Category: News

Miley Cyrus’ “Flowers” has quickly established itself as 2023’s most dominant hit so far: Its first two weeks of release were also the two biggest streaming weeks for a song in Spotify history, including one week that was the first time a song ever crossed 100 million plays in a tracking week. This has translated to Billboard chart success, too: Last week, “Flowers” became Cyrus’ first song to debut at No. 1 on the Hot 100 (and her second chart-topper overall). Now, it’s hanging onto the throne: On the new Hot 100 dated February 4, “Flowers” is No. 1 for a second straight/total week.

This success was thanks to both streaming and sales, as it was the top song of the week by both metrics.

This afternoon, Cyrus wrote in a celebratory Instagram post, “Celebrating ‘Flowers’ being #1 around the world again this week! I love that this record is connecting in such a positive way & it’s a pleasure to continue creating music for you. These milestones are only made possible by the listeners & my incredible fans. Endlessly thankful.”

Meanwhile, this is also a major week for 21-year-old singer-songwriter Jvke, who just landed his first top-10 hit with “Golden Hour” at No. 10. He achieved viral fame on TikTok in 2020 and has gone on to collaborate with Charlie Puth, Martin Garrix, and Galantis.

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Natasha Lyonne continues to bring us twisty goodness on the heels of Russian Doll‘s most recent mind-bending season on Netflix. For her new Peacock show, the Orange Is The New Black fan-favorite actress teamed up with Knives Out helmer Rian Johnson to reignite the fever for the Mystery Of The Week format. So far, viewers are digging how her Charlie character is on the road and unable to dodge her talent for spotting lies.

This is totally a Columbo-type series, even if that’s not the official description. How many weeks of Charlie’s adventures will we see, however?

The answer: Poker Face‘s first season contains 10 episodic portions of scrappiness with three episodes initially premiering on January 26 and weekly drops to follow. As of now, no second season has been greenlit, but Johnson has made it known that he’d love to cast Maya Rudolph and Jamie Lee Curtis if the show keeps happening. For this first season, however, you can see Natasha reunited with mainstays Chloë Sevigny and Dascha Polanco, and the cast of revolving characters includes Adrian Brody, Benjamin Bratt, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ellen Barkin, Tim Meadows, and Tim Blake Nelson.

Poker Face is currently streaming on Peacock.

It looks like Coldplay is gearing up for a new album — but don’t expect it right away.

In 2021, the band released an album called Music Of The Spheres, which featured collaborations like “My Universe” with BTS and “Let Somebody Go” by Selena Gomez. Now, it appears the story will continue in the future.

In a recent interview with City News, they revealed they have neared completion on the album universe’s second chapter.

“We’re finishing an album called Moon Music,” Coldplay lead vocalist Christ Martin said, “which is the second Music Of The Spheres volume, but that won’t come out for a little bit.”

While it may not hit streaming anytime soon, Martin says fans may be able to hear music from the album in the near future.

“We might start playing some songs at some point this year,” said Martin.

The band is currently set to bring their Music Of The Spheres to Canada in September, where they will be joined by singer/songwriter HER. Elsewhere in the interview, Martin revealed what it’s like to travel with HER.

“When she comes on stage, you just have to sort of take off your hat,” Martin said. “Because she’s just a different level of talent.”

You can watch the full interview above.

Coldplay is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

There are so many pictures of Ben Affleck going to Dunkin’. Or coming from Dunkin’. Or just, like, walking around with a cup of coffee from Dunkin’. Go Google it sometime, preferably after you read this entire post — which also contains Dunkin’-related pictures of Ben Affleck — all the way to the bottom. A reasonable argument can be made, just based on the amount of time he devotes to it, that going to Dunkin’ is his favorite thing in the world to do. That or making movies. Which gets me to the point I wanted to make.

Why hasn’t Ben Affleck been in a Dunkin’-related movie yet? It seems so obvious. He should have come to them with an idea by now. Or they should have come to him with an idea. This all seems so obvious that it’s a little upsetting it hasn’t happened yet once you put about 30 seconds of thought into it. Luckily, kind of, I have some ideas here. Not great ideas, sure, fine. But pretty okay ones. Places to start from. Things to get the bagel rolling, if you will… which you probably should not based on that awful phrasing alone. None of this will stop me.

