Snacking Power

According to an exclusive Lempert Report quick poll, snacking is closely catching up to meal occasions in popularity.

According to an exclusive Lempert Report quick poll, snacking is closely catching up to meal occasions in popularity.  
Forty-one percent of our consumer panel says they are snacking about the same as last year, while thirty-one percent is snacking more. Most snack at least twice a day, the top reasons include: as an afternoon pick me up, watching television, between meals to keep metabolism burning, post dinner, bored, and when working.
The survey also showed that most snackers were opting for healthier options like nuts and fruit. Is there a link between daily snacking frequency and the Healthy Eating Index?   Researchers from the NPD Group recently found that as snacking increased, so did individuals' overall diet quality. As a result, and according to Innova Market Insights, healthy options for consumers are on the rise with nearly sixty percent of all snack foods now positioned as better for you,.  
Various research also seems to show that snacking contributes to a more nutrient dense diet. For example, researchers from Auburn University and Beijing University found that fruit, whole grains, oils, sodium, and milk scores were all positively associated with snacking frequency. This study is the first to look at how snacking contributes to the overall quality of individual’s diets. The study, published in the  Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, reported that, "people who eat snacks have healthier diets.”
For retailers,  CPGs and others in the food industry, it would be beneficial to align with what consumers are looking for and focus on the better for you aspects of snacking. Healthfulness should be a priority when designing snacks, and particularly for retailers when considering how to display snacks.