Is snacking five, six or seven times a day really better for you? In theory, the concept of grazing — just calling it as it is — throughout the day prevents overeating at meal time. That’s because, ideally, snackers are wolfing down more energy-dense, higher-quality snack foods and fewer added sugars and simple carbs. We’re not sure how nutrient dense ready-to-eat popcorn is, but that’s beside the point.
According to research by Pittsburgh-based Civic Science, 51% of consumers snack more than once on an average day. It then defines “multi-snackers” who snack two or more times in a day “either younger in age (13 to 24) or middle aged (35-44).” Stop chuckling if you’re 45 or older.
The firm also noted these multi-snackers tend to prefer sweet snacks. Moreover, the more often people snack, the more likely they are to have a sweet tooth, another Civic Science finding.
“Overall, they are also heavier TV watchers, see themselves as less attractive than others their age and are more likely to say there is not enough time to eat healthier,” the researchers noted. Civic Science added that healthy snackers tend to be much older in age with more than half qualifying as baby boomers.
“They are more educated, favor organic food, tend to snack only once per day and have very active lifestyles,” according to the firm’s recent release.
So let the great debate begin. Are millennials — the ones who once were cited for having a high rate of childhood obesity — full of quinoa and kale, or not? Give it 20 years. Let’s see if snacking seven times a day takes its toll over time.
