Let’s face it. The munchies are one of the many joys of cannabis culture. For some reason when you have an epic buzz food just tastes better. But it can’t be just any food. For example, if you’re thoroughly wasted on Green Crush you’re not going to be searching through the pantry for a can of Veg-All to heat up. Nope. You’re going to want something that will do your buzz justice. In this post, the team at the 710 Pipes headshop in Denver take a close look at those foods that will satisfy a world-class case of the munchies.
Why Does Smoking Cause the Munchies?
Cannabis also heightens your sense of smell and taste, which is part of the reason pizza hits different when you’re high. According to findings from the Journal of Neuroendocrinology, THC boosts activity in the brain’s olfactory bulb, making aromas more intense and food more irresistible. So yeah – your stoned self isn’t imagining things. That slice of pepperoni really is next-level delicious.
The science behind the munchies isn’t just stoner folklore – there’s legit brain chemistry at play. When you smoke cannabis, compounds like THC interact with receptors in your brain’s endocannabinoid system. One major target? The hypothalamus, which plays a key role in controlling hunger. A 2015 study published in Nature showed that THC can actually flip a brain circuit that usually signals fullness and instead tell your brain you’re starving – even if you just ate. This effect was linked specifically to neurons in the mediobasal hypothalamus suddenly releasing hunger-stimulating chemicals like ghrelin, the same hormone that makes your stomach growl before lunch.
“A new study found that cannabis activated brain neurons, specifically in the mediobasal hypothalamus, leading to increased hunger and more frequent eating in mice.”
–The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry
Best Foods to Satisfy the Munchies
Before we get into discussing some more obscure or esoteric choices let’s begin with a simple fact: if you’ve got the munchies that just won’t quit there is nothing like pizza with your favorite toppings. Any dedicated stoner worthy of the title has the number of their favorite pizza joint on their smartphone ready to go. For a large percentage of cannabis lovers, pizza has been and always will be the ultimate munchie food. And we can’t argue with them.
With that out of the way let’s look at a bunch of other outstanding munchie foods.
Ramen
Sometimes referred to by the brand name Cup O’ Noodles ramen is a dependable munchie food that tastes surprisingly good when you’ve got an epic buzz going on. It’s cheap, easy to fix (just don’t get impatient and start chowing before those noodles are nice and plump), and is available in a number of different flavors. One of the great things about ramen is that you can augment it with all kinds of interesting stuff like shredded cheese, vegetables or an egg.
Microwave Popcorn
When you’re too stoned to deal with anything that involves a stovetop or more than one dish, microwave popcorn is a game-changer. All you have to do is toss the bag in the microwave, hit a button, and a couple of minutes later you’ve got a steamy bag of buttery, salty goodness that hits every craving note at once. It’s crunchy, warm, and practically foolproof – even for the thoroughly baked. Just don’t forget to listen for the popping slowdown or you might end up with a bag of smoke and regret.
Ice Cream
Not all sweets need to be stored in the freezer. If you’ve got a hankering for something sweet during your next buzz but don’t want to be bothered with something so cold it will make the back of your eyes hurt, reach for the chocolate chip cookies, Oreos, M&Ms, Mounds bars or Snickers. These very tasty treats will put out the munchie fire in a most satisfying way and they won’t take a bite out of your weed budget. If there’s a downside to this type of snack… wait a minute… a downside to Oreos and M&Ms? I don’t think so. Forget it. Let’s move on.
Non-Frozen Sweets
Not all sweets need to be stored in the freezer. If you’ve got a hankering for something sweet during your next buzz but don’t want to be bothered with something so cold it will make the back of your eyes hurt, reach for the chocolate chip cookies, Oreos, M&Ms, Mounds bars or Snickers. These very tasty treats will put out the munchie fire in a most satisfying way and they won’t take a bite out of your weed budget. If there’s a downside to this type of snack… wait a minute… a downside to Oreos and M&Ms? I don’t think so. Forget it. Let’s move on.
