SNACK TIME: June Morsels

A superior way to carry your toddler + actually chic unbreakable plates + BECOMING A BESTSELLER!!

Jun 27, 2025

Welcome to Snack Time! A monthly series that takes a break from the regularly scheduled munch meal planning to share some of the best things I’ve consumed this past month (edible and otherwise).

Let me start with the most exciting thing that happened to me this month: you guys made me an official Substack bestseller!

I’m only two months into this game, so needless to say, I didn’t expect this to happen so fast (though of course I hoped it would!). There has been a lot of internal talk around the Substack water cooler about the perils of launching with a paid tier (just search “Glennon Doyle”). But it was important for me to do so for a few reasons.

First, unlike most people, I wasn’t starting a list from scratch. I’ve had a free newsletter for my main recipe site Feed Me Phoebe for 13 years (!!). It goes out every Sunday (and still does!). I decided to import all my people to Munch Menus, knowing that because this newsletter focuses on kid-related things, there would be a high attrition rate.

The initial purge happened as expected. I lost a few thousand on day one. Then another over the course of the first month. But then a miraculous thing happened: the number of new subscribers I gained stopped the bleeding. And by the end of month two, I’ve gained more than I’ve lost. Which is thrilling.

If you’re a new subscriber, I am so so grateful you’re here and helping me shape this community. I assumed a lot of the people who upgraded to paid would be part of that original list who I’ve been feeding for free for a decade and wanted to support my work. But I’ve been amazed by how many of you newbies have decided to upgrade from the get go because of the value you get from these meal plans.

As someone who has been blogging the traditional way since 2008 (yes, back when blogspot was a thing), I’ve at times felt like an old hag trying to acclimate to this new platform. The writing itself, however, has lit me up in a way I haven’t experienced in a while.

In many ways, writing this newsletter reminds me of my early days of food blogging, and it’s put into perspective how much the current gamification of content online has taken a toll on my joy.

When you publish recipes on the internet as your day job, you rely on advertising income. Advertising income relies on traffic. And traffic is largely at the mercy of a mercurial and ever-changing Google algorithm. At the moment, the algo does not reward long-form food writing, nor does it cater towards originality in recipe development. So much of my editorial planning these days begins with keyword searches, not any sort of creative inspiration. It’s the sad reality of how I keep my virtual lights on.

That’s not to say that my recipes over there aren’t great (they are!). It’s the process of making them that I’ve struggled with.

All of this is to say: I love it here. I wish I could quit my day job and stop writing recipes for an algorithm and just write recipes for you. Every person who upgrades to paid gets me closer to that goal. So thank you.

To celebrate my initiation into the Substack “big-league,” I’m doing a special paid subscriber giveaway this month: A CUSTOM MUNCH MENU or RECIPE specifically designed for your kid(s)! I’ll tailor this to your needs with a 30-minute zoom or FT that can double as a therapy session.

To enter, upgrade to a paid subscription by noon ET on July 13th. I’ll choose one winner from the paid subscriber pool. If you’re already a paid subscriber, you’re automatically entered! The winner will be randomly selected and notified by email. This one is open to everyone, no matter where you live!

Congrats to Blair and Tanah who won last month’s hero sauce giveaway!

And just so you know: you don’t have to wait to see if you’re a winner of the giveaway. I’m always inspired by reader requests. Much of this month was dedicated to freezer breakfasts thanks to a comment I got from Kelsey.

Next week I’ll be sharing a special summer Munch Menu plan just for breakfast, which will include a PDF with 5 back-pocket recipes for paid subscribers. Stay tuned for that and so much more!

WHAT YOU MISSED

ME TIME

(Everything I’m watching and reading)

Nine Perfect Strangers (TV): My friend Serena Wolf coined the term “medium trashy” for the books and shows she loves. I would throw both this book and the TV show it spawned into that category (a designation we both use with love!). The first season had an electric cast and some nuanced moments that explored grief and trauma. This season picks up on this thread. It’s not quite as propulsive as the first installation, but I find it equally enjoyable, if for no other reason than Murray Bartlett steals every scene, Dolly de Leon is brilliant and so low-key funny, and Nicole Kidman’s wig serves an especially cunty bob.

