To Drew Afualo, orange is a personality trait. Her podcast, The Comment Section, has orange all over it. The podcast cover art has orange all over it, and in the podcast set, it is the background color on the wall. And her favorite color of Popsicle? You guessed it — orange. So it only makes sense that Afualo partnered with the sweet treat brand to celebrate the flavor getting its own solo pack.
“Everyone has their own favorite popsicle flavor,” she tells Spoon University in an interview. “When you have the little mixed box, of course, you’re like, “God, I wish this was all orange. Especially when you’re young, and I love a good popsicle.”
We sat down with the social media star to chat about her favorite late night takeout order, hottest food take, and her Popsicle partnership.
SU: What is your guilty pleasure snack that you gatekeep from anyone else because they just wouldn’t get it?
Drew Afualo: I’m pretty forthcoming with snacks that I love. But I will say one that I’ve been loving lately, you know veggie straws? They have those but a flaming hot version of them. And because I’m 100 years old, I can’t have red dye 40 anymore. I used to be a Hot Cheetos and Takis girl but I literally can’t anymore. Then I found flaming hot Veggie Straws. They sound insane because the actual chip itself is not that great. But when you eat the first couple, you’re like “This sucks” and then you keep eating and you’re like, “This is the most delicious chip I’ve ever had in my life.” And I’ve literally converted many people, it’s something people would walk by.
SU: What is your most unhinged late night takeout order?
DA: Honestly, lately, it’s been Dog Haus. It’s all hot dogs, and they make gourmet versions of a hot dog. I just love a plain dog with mustard, ketchup, relish, white onions. I’ve been eating hot dogs late at night quite frequently lately. I don’t know what that says about me, but that’s kind of where I’m at in life.
SU: What is a food trend that you think we’ve all taken way too far?
DA: Protein. Just eat regular meat or eggs or whatever. There’s many ways to get protein. Stop putting it in my drinks. I can’t do it, enough. There’s too much. When I see a soda and they’re like seven grams of protein, get it away from me. I don’t need that. Please stop.
SU: What are three ingredients you can’t simply live without?
DA: Butter, for sure. Seasoning in general, and hot sauce. I put it in everything, if I can, I will.
SU: If you could only have one tool in your kitchen, what would you choose?
DA: Honestly, my husband, cause he cooks.
SU: Kiss, Marry, Kill: Taco Bell, In-N-Out, Panera.
DA: I’m killing Panera, I do love it, but between those three, I’ll kill Panera. I’ll kiss Taco Bell and I’ll marry In-N-Out.
SU: What Is a meal you could eat forever and ever and ever without ever getting tired of it?
DA: Spam, rice and eggs. It is like my dream breakfast: spam, rice, eggs, ketchup, and sriracha. I’m going to have that every day, no matter how much, how often, it’s delicious to me every time.
SU: What would you consider maybe the most underrated type of food or cuisine that you think’s not getting enough love?
DA: I love broccoli, which is one of my favorite vegetables. Broccoli in any way, shape, or form with cheese, without cheese, plain, raw, roasted, steamed. I would say broccoli gets a lot of hate, but I love her and I will fight for her just like an orange Popsicle.
SU: What is your hottest food related take that you’ll stand by even if it ruffles some feathers?
DA: That’s easy. I think peanut butter and jelly is the worst sandwich combination of all time. I genuinely hate that meal. I love a good sandwich, and if you’re going to pick a sandwich, you pick one with nightmare textures and no meat. That propaganda is not working on me.