How Many People in the U.S. Consume Snacks?
How Many People in the U.S. Consume Snacks?
August 7, 2024
America is arguably THE snacking capital of the world. A nation supplied with several endless snack products to choose from. Catering to pretty much anyone, no matter how outrageous the flavor or gimmick, rest assured that any snack you may fancy most likely exists. Well, actually we take that statement back: “A nation supplied with several endless snacking products to choose from.” Because, although there are plenty of options out there for snacking, there aren't enough healthy ones. As follows, the U.S. snacking culture is not welcoming to health-conscious individuals.
Studies have shown that snacking makes up a staggering 20% of the American diet. There wouldn’t be a problem with the aforementioned statistic if those snacks had clean ingredients, but there's a high probability that most don’t. Highly processed snacks lead in the snacking industry with lofty margins. That's why we at SIMPLE took it upon ourselves to change the landscape of snacking, but we’ll cover more of that towards the end.
America is arguably THE snacking capital of the world. A nation supplied with several endless snack products to choose from. Catering to pretty much anyone, no matter how outrageous the flavor or gimmick, rest assured that any snack you may fancy most likely exists. Well, actually we take that statement back: “A nation supplied with several endless snacking products to choose from.” Because, although there are plenty of options out there for snacking, there aren't enough healthy ones. As follows, the U.S. snacking culture is not welcoming to health-conscious individuals.
Studies have shown that snacking makes up a staggering 20% of the American diet. There wouldn’t be a problem with the aforementioned statistic if those snacks had clean ingredients, but there's a high probability that most don’t. Highly processed snacks lead in the snacking industry with lofty margins. That's why we at SIMPLE took it upon ourselves to change the landscape of snacking, but we’ll cover more of that towards the end.
During the COVID-19 lockdown, “Snacking was found to be increased for a significant portion of the population examined (18.9–45.1%).”
Instinctively, snacking became a particularly popular pastime. It was the consequence of being nestled up at home with not much to do, other than lounging and eating. In situations of boredom and stress humans are inclined to emotionally eat their way through — making snacking in some situations a comforting activity.
An academic journal that goes by the title, “Eaten up by boredom: consuming food to escape awareness of the bored self,” generally contextualizes perfectly the phenomenon of snacking, but most distinguishably helps us comprehend snacking at the time of the pandemic. As cited by a Frontiers in Psychology article journal, “A high (vs. low) boredom task increased the desire to snack as opposed to eating something healthy, especially amongst those participants high in objective self-awareness.”
During the COVID-19 lockdown, “Snacking was found to be increased for a significant portion of the population examined (18.9–45.1%).”
Instinctively, snacking became a particularly popular pastime. It was the consequence of being nestled up at home with not much to do, other than lounging and eating. In situations of boredom and stress humans are inclined to emotionally eat their way through — making snacking in some situations a comforting activity.
An academic journal that goes by the title, “Eaten up by boredom: consuming food to escape awareness of the bored self,” generally contextualizes perfectly the phenomenon of snacking, but most distinguishably helps us comprehend snacking at the time of the pandemic. As cited by a Frontiers in Psychology article journal, “A high (vs. low) boredom task increased the desire to snack as opposed to eating something healthy, especially amongst those participants high in objective self-awareness.”
How Many People in the U.S. Consume Snack Bars?
Statista.com showcased that just in 2020, 44.51 million Americans consumed energy and diet snacks, and bars. That number is only expected to soar in 2024 to 45.27 million.
Pretends to be shocked with the stats …
Convenience is a big reason why snack bars have been well-received by the American population, and it honestly feels like it has been 100% interwoven into the fabric of their daily lives. We feel compelled to remind you all that the U.S is a capitalist economy that is constantly on the go, and to make people’s lives less difficult snack bars have been introduced to keep the nation’s busy worker bees fed.
Founding father, Benjamin Franklin in 1748, wrote an essay called the “Advice to a Young Tradesman" in George Fisher's book, The American Instructor: or Young Man's Best Companion. In that essay Franklin famously wrote, and we quote, "Remember that time is money." This type of mentality had been prevalent since the 18th century. So, it was only a matter of time for the culture of convenience to spawn in the U.S. This mindset has been made known literally since before the inception of The United States of America
Looking closer into the snack bar fad, we must also be aware of its accessibility. Anybody from athletes, to working moms, stay-at-home moms, students, blue-collar workers, young or old can obtain a snack bar. More precisely, when it comes to the location, snack bars can be found at the gas station, grocery store, and online.
How Many People in the U.S. Consume Snack Bars?
Statista.com showcased that just in 2020, 44.51 million Americans consumed energy and diet snacks, and bars. That number is only expected to soar in 2024 to 45.27 million.
Pretends to be shocked with the stats …
Convenience is a big reason why snack bars have been well-received by the American population, and it honestly feels like it has been 100% interwoven into the fabric of their daily lives. We feel compelled to remind you all that the U.S is a capitalist economy that is constantly on the go, and to make people’s lives less difficult snack bars have been introduced to keep the nation’s busy worker bees fed.