What I’ve done here is fire off six ideas, separated into the three categories of films he is most often associated with: Tearjerker/awards-y movies, action/shoot-em-ups, and rom-coms. There are two important things to know here:

• You might notice a theme or two develop as you read through these
• I am an idiot

Here we go.

Tearjerker/Awards-y Movies

Cruller’s Dozen

Lifelong Boston resident Lance Cruller is tired of watching his old neighborhood go to hell. Drugs, crime, kids getting sucked into the kind of life that ends with jail or a young corpse, the whole thing. Most of his friends have given up and moved out to the suburbs. That’s not Lance’s style, though. Lance is a fighter. And he has an idea. He scrounges together enough money to open a Dunkin franchise right there on the toughest corner in the area. He staffs it with 12 local kids, trying to get them off the street, showing them the value of hard work, coming in to bake donuts every morning at 4am.

It’s a tough sell at first, and things get a little dicey when one of his favorite kids — little Mikey O’Hurley — quits and shows up two weeks later in a ski mask with intentions on walking out with the cash in the register, but Lance blasts everyone with a combination of tough love and grit and turns the location into a safe haven for anyone who needs one. As the movie ends, we see Lance and Mikey standing on a corner a few blocks away and we zoom out to reveal that Mikey has gotten back on track and is opening his own Dunkin franchise.

Fresh Start

Rebuilding your life from scratch is never easy, but that’s exactly what Richie “Cream” Sugarman is trying to do. Ten years earlier, the lifelong Boston resident found himself in the wrong place at the wrong time after a Red Sox game and ended up getting sent to prison when he was mistakenly identified by witnesses as the perpetrator of an assault he was trying to stop. Now he’s out, and his options are limited, and the whole world around him has changed. What the hell is TikTok anyway?

But he still has friends. One of them manages a Dunkin in the old neighborhood and he hooks Cream up with a job. It’s nothing glamorous. He’s in there every day before sunrise to get the donuts started and the coffee brewing. But it gives him purpose. He starts piecing things together. He signs up for business classes at night. He scrapes together some money with the dreams of opening his own franchise one day. But things are hard when you’re an ex-con, and the bank refuses to give him the loan he needs to get started. His dreams are dashed.

Until. The community comes together. The customers he greets every day start a fundraiser. His story spreads throughout Boston. The people who were actually responsible for the assault come forward and attempt to clear his name. Flash forward 18 months and Cream Sugarman is mopping up the Dunkin he runs and his attorney rushes in to tell him his record has been cleared. The Dropkick Murphys take us into the credits.

Action/Shoot-Em-Up Movies

White Powder

Drug smugglers from South America have gotten their hands on a submarine. Every week, they fill it with product and send it to the Bahamas, where corrupt officials of a budget cruise line have agreed to meet them for a handoff, with the drugs loaded into an airtight container attached to the bottom of the boat. Law enforcement officials know something is up, but they haven’t pieced together the whole plan. They need a man on the inside. They need eyes on the ground.

Enter FBI agent Bucky Glazer. The lifelong Boston resident is sent down to Paradise Island with two directives:

• Open and run a Dunkin location at the Atlantis Hotel on Paradise Island as a cover operation
• Poke around the docks and listen to the customers as they chat over coffee and breakfast to see if he can get to the bottom of it

And it all works. He figures out the whole plan. A bust is scheduled to go down at midnight on a Saturday night, right when the submarine is scheduled to slide up to the cruise ship. But there’s a problem. A storm is coming through the Florida port where Bucky’s team is supposed to leave from. They won’t make it. The FBI wants to reschedule but Bucky Glazer knows this is their best shot. He’s going to go it alone. And now an even bigger storm is rolling through the Bahamas. Things are windy and wild and dangerous. Just the way Bucky likes them.

Time to put on a pot of coffee.

Coolatta

Legendary hitman and lifelong Boston resident Axel Coolatta is out of the game. He just wants a peaceful retirement with his new wife. A normal life, whatever that is. They develop a routine that starts with coffee and blueberry muffins every Sunday morning at their local Dunkin. It’s nice.

But then tragedy strikes. His wife gets sick and passes away. He keeps up the Sunday tradition as a way to remember her. It’s tough but he’s getting by. One Sunday morning, he gets into an argument with some street toughs at a gas station. They want to buy his car, he’s not selling, they feel disrespected. They follow him and see he goes into the Dunkin and seems to know everyone. He looks happy. They plot their revenge and come back that night and firebomb the place with Molotov cocktails.

