Smucker’s Uncrustables:  Jam and peanut butter between two layers of soft white bread. Gone is the distasteful part of the bread that so many people hate in typical PB&J sandwiches. 

Few treats are more delectable or addictive than Uncrustables. 

My own addiction started in preschool. After quickly finishing my first sandwich, I craved for seconds, then thirds. With the joy I felt after each bite, I was unable to stop myself from wanting more. 

My battle with this addiction has been a rollercoaster: Uncrustables used to define my life, and my health reflected that. On a typical day, I would munch on up to five of them. With nine grams of sugar per sandwich, my daily sugar intake would often exceed 50 grams, almost twice the recommended amount for children. 

As a multi-sport athlete, I knew I had to get off Uncrustables in some way. During the covid lockdown, I turned to the baby carrots, and was finally able to pry myself away from the Uncrustables in Costco’s frozen aisle.

Each bite of the carrot provided a satisfying crunch, keeping my mind off the jelly sandwich. Through baby carrots, I was not only able to stop myself from eating Uncrustables, but developed healthier eating habits. 

Carrots are now my favorite food, and whenever I crave for an Uncrustable, I unzip another back of carrots and begin munching away. I still miss the delicious pocket filled with gooey jam and creamy peanut butter, and occasionally I find myself munching on one or two.