Founding father, Benjamin Franklin in 1748, wrote an essay called the “Advice to a Young Tradesman" in George Fisher's book, The American Instructor: or Young Man's Best Companion. In that essay Franklin famously wrote, and we quote, "Remember that time is money." This type of mentality had been prevalent since the 18th century. So, it was only a matter of time for the culture of convenience to spawn in the U.S. This mindset has been made known literally since before the inception of The United States of America
Looking closer into the snack bar fad, we must also be aware of its accessibility. Anybody from athletes, to working moms, stay-at-home moms, students, blue-collar workers, young or old can obtain a snack bar. More precisely, when it comes to the location, snack bars can be found at the gas station, grocery store, and online.
Being a wise consumer
Replacing your Snickers bar with something healthy is actually quite SIMPLE. Wholesome sustenance can get expensive from time to time, but a good outlook to have is to see it as an investment. A good way to illustrate this is by comparing protein and fiber (if you didn’t know, it helps you feel full for way longer), to sugar (which only manages to fill you up for a short period of time).
To dig deeper into the subject, wholesome snacks with high protein and fiber content can keep you satisfied for longer periods, reducing the temptation to overeat or choose less healthy options later. On the other hand, sugary snacks provide a quick energy boost but often lead to a rapid drop in blood sugar levels, leaving you hungry again soon after. This can result in a cycle of continuous snacking, leading to excessive calorie intake and potential weight gain. Investing in healthier snacks, despite a higher upfront cost, can lead to better health outcomes in the long run.
Some reports assert that a good portion of individuals have replaced a well-balanced meal with unhealthy snacks. This trend is definitely not popular amongst nutritionists or doctors. Binge eating snacks within the first few hours of purchase is common, to say the least. This is concerning because most snacks, as said before, in the U.S. are not very healthful.
Being a wise consumer
Replacing your Snickers bar with something healthy is actually quite SIMPLE. Wholesome sustenance can get expensive from time to time, but a good outlook to have is to see it as an investment. A good way to illustrate this is by comparing protein and fiber (if you didn’t know, it helps you feel full for way longer), to sugar (which only manages to fill you up for a short period of time).
To dig deeper into the subject, wholesome snacks with high protein and fiber content can keep you satisfied for longer periods, reducing the temptation to overeat or choose less healthy options later. On the other hand, sugary snacks provide a quick energy boost but often lead to a rapid drop in blood sugar levels, leaving you hungry again soon after. This can result in a cycle of continuous snacking, leading to excessive calorie intake and potential weight gain. Investing in healthier snacks, despite a higher upfront cost, can lead to better health outcomes in the long run.
Some reports assert that a good portion of individuals have replaced a well-balanced meal with unhealthy snacks. This trend is definitely not popular amongst nutritionists or doctors. Binge eating snacks within the first few hours of purchase is common, to say the least. This is concerning because most snacks, as said before, in the U.S. are not very healthful.
Displayed above are some of the healthiest considered snack bars, and clearly you can see that even then not every snack bar is built the same. At least not like us, not like SIMPLE.
One tip that we would like to recommend to you with love is to halt unhealthy late-night snacking, due to the posed additional risks. Eating late at night can disrupt your body's natural circadian rhythms and negatively impact sleep quality. Poor sleep, in turn, can lead to various health issues, including impaired cognitive function, weakened immune response, and increased risk of chronic conditions such as obesity and diabetes.
Choosing the right snacks and timing them appropriately can make a significant difference in your overall health and well-being. This is where being a wise consumer comes into play. Understanding the nutritional content and potential health effects of your snack choices can help you make better decisions.
Our belief at SIMPLE is quite simple. We want to be one of the many bricks that form your foundation of wellness. We can’t promise you a cure to solve all your health problems, but we can promise you a clean healthy snack that brings you one step closer to proliferating your quality of life that help you realize everyday life tasks.
Displayed above are some of the healthiest considered snack bars, and clearly you can see that even then not every snack bar is built the same. At least not like us, not like SIMPLE.
One tip that we would like to recommend to you with love is to halt unhealthy late-night snacking, due to the posed additional risks. Eating late at night can disrupt your body's natural circadian rhythms and negatively impact sleep quality. Poor sleep, in turn, can lead to various health issues, including impaired cognitive function, weakened immune response, and increased risk of chronic conditions such as obesity and diabetes.
Choosing the right snacks and timing them appropriately can make a significant difference in your overall health and well-being. This is where being a wise consumer comes into play. Understanding the nutritional content and potential health effects of your snack choices can help you make better decisions.
Our belief at SIMPLE is quite simple. We want to be one of the many bricks that form your foundation of wellness. We can’t promise you a cure to solve all your health problems, but we can promise you a clean healthy snack that brings you one step closer to proliferating your quality of life that help you realize everyday life tasks.