WELCOME to Slurrp's Snackademic Showdown, where the most iconic fictional teachers from pop culture aren’t just teaching life lessons — they’re also indulging in some memorable munchies! Whether it’s Albus Dumbledore sweetening up Hogwarts with his love of lemon sherbets or Mr Keating seizing a fruit (and the day), these educators have a lot more on their plates than just wisdom. We’ve scoured classrooms, boardrooms, and even a galaxy far, far away to bring you a curriculum vitae of tasty treats that match the personalities of these beloved teacher figures. Some are canon, others are snacks we’re just grading on a curved craving scale, but all of them reflect the unique quirks of their characters.
From Miss Frizzle’s trail mix of scientific surprises to Miss Honey’s likely penchant for a slice of sweet homemade cake, these characters are serving up snacks that are as iconic as their chalkboard quotes. So grab your favourite snack, sit back, and prepare to school yourself on the eating habits of the greatest minds (and appetites) from our screens!
1. Albus Dumbledore (Harry Potter)
Favourite Snack: Lemon Sherbet
Canon or Inferred: Canon
Details: Dumbledore is known for his fondness for sweets, especially lemon sherbet, which he offers to Harry when they first meet. It’s a quirky and charming habit that mirrors his light-hearted nature despite his immense power.
Trivia: Dumbledore's fondness for lemon sherbet is part of his whimsical nature, and it’s hinted that he uses it as a password to the Headmaster’s office at one point (The Goblet of Fire). Lemon sherbet is also a very British sweet, making it a charming and culturally apt choice for the venerable wizard.
2. Minerva McGonagall (Harry Potter)
Favourite Snack: Ginger Newts (possibly)
Canon or Inferred: Semi-canon (fanon and implied)
Details: While McGonagall's snack preferences aren't explicitly mentioned, in The Sorcerer’s Stone, she offers Harry "ginger newts". Fans often associate her with this snack, reflecting her no-nonsense but still warm character.
3. John Keating (Dead Poets Society)
Favourite Snack: Apples (the symbolic teacher’s gift)
Canon or Inferred: Inferred
Details: There’s no canon snack associated with John Keating, but an apple feels fitting for him. Apples are traditional gifts for teachers, and Keating’s passion for poetry and teaching aligns with the classic simplicity of an apple.
4. Walter White (Breaking Bad)
Favourite Snack: Cheetos (or Funyuns)
Canon or Inferred: Inferred
Details: During his transformation from high school teacher to meth kingpin, Walter White isn't shown with a specific snack, but fans speculate he might have indulged in junk food like Cheetos during his more stressed-out moments, given his evolving chaotic lifestyle.
5. Edna Krabappel (The Simpsons)
Favourite Snack: Cigarettes & Coffee
Canon or Inferred: Canon
Details: Edna is often seen with a cigarette in hand, and while it’s not a snack, her go-to "treat" appears to be coffee and cigarettes—a fitting choice for her jaded, world-weary demeanour as Springfield Elementary’s fourth-grade teacher.
Trivia: Edna’s love for coffee and cigarettes is shown in multiple episodes. Her cynical personality and often apathetic approach to teaching are underscored by her ever-present mug of coffee. Interestingly, her character was based on several real-life teachers the show’s creators knew, which adds to her authenticity.
6. Miss Honey (Matilda)
Favourite Snack: Homemade Cake (possibly chocolate)
Canon or Inferred: Inferred
Details: Given her gentle and nurturing personality, Miss Honey might enjoy simple, comforting foods. Perhaps a homemade chocolate cake, which contrasts with the harshness of Miss Trunchbull’s attitude towards sweets (like the infamous chocolate cake scene).
Trivia: In Matilda, Miss Honey’s nurturing nature is often contrasted with the cruelty of Miss Trunchbull, especially in the infamous chocolate cake scene. Though Miss Honey isn't shown eating sweets, her character’s kindness and warmth seem like they’d extend to enjoying a treat like homemade cake—perhaps even something Matilda herself might bake.
7. Professor Charles Xavier (X-Men)
Favourite Snack: Tea & Biscuits
Canon or Inferred: Inferred
Details: As a refined and intellectual figure, Professor X could easily be imagined sipping tea and enjoying biscuits while pondering the future of mutantkind. His calm, collected personality fits this snack perfectly.
8. Mr Feeny (Boy Meets World)
Favourite Snack: Pretzels
Canon or Inferred: Inferred
Details: Mr Feeny is the wise, no-nonsense neighbour and teacher who often delivers life lessons. He strikes me as a "pretzel guy"—a traditional snack with a bit of crunch, just like his tough-love approach to teaching.
9. Severus Snape (Harry Potter)
Favourite Snack: Licorice Wands
Canon or Inferred: Inferred
Details: Snape doesn’t exactly seem like the snacking type, but if he did indulge, something like licorice—dark, bitter, and with an acquired taste—would suit his brooding personality. Licorice wands are a fitting choice in the wizarding world!