That’s it. Now Axel is mad. They took away the one thing he had left to remember his wife. He’s going back to his old ways to hunt them down and make them pay, which becomes more complicated when he discovers the head street tough is related to the head of the Boston crime family he used to work f-…

Hmm. It appears this one is just John Wick with a Dunkin in place of the dog. Still. Think about it.

Rom-coms

Frosted

Single father Jake Eclair, a lifelong Boston resident, has a routine: Every morning, after dropping his daughter off at school, he stops to grab a coffee at the Dunkin next door. Not a long stop. Sometimes he just grabs it to go on the way to work. But every day he’s there, he runs into another parent from the school, a single mother named Sarah. They start chatting. They bond over the struggles of raising a child alone. They hit it off a little bit.

One icy winter day, the owner of the franchise — a sweet old man who has been there since 1987 — tells them he’s planning to retire. He was going to turn it over to his son, but the son just announced plans to move to Florida. And the location is in a tough part of town, so the national headquarters is thinking about shutting it down. Jake and Sarah are devastated. This is their spot. Something needs to happen.

So they sit there that morning sipping their coffees (cream for him, black for her) and they come up with a crazy idea: What if… what if they take over the franchise? Sure, they don’t know anything about running a fast-food restaurant. Jake can’t even make coffee right, which is explained via Act I montage and the reason he started stopping there in the first place. But hey, you only live once, right? And it’s an excuse to spend some time together. It might work. It could work. They’ll just need to get up early and roll up their sleeves and make it happen.

Jelly in Paris

What we have here:

• An audacious plan by the new CEO of Dunkin to open a franchise in Paris
• The CEO calls in Jelly Fillman, a lifelong Boston resident whose specialty is opening new stores in difficult locations, flying in to get them off the ground then returning home until his next assignment, which is a life he loves but has prevented him from settling down
• The locals resist everything about it, this American coming in with his mass-produced pastries in Paris, of all places, with the charge being led by Sophie, the woman who runs the little bakery across the street
• Etc. etc. etc. they kiss at the Eiffel Tower

You know how this one goes.

Karol G is teaming up with Romeo Santos for a new song. Last night (January 29), Santos shared a preview of their upcoming track “X Si Volvemos.”

Karol G actually first previewed “X Si Volvemos” in September of last year. She released teased the song through TikTok on Día De Amor y Amistad, Colombia’s versions of Valentine’s Day. In the sultry track, she talks about wanting to get back together with an ex for one more night of passion. “I won’t delete your contact and I’ll be waiting in case we get back together,” Karol G sings in Spanish.

Last night, Santos stoked rumors of a collaboration when he posted a preview of “X Si Volvemos.” In a video on Instagram, he is shown singing along to the song in a car. Karol G and Santos wrote lyrics from the song to each other in the post’s comments.

Karol G confirmed the collaboration with Santos in an Instagram Story. She re-posted Santos’ video and added that their collaboration will be released on February 2. This will mark the the first time that Karol G teams up with Santos, the King of Bachata.

“X Si Volvemos” will be be a part of Karol G’s upcoming album Mañana Será Bonito. Last year, she scored global hits with “Provenza” and “Gatúbela” featuring Maldy.

Anthony Edwards is enjoying another strong season in Minnesota, as the third-year guard has raised his productivity and efficiency once again, averaging 24.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game on 46.4/37.7/77.4 shooting splits as he’s been the catalyst for the Timberwolves with Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert in and out of the lineup.

The 21-year-old Edwards is finding more consistency on the court, and off of it he’s settling into a routine and embracing the lifestyle of a professional athlete. For Edwards, one of the hardest things has been changing his eating habits, as his love of Popeyes and McDonald’s is well known, but he’s tried to kick the fast food habit during the season. While fried foods have been cut back, one thing still has a hold on young Ant from his childhood that he can’t let go of just yet: Chester’s Hot Fries.

In a recent video with GQ in which he discussed his 10 essentials — including a rather adorable interaction with is dog, Ant Jr. — he revealed he eats 21 bags of Hot Fries a week (3 a day), admitting even that might be a conservative estimate.

