As the world slows down because of the pandemic, so as the way adults eat snacks.
A survey conducted in October 2020 revealed participants were slowing down to snack, spending two minutes longer than they did before the pandemic.
The survey, entitled “State of Snacking”, was meant to understand how the snacking behavior of individuals, aged 18 and up, has changed in light of the pandemic. Popular snack food company and mindful snacking proponent Mondelez International tapped The Harris Poll to conduct the survey participated by 6,292 global adults.
In addition to longer snacking time, more than half of adults surveyed said they were able to focus on the food they eat because they were multitasking less these days versus pre-pandemic days. Meanwhile, two-thirds said they had been able to control the portion of their snacks because they are snacking at home.
Among those who preferred portion-controlled snacks, a third said they chose them because it helped them “feel more in control of their snacking, avoid mindless snacking, and enjoy indulgent food without the guilt”.
“More and more people adopt mindfulness for their well-being, to improve or balance their life. It can be practiced by anyone, anywhere, and by all ages, and research clearly shows multiple benefits of practicing it,” shares Chain Yin Lim, nutrition strategy and communications specialist of Mondelez International in South East Asia.
Carrying the torch here in the country, Mondelez Philippines advocates “mindful snacking”, promoting eating with intention and attention, focusing on the present moment, and savoring the taste of the food.
According to the company, portion-controlled packs help consumers be more mindful of their intakes.
“Consumers prefer portion-controlled products because they are convenient, help keep the food fresh – you’re able to finish what you open, and reduce food waste,” explains Lim.
Mondelez Philippines’ portion-controlled products include Tiger Crackers and Biscuits, Oreo 3-piece packs and Mini Oreo pouch, Eden Sulit pack, Cadbury Shots, Cadbury Dairy Milk Mini Bites, Cadbury Dairy Milk 15g, Cadbury Lickables, and Cadbury 5Star 15g.
According to Mondelez Philippines, the aforementioned all have 200 calories or less per pack.
Aside from providing consumers portion-controlled food items, Mondelez also offers tips for mindful eating. Lim recommends using smaller plates, transferring snacks from large packs into small bowl, using hand as a portion tool when eating out, turning off TV and other distractions while eating, taking small bites and chewing slow, sharing portions with family and friends, and avoiding skipping meals to prevent overeating.