But if chocolate & peanut butter Twinkies aren’t your cup of tea (or they just aren’t available in your local supermarket) consider a frosty but very tasty treat like Ben & Jerry’s ice cream. B&J were pioneers in the ice cream market bringing homemade flavors and hand-crafted quality to the scene nearly 50 years ago. And while they’re no longer personally involved in the brand (it was acquired by Unilever in the year 2000), the quality is still evident in every spoonful of Chunky Monkey, Half-Baked and Cherry Garcia.
Chips, Pretzels & Other Bagged Snacks
Let’s say you just spent some time with your heady glass and you’re in the mood for food. In such cases you may not have the patience to wait for ramen to plump up, Twinkies may not be your thing and you don’t feel like paying through the nose for Ben & Jerry’s ice cream. If you’re like most stoners that means reaching for the bag. Just pick up a bag of potato chips, Doritos, Cheetos or Fritos Corn Chips and rip into them. You’ll be joining countless millions who have put their munchies to rest in a similar fashion.
Bagged snacks have a lot going for them. They’re convenient, cheap and virtually dripping with oil and salt which makes them your taste bud’s best friend. If you feel guilty about eating a whole family-size bag of chips by yourself, or you’re worried that you’re going to break out as a result, then pick up the single-serving bags instead. Just make sure you don’t pick up 5 or 10.
More Munchie Foods for the Truly Toasted
There are always going to be those times when you are overwhelmed by the munchies but you’re so baked you can’t bring yourself to order pizza, make ramen or go out and buy Ben & Jerry’s ice cream. To prepare for such instances we would advise you to stock up on some of the following unorthodox munchie foods.
Pop Tarts
Pop Tarts are one of those snacks that check all the munchie boxes. They’re cheap, they don’t need to be prepared and they’re tasty as hell. Those of us who run the 710 Pipes online smoke shop strongly recommend that you pick up a half dozen (or more) boxes of Pop Tarts of various flavors just to have around in case the need strikes. They’re available in more than 2-dozen flavors including Chocolate Chip, Brown Sugar Cinnamon, S’mores, Hot Fudge Sundae, Raspberry, Cookie Dough and so many more.
Explore the history of Kellogg’s Pop Tarts
Pizza Rolls
Pizza rolls are basically the gold standard for lazy stoner snacking. They’re like bite-sized pizza pockets of molten cheese and sauce, and they take almost zero thought to make. Toss a handful on a plate, nuke ’em, and boom – instant munchie fuel. They’re crispy on the outside, gooey on the inside, and easy to inhale by the dozen while you melt into your couch with some Adult Swim reruns playing in the background.
Lunchables
This next suggestion may strike you as odd right off the bat but if you stick with it we’re sure you’ll see it’s a home run: Lunchables. Lunchables? Yup, Lunchables. You might remember them from when you were in grammar school. But while they are marketed aggressively toward kids they actually make pretty good munchie food. And there’s a wide variety of Lunchables available including chicken, hot dog, pizza, tacos, hamburger, nachos, pancakes and more. Just remove the top and dig in.
Pudding Cups
Pudding cups are the ultimate low-effort dessert when you’re too baked to bake. Just peel back the foil top, grab a spoon, and dig into that rich, creamy chocolate (or vanilla, or butterscotch) bliss. There’s no prep, no cleanup, and they somehow taste ten times better when you’re buzzed. Stock a few in the fridge and you’ll thank your high self later.
Too Much THC? Learn How to Feel Less High
If the munchies and other effects are hitting a little too hard, don’t panic. Check out our smoks shop’s guide with tips on how to reduce the effects of cannabis.Order Pipes, Bongs and More in Our Online Head Shop
At the 710 Pipes pipe shop, we pride ourselves on offering countless state-of-the-art ways for the cannabis connoisseur to achieve both an epic buzz and an epic case of the munchies that they’ll be able to satiate using any of the above-listed foods and snacks. If you aren’t able to make it down to our brick-and-mortar location you will find everything available through our online head shop.