I’ll say it, that’s an upsetting amount of Hot Fries to consume. I was in high school when the Hot Cheeto craze first hit and I remember the hold it had on us, so I get it, but I will say the clock is ticking on how long Ant’s stomach can hold up to this kind of Hot Fries consumption before he reaches a crossroads. At 21, you can still do this, but at some point the Hot Fries will win. We just don’t want Ant to run into a Paul Pierce moment on behalf of Chester’s.

Natasha Lyonne is best known for her TV roles on Russian Doll, Orange is the New Black, and Peacock’s delightful Poker Face, but she has a long film career, too. 1999 was a particularly successful year for the actress, who appeared in the cult comedies Detroit Rock City and But I’m a Cheerleader, as well as box office hit American Pie.

Lyonne originally turned down a part in the sex comedy, however, due to the “sex” part.

“I think that I just sort of saw it on paper and I didn’t identify with this sort of, like, very white, very normal high school experience,” she told host DR3W Barrymore on Monday’s episode of The Drew Barrymore Show. “Kind of like, ‘Oh! We’re gonna lose our virginity!’ I was like, ‘Honey, it already happened.’” Lyonne, who would return in sequels American Pie 2 and American Reunion, added, “So, yeah, I just don’t think I understood the movie. But then they gave me money and then I began to understand.”

Natasha Lyonne is the best. She is also “daddy.”

I’m thrilled that “mommy” Drew is broadcasting this content into millions of doctor waiting rooms.

You can check out Lyonne’s interview on The Drew Barrymore Show above. And watch Poker Face!

NCT 127 sure has come a long way, whether you’re talking about their achievements over the years or the distance of where they’re taking their concerts around the globe. Considered to be NCT‘s most popular subunit, the nine-member boy group are still at their peak as they approach their seven-year anniversary this summer.

In the midst of spreading the connection around the globe for their Neo City – The Link tour, NCT 127 has made their way to Latin America for the first time ever with back-to-back sold-out shows.

“It’s our first time here in Brazil,” one of NCT’s resident English speakers, Mark, told UPROXX. “And it’s just – I think our fans did a really good job on giving us a really good first impression of Brazil, their energy is amazing, the show – the atmosphere is just off the roof. It’s something that will forever be remembered.”

The group began the extension of their tour in the Americas earlier this month with stops in Chicago, Dallas, and Atlanta before heading south. From there, the SM Entertainment act held a three-night show in São Paulo, Brazil, followed by stops in Santiago, Chile and Bogota, Colombia before concluding in Mexico City, Mexico this past weekend (January 28).

In a time where the concept of repackaged albums don’t come as often as they used to, NCT 127 (or SM Entertainment acts, rather) are one of the few artists keeping the tradition alive. Successfully releasing their Billboard-charting fourth studio album last year, 2 Baddies, the group’s long-awaited reissued album arrives with three new songs. Titled Ay-Yo, the repackaged collection includes the lead single of the same name, and two songs “DJ” and “Skyscraper.”

Just an hour before the group began their last night in Brazil, members Taeil, Johnny, Taeyong, Yuta, Doyoung, Jaehyun, Jungwoo, and Mark chatted with UPROXX to talk about their tour, their upcoming seven year anniversary and Ay-Yo.

You guys pretty much kicked off the year doing a tour, doing multiple activities and then you have this repackaged album. How do you guys manage to take care of your energy, especially your health?

Johnny: We take a lot of vitamins. And I feel like we just try to get as much sleep as we can. And we rest on the plane, and we rest on the ride here.

Taeyong: And we always give energy [to] each other, you know?

Favorite way to relieve stress?

Yuta: Exercise and drink alcohol! Cheers! (hand gestures to Cheers!)

Cheers!

Mark: Listen to Spotify. When we’re off, we try to be as off as we can ‘cause our own moments are very, very strong. So we have to balance that out. So, for me I tend to just stay in the hotel room and watch Netflix and have a lot of sleep to recharge.

We’ve seen your first impressions of “Sticker.” But what were your first impressions when you received the song? And this is for everyone to answer.

Johnny: I feel like there was a strong seduction, so like right after the track starts the first line that comes out really I felt would catch the audience’s attention. And so I thought the intro was the best that there could be, in my opinion.

