What gets you through the mid-morning hump or the afternoon slump? The snack tin might be the answer to that small but persistent pang of hunger without reaching for a packaged protein bar or boring yourself with another wrinkly apple.
Because of my job in the city, there always has to be something bouncing around in my handbag, something to rely on when I’m on the move and feeling snacky: it might be two kiwis shedding their hairy skins or some rogue chocolate brazil nuts.
Then, I came across these very pretty and aesthetic videos of a woman building her own little snack tins, to be enjoyed as an afternoon pick-me-up wherever she was. The palm-sized tins were different each time, and across just a few inches, filled with abundance: sometimes these tins held a few walnuts, a chunky medjool date, some coconut shavings, and a square of dark chocolate. There would be slices of dried mango, a wedge of cheese, a hard-boiled egg, and a scatter of pistachios. The goal seemed to be to fit as much variety (of color, texture, and taste) into the limited expanse—with an extra helping of whimsy. Think of it like your own curated, portable charcuterie board—salty, sweet, or both if you so wish.
But there’s something more to what’s rooting around in that metallic box: it’s an invitation to take a few minutes to be present with whatever treat you’ve carefully constructed for yourself. So says our snack tin queen, Anastasia—known on Instagram and TikTok as TheNakedLight. She’s even written an entire guide to building your own snack tin. With a background in banking, Anastasia says she’s spent well over a decade trying to find the balance in mental and physical well-being. She trained as a yoga and martial arts teacher, as well as in holistic coaching.
Photo: Instagram (@thenakedlight_)
“My philosophy is not really about snacks, and snacks are not really about food,” reflects Anastasia. “It’s about the moment. In my Snack Tin Guide, I share simple practices that use one small bite, like a nut or a date, as a way to slow down, notice, and reconnect with yourself.”
Anastasia remembers the first snack tin that started off “the ritual,” and the first that went viral in early March 2025, which she titled “the art of snacking.” It consisted of some dried fruit, dates, chocolate, a chunk of a cookie, and some nuts. “The tin becomes a tool,” she goes on. “Instead of eating something on autopilot, you turn it into a small ritual, and over time that awareness starts to shape your everyday choices too.”
