How To Make TikTok's Viral 'Snackle Box' Trend

The year 2020 saw a massive charcuterie trend fueled by "charcuterie influencers" that posted enticing photos of their adult lunchables before devouring them. Unlike some meals that are brown like 1970s photographs, charcuterie boards are photogenic with a range of colors, shapes, textures, and themes, making them perfect for amassing likes and followers on social media. Since the 15th century, these bougie meat and cheese boards, called antipasto in Italian-American homes, are still having their moment (per Cork).

Beyond the meat and cheese boards of 2020, foodies have branched out to see what else works on a board. According to EatingWell, Aldi's Charcuterie Board of Directors is devoted to tips and inspiration for building boards featuring the retailer's products; hot trends for 2022 include breakfast boards, boozy hot cocoa boards, and French fry boards. Within each theme, there are as many possibilities as your imagination allows. For instance, a breakfast board can be built around pancakes, waffles, bagels, avocado toast, or anything you enjoy to start your day, surrounded by toppings such as syrup, whipped cream, chocolate chips, honey, berries, and bacon.

Whether the board is built as a starter for your meal or as a casual main course, charcuterie boards can contain dozens of components. According to That Cheese Plate, a good assemblage should have a variety of cheeses, meats, produce, crackers, dips, and garnishes making it challenging to transport, until now. TikTok's viral snackle box is the trend you'll be kicking yourself for not inventing sooner.

Reminiscent of traditional Japanese bento boxes, Bustle describes snackle boxes as to-go charcuterie boards filled with cheese, cured meats, crackers, and fruit in place of lures, bait, and line in a fishing tackle box (a new one, please). In November 2019, mom Ayla Jalyn, known as Aylajalyn on TikTok, posted a life hack using a single-level tackle box found at Walmart for $7. Jalyn filled the tackle box with snacks to feed her hungry kids, who always wanted something to nibble on.

The concept is perfect for kids (and adults) who don't like their food to touch or to prevent crackers from getting soggy when combining them with fruit. Jalyn admits she didn't invent the concept of snackle box, having seen it years ago on Pinterest. She does take credit for the name, however. Viewers loved the concept commenting, "You are changing the world, lol. Love this!"

Once Millennials caught on to the trend, snackle boxes got bigger and fancier. Credited with creating the first snackle box for adults, TikToker Skylar Butler, known as Skybut, has seen millions of views for her video showing off a four-level tackle box from Amazon filled with bite-sized goodies, including alcoholic nips, for a bachelorette party on the lake. With almost 2,000 comments, viewers like UghWhy say, "I would like a hotel room, with a king-sized bed, the AC set to max and this. Leave me alone there for two days."

According to Bustle, there have been over six million views of videos with the hashtag #SnackleBox on TikTok. Customizable, a snackle box is simple to make. Start with a new, clean container with dividers like a tackle box, although it could be any food-safe container with a lid and compartments. Adjust or remove partitions to fit different-sized items to maximize space. Next, use a variety of proteins like meat and nuts — Food & Wine suggests 2 to 5 ounces of meat per person, depending on what else you are serving.

Add cheese to the box, offering a combination of soft and hard textures. Pre-slice any firm cheeses to make building crackers easier. Fill in additional compartments with seasonal fruit and vegetables, all bite-sized, along with accents like olives, dips, bread, crackers, or any item that compliments the main components of your snackle box. Finally, complete the container with sweet treats like candy, mini cookies, and brownies. Be mindful of the temperature when choosing desserts, avoiding chocolate that will melt in warm weather.

Bustle recommends placing the snackle box in a cooler over ice to keep the snacks fresh. Also, ensure your tackle box is made of FDA-approved plastic to prevent chemicals from leaching into the food (via Harvard Health Publishing). And most importantly, be creative and have fun with the snackle box.