Mark: And for me, and I think this way even now, even after listening to it after for more than like – just like listening to it a lot. I think the bridge is what stood out the most to me, when I first heard it and it still stands out the most to me even now. So, I think the bridge is the “killing part” of the whole song. That was my first impression.

Taeyong: When we were listening to the song, I thought “Ay-Yo” was a really strong word of expression. My favorite is the intro with its really strong sounds and the incoming instruments and beats. The signature sound is really strong so personally I like that part.

Then what was the process like recording these three extra songs? Were they done during “2 Baddies” or after?

Johnny: It’s different a lot of the time. This time around ,I think we started recording after “2 Baddies” so after it came out while we were doing promotions. We started recording for the next repackaged, getting ready for it right away.

Mark: I remember now. We recorded “Skyscraper” and “DJ” way earlier than “Ay-Yo” itself because we had to take a lot of our time choosing our title track which ended up being “2 Baddies.” It was the reason why our repackage did come out a little later than our fans expected it to come out. So we were careful and more–extra prudent with the choosing of the title track. And that turned out to be “Ay-Yo”.

Any behind-the-scenes stories that you guys would like to share when it came to filming the music video or just the whole process?

Jungwoo: So the choreographer came directly from the company to the offices and worked with us in person. Shoutout to Rie Hata.

Taeyong: It’s been a while since we’ve worked with Rie Hata and this time around she did say that each of the members’ own special individuality was carefully taken into consideration while preparing this choreography and I really noticed that it was really evident while we were working together.

We see that a bit with the concept teasers so far. It’s been so casual and relaxed whereas your past releases tend to be grandiose with props and outfits so how was it like to be more laid back and chill with this concept?

Mark: I think that’s one of the strong points we wanted to deliver for this project. Like you said, our fans are more familiar with us being very strong and very aggressive and we still have that strength in it, but also having that laid back, nonchalant vibe in front of all that energy, you know what I mean? And so that also links with the choreography. Rie Hata wanted to enunciate like she wanted to emphasize on that part as well. So the choreography itself is not just going full-out strong, we have that calmness.

How would you actually describe these two additional tracks “DJ” and “Skyscraper”?

Mark: “Skyscraper”’s a good one. But they’re very much opposites in a way. Having two contradicting sounds, like that duality almost – it’s like a charm that our fans – I feel that our fans really like. And on top of that “Ay-Yo” is one that you know is the title track. So I feel that it’s a good trio.

Jungwoo: My favorite is “Ay-Yo”.

Doyoung: I love “DJ”. I hope to show another vibe with this song.

Johnny: I’m really excited to perform “DJ.” I can say it is very funky and fun so I can’t wait to show our fans that.

You know how some artists would spoil the song whether it’s on stage or on social media? Have you guys done it on this tour?

Mark: We did. We did a lot actually.

Jaehyun: Especially Taeyong’s spoiler!

Taeyong: I’m spoilerman!

Jaehyun: He’s good at spoiling on stage the choreography for DJ. We kinda do that dance for “Paradise.” There’s a moment where we can freestyle and that’s where our spoiler comes out a lot.

NCT 127 is turning 7 this year. What are your wishes? What more do you guys want to do? Has it even hit you guys?

Mark: I feel like it’s been longer! I mean, like, 7 years? It feels like it’s been a while or it’s been kind of short, it changes every single day — (for me, depending on my mood). But like the fact that I’ve been with these guys for 7+ years and being able to know our fans and have communication and be connected with our fans for 7 plus years, that’s like you know it’s a blessing as well. So in all aspects, you know I’m very grateful that we got to do it the way we did it for 7 years. And now we’re just looking forward to what we have left to have our fans enjoy for the remaining time that we have with them. So, it’s an ongoing journey and we’re ready to take whatever we can.

Jaehyun: I don’t realize it much. But once we see the videos that we’ve done way before, like if I see those moments now, I realize that it’s been so long. For instance, I saw a video of us dancing from the first tour, from the first American tour recently. And that made me feel like it’s been a long time.

Jungwoo: It’s been a long time…

Johnny: It doesn’t feel like seven. It feels shorter, like it’s only been like a few years since we’ve been together.

One of your first US performances was at KCON 2017 in NY. You guys went from performing at Newark’s Prudential Center as part of KCON to now selling out shows at that same arena years later.

