I’m currently training for an Ironman. I run a company. I’m an active dad. And I am always hungry.
When you’re burning through fuel at this rate, you have to get strategic with what you eat and drink. Not in a “weigh every gram” way, but in a “this has to actually work for my life” way. It has to taste good enough that I reach for it, clean enough that it doesn’t slow me down, and convenient enough that it fits between training sessions, meetings, and chasing my kids around.
After a lot of trial and error, these are the drinks and snacks that made the cut. They’re what I keep stocked in my fridge, my gym bag, and my pantry. Some are functional. Some are pure enjoyment. All of them have earned their place through actual use and repeat purchases.
Drinks
AGZ by AG1
I covered this in the Favorites Roundup, but it deserves a second mention here.
I used to take magnesium L-threonate, glycine, L-theanine, and ashwagandha separately every night. It was a whole production. AGZ consolidated all of that into a single powder that tastes like hot chocolate. One drink replaced a pile of pills, and the sleep quality has been consistently better since I made the switch.
Simple. Effective. Done.
dóttir Icelandic Marine Collagen Sparkling Drink
Collagen in a can that actually tastes good.
Most collagen supplements are either pills you forget to take or powders that taste like you’re drinking the ocean. dóttir figured out how to put marine collagen into a sparkling, caffeine-free drink you actually reach for. The mandarin orange flavor is clean and light, not artificial. If you’re already supplementing collagen, this is a more convenient way to do it. If you’re not, it’s a good reason to start.
LMNT Sparkling
Hydration without the sugar.
I’ve been a fan of LMNT for a while, and the sparkling version just makes it easier to grab one instead of anything else. Zero sugar, a solid electrolyte profile, and the flavors don’t taste like they’re trying too hard. More salt, not less. That’s their whole philosophy, and the science backs it up. If you’re training hard or just not drinking enough water, this is a painless upgrade.
üm Functional Sparkling Water
Functional mushrooms in sparkling water. No mess. No powder. No weird taste.
Clean ingredients, small brand, well made. Each can packs 2,000mg of functional mushrooms (Lion’s Mane, Cordyceps, Chaga, and Reishi) plus 350mg of electrolytes. Zero sugar, zero caffeine. I keep a variety of these in the fridge for when I want something beyond plain water but don’t want caffeine or sugar.
TRIP Melon Cucumber Mindful Blend
The best non-alcoholic option I’ve found.
If you’re looking for something to drink in the evening that isn’t water or alcohol, this is it. TRIP blends magnesium, Lion’s Mane, ashwagandha, and L-theanine into a lightly sparkling drink that genuinely helps you wind down. The melon cucumber flavor is crisp and refreshing with a subtle mint finish.
No added sugar, no junk. It works as a standalone or as a cocktail mixer if you’re into that.
Aplós Ume Spritz
This is what a cocktail should feel like, minus the alcohol.
Aplós makes non-alcoholic spirits that are built around function, not just flavor. The Ume Spritz blends Japanese ume plum with oroblanco grapefruit, white tea, and sea buckthorn, plus it’s infused with Lion’s Mane and magnesium for a calming effect. It’s tart, floral, sophisticated, and less than 30 calories. Pour it over ice and you’ve got something that feels like a real drink without the hangover.
Snacks
Create Creatine Gummies (Sour Peach)
Creatine that tastes like peach rings from childhood.
If you’ve been paying attention to the research, you already know creatine is one of the most well-studied supplements on the market, and the benefits go well beyond the gym. These gummies boast effects like better energy, cognitive function, recovery, and more.
Create figured out how to put 1.5g of Creapure creatine monohydrate into a gummy that you’d actually look forward to taking. No powder, no shaker bottle, no chalky aftertaste. These are the only NSF for Sport certified creatine gummies out there, which matters if you care about what’s actually in your supplements. I take two to three of these daily and don’t miss a day.
Raaka Functional Dark Chocolate
Dark chocolate with actual function built in.
