A friend of mine recently tried Graze Box, a new snack delivery service. She had great things to say, and she even had a code for a free box. Hey, I'll try anything once, and I particularly love subscription "surprise" boxes, so I eagerly signed up. The company is popular in the UK and is now branching into the United States. Lucky us!
How it works: Sign up for a Graze Box on their website. Each box is $6, including shipping, and contains 4 individually packaged healthy snacks. There are more than 90 varieties, most including some sort of dried fruit, nut, or seed, and all with a healthy benefit. Before you receive your first box, you can go through the selections and rate each of the snacks: trash, try, like, or love. They default to "try," and you can leave 'em there if you're open to trying any of the items. However, if you have allergies, are vegan, or simply dislike certain foods, you can through and "trash" items you never want to receive. For example, I don't like spicy food, so I eliminated anything that looked too zesty. I know, I know... I lead a bland life ;) Once you get your box, you can rate your snacks to determine what future boxes will contain. Thus, your snack selection is a guided surprise.
You can also choose between their regular Graze Box and their Lightbox. Snacks in the Lightbox are all under 150 calories each. In my ongoing efforts to be healthier, I selected the Lightbox. You still have a decent selection of items, though their granola bar-esque "flapjacks" are unavailable. You can switch between types of boxes at any times.
Boxes ship out every 2 weeks or 4 weeks, depending on your preference. You can cancel at any time.
So what did I get in my first Graze Box?
Olive and Rosemary Bruschetta: Tomato-flavored breadsticks, rosemary and garlic cashews, and kalamata olive croutons.
Black Pepper Pistachios: Roasted pistachios sprinkled with black pepper.
Tropical Daiquiri: Lime-infused raisins, dried green mango and pineapple.
Coco Paradise: Milk chocolate drops, dried cranberries, and dried coconut flakes.
Overall, a good selection - a nice mix of nuts, savory items, fruit, and sweets. I've got a major sweet tooth, so I went for Coco Paradise first. I found the coconut flakes a little tasteless, but the rest was great and very fresh. The "bruschetta" was equally yummy, especially the cashews, though the croutons were somewhat artificial-tasting. Tropical Daiquiri was interesting and flavorful; I've never had a lime-infused raisin before, and it was intriguingly sweet and sour. The black pepper pistachios were my favorite; the serving felt generous, and the seasoning added just enough kick. Each sealed packet contains perhaps 1/4 cup of food, depending upon which snack you get, and I found them very satisfying. I prefer my snacks around 100 calories, since I work at home and tend to graze during the day, so this service worked out really well for me.
Verdict: I love the variety, and the snacks really are tasty, healthy, and fresh; they're made with real ingredients and very little "filler." No weird ingredients! If you like unique trail mixes, you'll love Graze. I didn't feel limited by my Lightbox, either - I still enjoyed the snacks and even got some chocolate. Packaging was streamlined yet eco-friendly, and the little packets are well-sealed and convenient. I even took one to a movie theater in my purse and ate it in lieu of popcorn or overpriced candy! Not a bad swap.
I give Graze a 9 on the Awesome Meter. Lots of flexibility, tasty, filling, natural snacks, and a good price. I've already gotten my second box and can't wait for my third. I only wish you could get more than 4 snack pouches per delivery!
If you would like to sign up, head over to www.graze.com/us. You can use my friend code (click here) to get your first box free. If you choose to continue getting boxes, you'll also get your fifth box free. As mentioned earlier, you can cancel at any time. Once you sign up, you'll get a friend code, as well. For each friend that signs up, you will either get $1 off your next box, or you can choose to donate $1 to a school of farming in Uganda. Pretty cool!
In case you have trouble with the link above, my friend code is: JANS2WJ3P
Here's to a wonderful 2014!
