Americans are snacking to pass the time. Studies show that snacking habits have spilled over into the workday and Americans love munching. In a March 2021 study by NC Solutions, 58% of those surveyed admitted that they always have snacks in the house.
“America is a nation of snackers, and we’re no longer as averse to snacking as we once were,” said Darren Seifer, a food and beverage industry analyst at The NPD Group. Snacks are a pantry staple and 38% of Americans admitted that they always need sweets on hand – like cookies, ice-creams, and chocolate.
What is a typical snack in America?
In line with the reports, net sales of Doritos, Cheetos, Ruffles, PopCorners, Smartfood and SunChips grew by double digits in the second quarter. More than 41% of American adults enjoy at least two snacks per day.
CFRA analyst Garrett Nelson told CNBC that Americans’ snacking habits took off during the pandemic. “The snacking industry was kind of growing low-to-mid single digits, humming right along, and then the pandemic just gave it this explosive growth.”
Savory snacks like chips, popcorn, and pretzels saw an 11% rise in sales in 2020, as Americans stuck at home turned to snacks as comfort food. Household budgets reflect this change. Salty products had the highest year-over-year increase in US spend per household than any other item in the snack category starting in February 2019 — and every February after that, according to NCS purchase data. Furthermore, spending on salty snacks grew at a much faster rate compared to spending trips to the grocery store.
According to Statista’s Global Consumer Survey, cookies take the top position with 59% admitting that they need sugary comfort. Potato chips come a close second.
Do Americans snack more?
American snack eaters admitted that they snack several times a week, with almost 51% agreeing to the activity. Most of them tend to indulge in healthy snacking after 8 p.m.
As the pandemic restricted social movement, 67% of Americans revealed that they now enjoy snacking much more than pre-pandemic times. Whether they are at home or office or traveling, Americans keep snacks within reach.
Health-conscious snackers are also turning to gum to keep their cravings under control. Gum can protect one’s mouth from tooth decay and erosion, and burn calories while improving memory. In recent times, there has been a rise in global patents related to healthy snacks.
A Mondelez survey showed that in 2021, snacking was up by 59% in comparison to 2019. Also, 62% reported replacing at least one meal a day with snacks. According to Euromonitor International, the US snack market grew from about $116.6 billion in 2017 to an estimated $150.6 billion in 2022, and is forecasted to grow to $169.6 billion in 2027.
Ashley Rose Young, a food historian at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, says that eating three meals a day was a standard that came into practice with the Industrial Revolution. Factory schedules dictated workers’ breaks and by extension their eating habits. Young explains that the logic was to eat one meal before work, one during your midday break to refuel your energy, and another meal after finishing work. As meals grew standardized, snacking emerged around it.
Food sellers promoted snacking habits by coming up with ways to keep food fresh. They worked on packaging and managed to take snacks from street corners into homes.
When do Americans start snacking?
Sally Lyons Wyatt, executive vice president at the market research company IRI, revealed that millennials prefer snacking in the morning. On the other hand, boomers and Gen Xers prefer snacking in the afternoon or evening.
Wyatt says that millennials brought about a change in eating habits America. They were the ones who shifted to eating smaller meals or snacks throughout the day. However, with the onset of the pandemic, this shift did not last long. People turned to late-night snacking in a big way.
While some found it convenient to work at night, they started to reach for snacks to refuel their energy. Others’ snacking habits changed as they found more free time at night and would treat themselves with a snack or two before winding up for the day.
Healthy snacks can be anything as long as you don’t turn to junk food. It can include whole fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy products, and lean protein sources. But items like soda or chips, processed foods with high sugar and sodium, can be detrimental to one’s health.
Most people turn to snacks to fill the gap between full-fledged meals. As long as we stick to healthy snacks, snacking is not a bad habit.
