviving through each season. As seasons come and go, so will seasonal snacks; however, their contribution to our world leaves an everlasting impression. Seasonal snacks create variation within common snack flavors, (pumpkin) spice up seasons, and offer a much-needed emotional validation as a reward to staying on-trend.