Mark: I mean, the way you just put it, it really felt — it just made it feel more grand. But I just want to really celebrate that achievement, and want to dedicate it to our fans because going on tour after coming out with an album that we do like — it’s all for them. And the strength that they give us, that’s what makes all that happen, you know? I’m just really grateful for our fans and for really making our dreams come true.

Because it has been seven years, I’m really curious, was there a favorite concept or era you’ve had so far?

Johnny: For me it would be “Highway to Heaven”. Like when we went – when we were in LA filming that music video in the blazing sun. We talk about that experience even now, that’s how memorable it was and how much we enjoyed just wearing white t-shirts, in the desert, and having the wind. I mean the music video looked amazing and that’s one of the reasons “Highway to Heaven” was my favorite concept and music video.

Then what would you say is the secret to NCT 127?

Johnny: Well, we do say this a lot, but NCT 127 has a lot of variety in what we do, like you said how we have so many concepts, we can really do any kind of concept in my opinion that’s because our members are so diverse and how everybody comes from different backgrounds, different cultures and that all adds up to making NCT 127 so colorful.

Jaehyun: And also, including me, we all never stop being limitless and concept wise or hardworking.

Johnny: The secret is in the songs! It’s all in there!

Mark: I wanted to say that too! I feel like from the start of our debut, we did a concept that was way different than what SM has ever done before. And I feel like that starts off from our music and our members individually as well and as a group. The members and the music is what really makes us who we are.

Taeyong: And then the fans! NCTizens! They make us!

Sam Smith isn’t here to make friends. This is evident on the latest single from their fourth studio album, Gloria, appropriately-titled, “I’m Not Here To Make Friends.”

In the song’s accompanying visual, which was released in tandem with the album last Friday (January 27), Smith is seen at a party dressed in several spicy outfits, including black lingerie and skin-toned undergarments which leave little to the imagination. While the video was well-received by fans, several trolls commented on the video with body-shaming comments, as well as fem-shaming comments, as Smith is seen embracing the feminine aspects of their queer, non-binary identity.

Over the course of the past weekend, several fans took to social media to share messages of support for Smith.

“You are entitled to like or not like Sam Smith music,” said one fan on Twitter, “but what y’all won’t do is fat shame Sam and stop calling them ‘he’ like it makes you look bad not them!”

YouTuber Owen Jones, also showed his support, and cited a double standard that queer artist face when sharing their art.

“Sex has always been a running theme in modern pop music, and music videos often flaunt it,” he said. “But Sam Smith has made the criminal offence of being a) queer and b) not skinny, and in an increasingly anti-LGBTQ culture, that can’t be tolerated.”

A fan on TikTok outright said, “There is no issue. Literally, it’s just a gorgeous human being creating their music, their visuals, and living their best life. And you should be enjoying it.”

Smith themself has not directly responded to any trolls, but they appear to be unfazed: Yesterday (January 29), they shared a frame from the video on Twitter, which they cheekily captioned, “Never too much.”

Gloria is out now via Capitol/EMI. Stream it here.

The legendary philosopher Lao Tzu said, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” This statement applies to a lot of pursuits, but I used it often when I was first looking to overhaul the way that I ate. Bad snacking habits are some of the hardest to break. The reasons that we gravitate towards unhealthy products could be a matter of availability, price, the way we were raised, bad information, or relentless marketing.

In my case, it was all of the above.

It wasn’t until adulthood that I learned that snacks are actually defined as the food we take in-between regular meals, and not just sweet treats to eat whenever it pleases us. That’s when I decided to approach my snacks as mini-meals to take in real nutrition, instead of simply slamming sugar for easy energy. I saw, and more importantly felt, dramatic changes almost immediately. Those extra few pounds I was looking to drop fell away, and I finally had the stamina to keep going through the day.

Below is a list of swaps you can make to level up your snacking game, as I did. Everything on the level-up list has been road-tested personally by me and is a regular staple in my kitchen. Enjoy!

CHIPS

THE LOW TIER: Pringles, Buffalo Ranch

Anyone who was a kid in the past few decades is familiar with the Pringles jingle — “Once you pop, you just cast stop.” But after a few of them, you know that you should. The taste left in your mouth after a few handfuls is one of additives and factory flavors. That’s not to say you can never enjoy them again, but try to lean into cleaner choices.

If you are looking for a healthier pick without sacrificing the taste, try this option below.

