SNACKING IN AMERICA
Ninety-four percent of American adults snack at least once a day, accounting for 580 extra calories consumed per day. Comparing surveys from 1977 and 2006, researchers found that Americans increased the number of meals and snacks per day by 29 percent: 3.8 to 4.9
Americans consume 2,375 calories per day, which is one third more than the total in the 1970s. In addition, portion sizes increased by 12 percent during that time period. It’s obvious that the lines are blurring between actual meals and frequent snacking.
Photo: The Mozzarella Company
PERCENTAGE OF CONSUMERS WHO SAID THAT THEY ATE THESE SNACKS IN THE LAST 30 DAYS (Canada & U.S.) Ref #3
| CHIPS | 63% |
| CHOCOLATE | 59% |
| CHEESE | 58% |
| COOKIES/BISCUITS | 56% |
| FRESH FRUIT | 55% |
| BREAD/SANDWICH | 48% |
| CRACKERS | 48% |
| VEGETABLES | 44% |
| PEANUT BUTTER | 44% |
| POPCORN | 43% |
| Why isn’t cheese number one on this list? It’s far more nutritious than chips and equally as delicious as chocolate. It’s only one percentage point from chocolate, so they’re really close. Consumers want convenient, ready-to-eat snacks. Sounds like cheese to me. |
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References:
(1) U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
(2) http://healthland.time.com/2011/07/01/snack-attack-americans-are-eating-more-between-meals/
(3) Nielsen Global Snacking Survey 2014 Page 8: http://www.nielsen.com/content/dam/corporate/us/en/reports-downloads/2014%20Reports/nielsen-global-snacking-report-september-2014.pdf