Puppy chow
Meaning: A sweet snack made with Chex cereal, melted chocolate, peanut butter, and powdered sugar — for humans, not dogs.
Despite the name, puppy chow is a beloved Midwestern snack made for people. Chex cereal is coated in melted chocolate and peanut butter, then tossed in powdered sugar. It's a staple at holiday parties, school events, and family gatherings throughout the Midwest. In other parts of the country it's called 'muddy buddies,' but Midwesterners insist on 'puppy chow.'
Examples
- Can you bring puppy chow to the Christmas party? Everyone loves yours. 圣诞派对能带点puppy chow来吗?大家都爱吃你做的。«¿Puedes traer puppy chow a la fiesta de Navidad? A todos les encanta el tuyo.»「クリスマスパーティーにパピーチャウ持ってきてくれない?みんな大好きだから。」크리스마스 파티에 퍼피 차우 좀 가져올 수 있어? 다들 네가 만든 걸 좋아하잖아.
- I made a double batch of puppy chow and it was gone in an hour. 我做了双倍量的puppy chow,一个小时就被吃光了。«Hice una cantidad doble de puppy chow y desapareció en una hora.»「パピーチャウを倍量作ったのに、1時間でなくなった。」퍼피 차우를 두 배로 만들었는데 한 시간 만에 다 없어졌어.
- Don't call it muddy buddies — around here it's puppy chow. 别叫它muddy buddies——在我们这儿它叫puppy chow。«No lo llames muddy buddies — por aquí se dice puppy chow.»「マディー・バディーズなんて呼ばないで——このあたりではパピーチャウだから。」머디 버디즈라고 부르지 마——여기서는 퍼피 차우야.
Pronunciation
Usage Guide
Context: parties, holidays, potlucks, snacking
Tone: nostalgic, excited
✓ Do Say
- Who brought the puppy chow?谁带的puppy chow?¿Quién trajo el puppy chow?パピーチャウ持ってきたの誰?퍼피 차우 누가 가져왔어?
- I could eat a whole bag of puppy chow.我能吃掉一整袋puppy chow。Podría comerme una bolsa entera de puppy chow.パピーチャウなら一袋まるごと食べられるよ。퍼피 차우 한 봉지 통째로 먹을 수 있어.
✗ Don't Say
- Don't be alarmed by the name — it's a human snack, not dog food; asking 'is that for dogs?' will get you laughed at别被名字吓到——这是人吃的零食,不是狗粮;问'这是给狗吃的吗?'会被笑话的No te alarmes por el nombre — es un snack para humanos, no comida para perros; preguntar '¿eso es para perros?' hará que se rían de ti名前に驚かないこと——犬のエサではなく人間のお菓子。「犬用なの?」と聞くと笑われる이름에 놀라지 마세요——개 사료가 아니라 사람이 먹는 스낵입니다. '그거 개 먹이 아니야?'라고 물으면 웃음거리가 됩니다
Origin & History
The name comes from the snack's resemblance to actual dog food (kibble coated in powder). The recipe became popular across the Midwest in the 1980s and 1990s, likely originating from Chex cereal box recipes. The Midwest held onto 'puppy chow' while the brand renamed it 'Muddy Buddies.'
Cultural Context
Era: 1980s
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
Regional notes: Midwest — especially Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, and the Dakotas
More From This Topic
More from Regional: Midwest
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