Raaka is a bean-to-bar chocolate maker out of Brooklyn that uses unroasted cacao, which gives it a naturally fruity, less bitter flavor profile. Their functional line takes it a step further by infusing each bar with seven adaptogenic herbs and 530mg of functional mushrooms. The “Day Break” bar has cordyceps, chaga, yerba mate, and rhodiola for energy and focus. The “Mellow Moon” bar has Lion’s Mane, reishi, ashwagandha, and lavender for winding down.
Organic, vegan, gluten-free, and it tastes like a premium chocolate bar. Not a supplement pretending to be one.
Hormbles Chormbles
Candy bars, reinvented.
This bar comes from the co-founder of RXBAR, which tells you everything you need to know about the ethos behind this brand. Each bar has 10g of protein, 0g of sugar, and about 140 calories. Sweetened with allulose, monk fruit, and stevia.
These taste like actual candy, not like a protein bar wearing a candy costume. If you want something sweet after a meal that doesn’t wreck your macros, this is it.
Rotten Candy
Sour gummy worms that don’t flood you with sugar.
Most gummies pack 23g of sugar per serving. Rotten keeps it under 9g by using natural sweeteners like allulose and monk fruit instead of the usual refined junk. They also added 4g of prebiotic fiber and 2g of protein per serving, which is a nice touch. The texture is spot on, the sour flavor actually has punch, and you don’t get that sugar crash afterward. PhD scientists helped formulate these, which sounds like overkill for candy, but the results speak for themselves.
Lesser Evil Pink Himalayan Salt Popcorn
Simple popcorn done right.
This is one of those “keep it in the pantry at all times” staples. Organic, minimal ingredients, light on the salt, and genuinely satisfying. No artificial flavors, no seed oils, no weird aftertaste. Just popcorn and Himalayan pink salt. The snack packs are portioned well so you don’t end up absent-mindedly eating an entire bag.
Drizzilicious Mini Rice Cakes
Crunchy, light, and just sweet enough.
These are mini rice cakes drizzled with chocolate or other flavors. They hit the sweet-and-crunchy craving without being heavy. Low calorie, gluten-free, and easy to grab a handful when you need something between meals. Not trying to be a health food, just a smarter snack that tastes good.
Max Sweets Marshmallows
Sugar-free marshmallows that actually work.
Whether it’s hot chocolate (or your nightly AGZ), s’mores, or just straight out of the bag, these are the best sugar-free marshmallows I’ve found. Keto-friendly, soft, and they don’t have that artificial sweetener taste that ruins most sugar-free alternatives. A small thing, but a good one.
Kalahari Biltong (Original and Garlic)
Better than jerky. Not close.
Biltong is air-dried beef made in the South African tradition. No heat, no dehydration. Just six ingredients: beef, vinegar, salt, black pepper, chili powder, and coriander.
The result is something between jerky, slow-roasted beef, and fine Italian prosciutto. Zero sugar, zero carbs, and 32g of protein per serving. The Original has a clean, well-seasoned flavor. The Garlic has a stronger kick without being overpowering. I keep both on hand. If you’re looking for a high-protein, no-nonsense snack that travels well, this is it.
Meal Prep
Oats Overnight (Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, Cookies & Cream, Mocha Chip)
Breakfast that takes 10 seconds to prep the night before.
I’m not someone who wants to think about breakfast. I want it handled. These handle it.
Pour the oats into the cup, add your liquid, shake, put it in the fridge, and grab it in the morning.
That’s it.
Each serving has 20+ grams of protein, whole grain oats, and no artificial flavors. The Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough tastes significantly better than it has any right to. Cookies & Cream is a close second. Mocha Chip is great if you want a mild coffee kick in the morning.
Final Thought
Not everything on this list is optimized for performance. Some of it is just good food that fits into a life where you’re trying to be intentional about what you put into your body without turning every meal into a science experiment.
If even one of these becomes a regular in your rotation, this list did its job.
— Michael Mogill