Trivia: Snape’s potential preference for licorice wands reflects his dark, somewhat bitter personality. In the Wizarding World, licorice wands are a popular treat, but interestingly, licorice itself has a divisive taste—some love it, some hate it. This mirrors the way people feel about Snape’s character throughout the series.
10. Yoda (Star Wars)
Favourite Snack: Rootleaf Stew
Canon or Inferred: Canon
Details: When Luke first meets Yoda on Dagobah, Yoda offers him some of his rootleaf stew, made from local plants. While it’s more of a meal than a snack, this earthy, nutritious food fits Yoda’s simple, nature-connected lifestyle.
Trivia: Yoda's rootleaf stew scene in The Empire Strikes Back offers an unexpected glimpse of the Jedi Master's simple lifestyle. According to Star Wars lore, the stew was made from plants native to Dagobah. In the original filming, the soup was a concoction of actual root vegetables, fitting Yoda’s earthy, connected-to-nature personality.
11. Miss Frizzle (The Magic School Bus)
Favourite Snack: Trail Mix
Canon or Inferred: Inferred
Details: Given her adventurous spirit and fondness for science-filled field trips, Miss Frizzle would probably enjoy a snack like trail mix. It’s portable, fun, and practical for her magical, outlandish journeys!
Trivia: Miss Frizzle’s love for adventure is reflected in her trail mix snack. Did you know? The Magic School Bus series was inspired by the actual educational content of real field trips. The creators wanted a fun way to bring science to life, and Miss Frizzle became a pop culture icon for inspiring curiosity and exploration in kids.
12. Dewey Finn (School of Rock)
Favourite Snack: Pizza
Canon or Inferred: Inferred
Details: Dewey Finn, the rock-star wannabe turned substitute teacher, would definitely have pizza as his favourite snack. It’s laid-back, rock-n-roll, and easy to grab between guitar riffs and lessons on music history!
Trivia: In School of Rock, Dewey's chaotic, slacker lifestyle is best summed up with pizza. His character embodies rock n' roll rebellion, and pizza is a staple of that laid-back, care-free existence. Jack Black's real-life love for music and comedy seeps into the character, making the pizza-fueled rock-star dream even more relatable.
13. Mr Miyagi (The Karate Kid)
Favourite Snack: Sushi or Rice Crackers
Canon or Inferred: Inferred
Details: Mr Miyagi’s calm and wise demeanour, as well as his Japanese heritage, points to a snack like sushi or simple rice crackers. Something balanced, modest, and filled with tradition, much like his approach to life and karate.
Trivia: Mr Miyagi’s love for balance in life is reflected in his calm and measured approach to both karate and food. In The Karate Kid, Miyagi is seen tending to his bonsai trees and living a simple, traditional life. The idea of him enjoying sushi or rice crackers fits his Zen-like philosophy of life: minimal, balanced, and deeply connected to his heritage.
14. Principal Skinner (The Simpsons)
Favourite Snack: Canned Stew
Canon or Inferred: Inferred
Details: Skinner, ever the practical and somewhat repressed figure, probably enjoys canned foods like stew—especially considering his motherly ties and military background. It’s an old-school, no-frills choice, much like his personality.
Trivia: Skinner’s character is full of contradictions, with his strict, disciplined exterior often masking his softer, more insecure side. His fondness for canned stew fits his old-fashioned, somewhat repressed persona, and his ties to his overbearing mother. The canned food, much like his life, is rigid and orderly.
15. Mr Holland (Mr Holland’s Opus)
Favourite Snack: Coffee and Donuts
Canon or Inferred: Inferred
Details: As a high school music teacher balancing family and his passion for music, Mr. Holland seems like the kind of guy who’d survive on coffee and donuts. Simple, affordable, and a classic for a teacher who juggles so much.
16. Elizabeth Halsey (Bad Teacher)
Favourite Snack: Anything Fast Food
Canon or Inferred: Canon/Inferred
Details: In Bad Teacher, Cameron Diaz’s character isn’t exactly a model educator, and she’s often seen indulging in fast food. Her character doesn’t prioritise health or responsibility, so greasy, convenient snacks suit her personality perfectly.
Trivia: In Bad Teacher, Elizabeth’s character is all about avoiding responsibility, so her preference for fast food reflects her superficial, take-it-easy attitude. Cameron Diaz’s portrayal of Elizabeth highlights how far she’s willing to go to avoid self-improvement—her fast food habits are just another part of her rebellious persona.
17. Miss Trunchbull (Matilda)
Favourite Snack: Meat Pies
Canon or Inferred: Inferred
Details: As the tyrannical headmistress with a penchant for cruel discipline, Miss Trunchbull is probably more inclined to something hearty and meaty—perhaps a pie. Something substantial and intimidating, just like her.
18. Ms Norbury (Mean Girls)
Favourite Snack: Energy Bars
Canon or Inferred?: Inferred
Details: As a maths teacher trying to juggle a chaotic classroom (and second jobs), Ms. Norbury would likely lean on something quick and easy, like energy bars, to get her through the day while balancing her busy schedule.