THE LEVEL UP: Terra Chips

How They Change The Game:

Terra chips have become my go-to when I’m looking for something to snack on while watching a little Netflix. Not only are they better for you than the usual fare, but they are actually tastier in my opinion. I have had friends discover the beauty of tarry and sweet potato while noshing on these chips. And if these can convince you to bring more root vegetables into your diet, that’s a huge bonus.

VEGGIE CHIPS

THE LOW TIER: Sensible Portions Garden Veggie Straws

Like many others, when I first saw veggie chips and straws come onto the market I was excited to have a healthy option in the chip aisle. A tasty way to get your servings of vegetables in while watching television seems too good to be true, and guest what? It was. One deeper look into the label of these delicious treats reveals that they are far too high in sodium and have little to no nutritional value.

If you are looking for a healthier pick, try raw vegetables like celery with dip or roasted chickpeas like the ones below, which have half the calories, more fiber, and 6 times the protein.

THE LEVEL UP: The Good Bean Crunchy Chickpeas

How They Change The Game:

These little guys are absolutely delicious and easy to carry around for a snack on the go. The fact that most American diets don’t include chickpeas to any large extent makes them feel exotic and indulgent. On top of that, they offer as much fiber as two cups of broccoli and as much folate as three cups of spinach. Not to mention an extra punch of protein, around 6 grams per serving.

POPCORN

THE LOW TIER: Pop-Secret Homestyle

Popcorn is one of those perfectly good snacks that have been ruined by salt and saturated fat. For some reason, everyone has had it in their mind that every serving of popcorn has to taste like movie theater popcorn, which is usually coated in additives. Strip away all those so-called “natural flavors” and you’ll find yourself much better off.

If you are looking for a healthier pick try getting kernels to make homemade popcorn or the organic option down below with less sodium, more fiber, and more iron.

THE LEVEL UP: LesserEvil Himalayan Pink Salt Organic Popcorn

How They Change The Game:

There are many people who have eaten popcorn for their entire lives but have never tasted the real food. This bag is great to enjoy while watching a movie, without leaving your hands greasy with saturated fats. This popcorn is light and fluffy, just the way you want it, sprinkled with nothing more than a little Himalayan salt.

CRACKERS

THE LOW TIER: Cheez-It Original

This childhood favorite is hard to put in the wrong, but there’s a reason that you can eat almost a whole box and STILL not feel full. There is almost no fiber and very little nutritional benefit from this snack, which is dangerous when combined with its addictive nature.

If you are looking for a healthier pick that doesn’t sacrifice the taste, try Parmcrisps or the gluten-free option below.

THE LEVEL UP: Ancient Provisions Cheddar Cheezish Gluten-Free Crackers

How They Change The Game:

Looking for a way to get that Cheez-It level of flavor without the gluten? Here it is. The flour is made out of green bananas, which helps support the microbiome in your gut. So feel free to convince yourself you are doing a favor for your stomach, as well as your tastebuds.

JERKY

THE LOW TIER: Slim Jim Original Stick

Slim Jim is another snack that grew in popularity thanks to popular catchphrases and nonstop commercials. But unless you are truly desperate for a source of protein, you are better off waiting for a proper meal. Despite offering a bit of protein and iron, the sodium intake is not worth those few benefits.

If you are looking for a healthier pick that doesn’t sacrifice the taste, try a more robust option like the one below.

THE LEVEL UP: Archer Grass-Fed Beef Jerky, Original

How They Change The Game:

I first received a package of this jerky in a promotional package from National Geographic and Jimmy Chin, when his new series Edge of the Unknown came out.

I thought, “If it’s good enough for Jimmy, it’s good enough for me.”

A few days later I was eating it on top of a mountain after a trail run, and no question it was the best packaged jerky I’d ever tasted. I’d tried out my fair share before, but the lightly-spiced beef is a notch above the rest. Grab a few bags for your next outdoor excursion.

COOKIES

THE LOW TIER: Oreos

Oreos are one of those classic cookies that can be found almost everywhere, usually tantalizing you from the shelves next to the checkout aisle. But they are completely packed with sugar and high-fructose corn syrup. The lack of any real nutrients means you will put away a sleeve easily and still be craving more.

If you are looking for a healthier pick that doesn’t sacrifice the taste, try the healthier option below packed with micronutrients.

