Yeah, you can use an array instead of a hash.

my %items = map { $_ => 1 } (
    'APPLES',
    'SILVER',
);

my @groups = (
    [ 'cookies',         [ 'CHOCOLATE CHIP', 'PEANUT BUTTER' ] ],
    [ 'previous metals', [ 'SILVER', 'GOLD', 'PLATINUM' ]      ],
);

my $lover;
for my $group (@groups) {
    my ($group_name, $group_members) = @$group;
    if ( grep $items{$_}, @$group_members ) {
        print "This guy loves $group_name.\n";
        ++$lover;
    }
}

if (!$lover) {
    print "This guy loves nothing.\n";
}
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