Lately, we have snacks on our minds here at PrimaFoodie. One reason is that school is here, so we're thinking of nutrient-packed ways to keep the kiddos satiated and healthy throughout the day. (Stay tuned for our PrimaFoodie-approved Snack Guide, which is coming soon!) Another reason is one that haunts us: Snacking in the US has become an issue that is hurting our health. 

One of the significant issues with snacking today is how it has slowly replaced quality, nutritious meals for many Americans. In late 2023, the nonprofit PLOS Global Health published a study stating that American adults averaged 400 to 500-worth of calories in snacks per day. That is a meal's worth of calories consumed just in snacks alone—and so many of these snacks are eaten on-the-go, in the car, or at a desk or in front of the TV.

What's most alarming about this fact is the nutritional value of what people are snacking on. A snack is generally considered to be a food eaten between main meals. Research shows that snacking can positively impact a person's metabolic health—that is, if the snacks are healthy and unprocessed, like an apple. But these days, most Americans are choosing snacks that are anything but healthy. In fact, they’re potentially harmful. As the PLOS study and other research shows, the chewy, salty, crunchy snacks Americans are grabbing are ultra-processed and nutritionally lacking. Market research generally shows the most common snacks to be cookies, chips, ice cream, candy, cheese and yogurt, nuts, and chocolate. Not all of these foods are bad when they’re made of whole ingredients. However, this fact changes when they contain conventional additives, such as food coloring, sugars, seed oils, and other highly processed additives. 

Unhealthy snacking can have grave impacts. The CDC states that more than 100 million and nearly 15 million child have obesity. There's concern that these numbers will continue to rise, with a giant culprit being unhealthy snacking. Studies show there are various reasons behind snacking, from hunger to boredom to emotional reasons, and unhealthy snacking can often be habitual for adults and kids. What's additionally concerning is how food companies market unhealthy snacks to kids, thus influencing their eating decisions. "The food and beverage industry spends almost $14 billion per year on advertising in the US, more than 80 percent of which promotes fast food, sugary drinks, candy, and other unhealthy snacks," writes researchers at harvard.

In truth, this all just scratches the surface of just how large of an issue unhealthy snacking is in America and how targeted we are as consumers by giant corporations—which is why it’s on our minds. There’s a giant need for a shift towards healthier snack options. We'll continue to offer you more research and our PrimaFoodie-approved whole-food snacks, but as we always say, the best way to stay healthy is to stay informed: Read labels, consider a company's motivation, reach for whole foods, and cook nutritious meals at home when possible.