Sinners (Film): I heard raves about this vampire epic, whose premise is reminiscent of From Dusk Til Dawn, but set in the deep south during Prohibition. It was thoroughly enjoyable, though I wish I’d seen it in theaters. Scary and genre bending movies always have more laughs when enjoyed as a collective, and that was the only thing missing for me. Still, watch it!

Food Person (Novel): Speaking of bloggers from the dinosaur age…Adam Roberts and I connected many years ago (like…15?) back when I ran a blog called Big Girls Small Kitchen. I’ve loved following his trajectory over the years, and have found myself without consciously realizing it, following in his footsteps (a few miles behind). So as someone who has recently joined Substack and is secretly working on a food-related novel of her own, I was thrilled to see him publish Food Person this spring! It’s extremely charming and readable, especially if you’re a cookbook nerd and enjoy some foodie inside baseball.

Healthier Together Deck (Game): My friend and fellow Substacker Liz Moody came out with a conversation deck a few years ago that has the most brilliant questions. You can play it as a game with friends, or just use it to spark interesting conversations with your spouse. When Charlie and I did a solo trip to the Azores in April (on the eve of launching Munch Menus!), we took it along and used it every night at dinner. The whole trip felt like an important parental team building activity, and this deck was a really joyful way to connect deeper without it feeling like homework.

MUNCHKIN ESSENTIALS OF THE MONTH

Kinderpack: Once my (then) 1.5 year old was too big for a casual carrier, we splurged and bought one of those mega $300+ hiking backpacks. We’ve used it a few times, but ultimately found it too cumbersome. At the time, I wish we’d known what we know now. Which is that Kinderpack is the absolute best!! It’s a really simple carrier – no bells and whistles, but they have a model created specifically for toddlers. I much prefer going on hikes with this, and it’s easy to fold up and take with you on a trip. We will be packing it for our upcoming adventures in Austria and Denmark!

Actually chic patio-friendly reusable plates and glasses: I recently went on a solo writing retreat at my friend’s house in CT (cc: the novel I just said I was working on). She had a whole cabinet of “kids” plates and cups that were chic, fun and unbreakable. They’d be perfect for anyone who hosts often in an outdoor space, or just wants a chic option that isn’t made of silicone for their munch. I’m going to be ordering a stack!

Gruns Cubs (i.e. Medicine Bears): Gruns has been making the internet rounds, much in the same way that AG1 did a few years ago. My friend swears by them for keeping her healthy over the last year, so we decided to give them a try as a family. Verdict still out for me as an adult, but Munch is LOVING the “cubs” version. Either way, they are delicious. Which is more than I can say for AG1 (three words: coconut flavored semen.)

WHAT I’M SNACKING ON

Gluten-Free Zucchini Fritters: This was an old tried and true recipe I created for my site ten years ago. But it was also one I thought the algo might appreciate if I gave new life to it - the best of both worlds! I absolutely LOVE zucchini fritters and it was a treat to remake these. Can’t recommend them enough and they’re definitely munch-approved. Freeze a batch so you can have them in your lunchbox all summer.

Potato Salad with Green Goddess Dressing: The uber talented Alexis DeBoschnek posted a shrimp salad with green goddess dressing recipe that I wanted to eat immediately. Because I was going to a potluck, I decided to pilfer her dressing and toss it with some boiled baby potatoes and call it a potato salad. It was a HUGE hit.

Masienda Quesadillas: I’m a longtime fan of everything Masienda does. If you’re not familiar, they make heirloom masa and various other tortilla products. Everything is thoughtfully sourced and GMO-free. They just introduced freezer quesadillas at Whole Foods and I cannot wait to try them and add to an upcoming Munch Menu!

MONTHLY ASK

Last month I asked for recommendations for our upcoming trip to Copenhagen. Thank you to everyone who wrote me!! This week, I’m asking for strategies and products to help us survive our night flight! Parents: tell me your long-haul air travel secrets. Before our only previous overnight journey, I bought this and it was a total waste of money.

I’m planning a mom advice round-up on this, so I’ll make sure to share any gems!