Many of us know what it is like to get so lost in a book or writing project that we get interrupted only by a case of the munchies. Yet, when you want to keep reading or writing, not all snacks are the best choice for that moment.
One of the more obvious would have to be Cheetos, since even though they taste so good, the orange dust from them gets everywhere. I doubt anyone wants to open a favorite book or an old writing project and find orange fingerprints all over it. Never mind on their keyboard or touchscreen.
Although, if there is one worse for the same reason, it might be white cheddar popcorn. After all, neon orange dust is easier to spot and clean up vs. the white dust of this yummy treat. The exception might come for those using yellow legal pads.
It’s not only powdery foods, as my mother likes to illustrate with a tale from my late teens. I was working for a fast food restaurant when the fourth Harry Potter novel came out. My mom had let me borrow her copy. Long story short, I made the mistake of trying to sneak in some reading time while eating a burger, heavy with sauce, at the same time. Needless to say, the book ended up getting sauced. And instead of buying my own copy, I was stuck replacing my mom’s with my next paycheck.
Now, it’s not just burgers with sauce that I caution against, but any food with sauce. Whether it is french fries with ketchup or chips and dip. It just takes a missed drop or a breaking chip or fry and a page is marked for life.
The one most people forget, thanks to M&Ms, is chocolate. After all, their slogan is melts in your mouth not in your hand. Unfortunately, the same can not be said for the rest of chocolate, which does melt in your hand and rather quickly on a hot summer day. Along with ice cream. And there is no easy way to turn pages with hands all sticky like that without marking them up.
The last one people often forget is nuts, and this one I am most guilty of. Though, this one is not so bad with digital screens as it is with actual pages. Even then, it’s not the worst of them and only one to be careful of because of the salt and oil used in them.
Now, as much as I have enjoyed writing this, all this talk of snacks has given me the munchies. Though. I suppose the marijuana dispensary next door to me isn’t much help either. So, for now, I will leave you to a swirl of books and snacks as I go in search of some for me.
*Tips his hat walking out the door towards the corner store.*
Functionally Fictional 
Leave a Reply