Like anyone else, we love good food. Over the years, SELF has covered the subject of nourishment and nutrition in depth, writing about everything from how to make delicious meals in a variety of circumstances to how the nature of what “healthy” eating means—and who it’s for—has undergone a fundamental (and necessary) shift.
Aside from the fact that we need food to survive, we know that food can be a joy, especially when it’s steeped in tradition or a means of celebration. Food can bring you comfort and delight on a more mundane level too: When you find that one ingredient or recipe that turns your plain grilled chicken into something shockingly flavorful or makes your packed office lunch that much easier to throw together or simply helps you nourish yourself when you barely have the energy to get out of bed, it can be downright life-changing.
That’s why we’re psyched to introduce our inaugural Pantry Awards, honoring the packaged and premade items that make our lives easier, more satisfying, and more delicious. For everything brands need to know to submit, keep reading below.
Submission Guidelines
We’re looking for items in the following categories:
Quick Snacks and Bites
- Protein bars
- Crackers
- Bagged popcorn
- Pretzels
- Chips/salty snacks
- Potato chips
- Tortilla chips
- Multigrain chips
- Pita chips
- Grain alternative chips (lentil, veggie)
- Seasoned nuts
- Nut butters
Condiments, Sauces, & Oils
- Olive oil
- Pesto
- Red sauce (marinara, pomodoro, arrabbiata, vodka)
- Cream sauce (alfredo, carbonara)
- Premade cooking sauces
- Curry
- Harissa
- Enchilada
- Gochujang paste
- Masala
- Tagine
- Chili (garlic, sweet, or hot)
- Teriyaki
- Salad dressing
- Vinaigrette
- Caesar
- Hot sauce
- Soy sauce
- BBQ sauce
- Salsa
Frozen Produce
- Frozen vegetables
- Frozen fruit
Pasta and Grains
- Spaghetti/angel hair
- Penne
- Gluten-free pasta alternatives
- Instant/quick rice
- Granola
- Hot and cold oatmeal
- Instant ramen
- Boxed mac & cheese
Boxed, canned, and tinned
- Pickles
- Olives
- Tinned/jarred/canned fish
- Tuna
- Sardines
- Beans
- Chickpeas
- Black beans
- Cannellini
- Canned tomatoes (crushed, diced, or whole)
- Canned soups
- Broth
- Chicken broth
- Vegetable broth
- Shelf-stable milk alternatives
- Almond milk
- Oat milk
- Soy milk
How to Submit
All products must be submitted via this online form. Please fill out one form per item—so if you’d like to submit one type of oatmeal and one type of granola, you should fill out two separate forms. If you are submitting multiple flavor varieties for a specific product, please only fill out one form and note the varieties you would like us to consider on that form.
Once we’ve reviewed all submissions, we may reach out and ask for samples. Samples must be available for testing in December 2022. Please note that items submitted for testing cannot be returned. If sending in samples will be a hardship for your brand, please email us; we’d be happy to figure out a solution that works!
Please send your submissions no later than Monday, November 28, 2022 at 6 p.m. ET.
Got any questions? Email Hannah Pasternak, associate director of special projects, at hannah_pasternak@condenast.com. We can’t wait to see what you submit.