THE LEVEL UP: Simple Mills Sweet Thins Cookies

How They Change The Game:

I am sure that there are people wondering if there is a knock-off Oreo that looks the same with cleaner ingredients. But the harsh reality is Oreos are just too much of a good thing. You don’t need chocolate cookies and frosting for a good time. These thin cookies are made with nutrient-dense flours, flax, and enhanced with a little coconut sugar.

If you need a counterpoint, try it with a little almond or dairy milk to cut the sweetness.

PROTEIN DRINKS

THE LOW TIER; Naked Tropical Protein

Despite being involved in some lawsuits about misrepresenting how natural they were in marketing, Naked juices are still everywhere. It’s hard not to be lured in by their images of fresh fruit and vegetables on the packaging, but turning that label around shows off the 50+ grams of sugar that make it sweeter than many sodas.

On top of that, this flavor promises to give you a respectable amount of protein but… at what cost? If you are looking for a healthier pick that doesn’t sacrifice the taste, try a more robust option like the one below.

THE LEVEL UP: Orgain Protein

How They Change The Game:

I searched for a long time for a protein shake that I could take on a hike or after an outdoor workout, that didn’t leave a sugary aftertaste in my mouth. They have a non-dairy product in addition to a dairy one, that is just as great for the vegans out there. I started drinking these when I was eating vegan, and have continued as my diet evolved. I would have one or two a day, along with my regular meals, and was able to put on a good amount of muscle thanks to them.

The founding story of Orgain is a great one, which only adds to their appeal.

YOGURT

THE LOW TIER: Dannon Light & Fit Yogurt Vanilla Non-Fat

One of the lessons I have learned on this journey of finding the healthier option is to always be suspicious if the box is peppered with too many “healthy” sounding words. That’s the case with this version from Dannon, which is filled with sweeteners, cornstarch, and artificial flavors.

If you are looking for a healthier pick that doesn’t sacrifice the taste, try the greek yogurt below topped with blueberries and local honey.

THE LEVEL UP: Fage, Plain 5% Total Greek Yogurt

How They Change The Game:

I eat yogurt pretty much every day. Not only is it a quick and easy snack, but it is also a great way to get a solid serving of protein. This one from Fage is both rich and creamy, made with live active cultures. Because of all of the protein in there, the calorie count is higher than other yogurts, which makes it more of a meal. Having a stock of these in the fridge is a good call for anyone with a stacked schedule.

TRAIL MIX

THE LOW TIER: Kirkland Trail Mix

I understand why there are a lot of people who believe that chocolate makes trail mix better, but I just can’t get behind it. Every meal we have throughout the day shouldn’t need sugar-coating to make it taste good to us. For some, this means deprogramming the habits that were developed when we were children, and the first step is taking candy out of trail mix. This bag from Kirkland isn’t the only culprit, but along the sheer size of it is just asking for overindulgence.

If you are looking for a healthier pick that doesn’t sacrifice the taste, try making your own at home or pick up the still-delicious option below.

THE LEVEL UP: Back To Nature Harvest Blend

How They Change The Game:

There is no more elite fuel for a long day of activity than a good batch of trail mix. There is no added sugar or salt in this product, but more protein than other options. The chocolate is dropped for more grounded treats like almonds, raisins, sunflower seeds, pecans, and dried apricots. Doesn’t take more than a handful of this to give you the spark you need to get the next task done.

PROTEIN BARS

THE LOW TIER: PowerBar Performance Energy Bar, Peanut Butter

There are so many protein bars on the market, and when you are looking for a quick bite it’s hard to read a billion labels before buying one. I have tried virtually all of them, and for the most part, many of them have about as much natural nutrition in them as in the wrappers. Sure if you are looking for an easy sugar boost they are fine, but you are better off eating a piece of fruit and then getting your protein another way.

If you are looking for a healthier pick that doesn’t sacrifice the taste, I personally like this cleaner option below.

THE LEVEL UP: Go Macro Banana & Almond Bar

How They Change The Game:

Clean protein delivered in a tasty bar of almond butter and banana? There are so many protein bars on the market, but Go Macro’s selection stands out amongst the rest. The flavor combinations (banana and almond butter being my favorite) put the standard chocolate or vanilla offerings to shame, and the ingredients are also far superior.