When most people think of a typical eating schedule, they think of three square meals a day. Some might even throw in some room for snacks or desserts. But what if we told you that may be turning into an unconventional way of eating? Our attitudes and behaviors surrounding food are changing, and people are creating new rules for when and how they eat.

Recent research shows that people are evolving past the standard work-eat schedule of three meals a day and towards a snack revolution of around-the-clock eating. It isn’t just an American phenomenon, either; people are snacking more all around the world.

According to Mondelēz International’s State of Snacking Report, tracking attitudes and behaviors among thousands of consumers across 12 countries, 91% of global consumers have at least one snack per day. 61% of global consumers have at least two snacks per day, and the average number of snacking occasions in a day has now risen to 2.3. These numbers reflect the modern consumer’s needs. With rises in remote work, a need for convenience, health-consciousness, and younger demographics like Millennials and Gen Z creating a “snackification” culture, millions of people are changing the population’s eating patterns.

Let’s take a closer look at the factors shaping how we snack and why it’s relevant to your business.

How We Work and How We Eat

For centuries, people have centered their eating schedules around when they work. 

In ancient times and throughout the Middle Ages, people ate sporadically. They based when they ate on success in hunting or agriculture and the amount of light they had during the daytime. By the late 1700s, the Industrial Revolution changed this. Workdays became longer, and people couldn’t return home in the afternoon to have dinner. By the end of the 18th century, most people began to eat dinner in the evening after the workday. 

Workers in Europe and the United States also needed a regular morning meal that could sustain them throughout the workday. By the early 20th century, breakfast culture was on the rise. 

Lastly, workers needed food between the two meals to keep them fueled while working in factories. Lunch used to be more of a snack than a formal meal, but around 1850 lunch became a meal to fill the gap between breakfast and dinner.

In modern times, there’s been a rise in remote and hybrid work. And once again, how we work has changed when and what we eat. 

For many, more time at home means more time for snacking. The short walk from the couch to the kitchen makes food more accessible throughout the workday. Sometimes, a snack gives you the chance to step away from your work and take a break. Other times, it’s to satisfy a craving or just to offer a moment of reprieve that makes you happy.

Some people even began skipping meals altogether and replacing meals with snacks. Think of those friends who describe themselves as “grazers,” opting to munch throughout the day rather than set chunks of time aside for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. According to ezCater’s 2024 Food for Work Report, 65% of workers eat snacks as meals, and 48% of workers skip meals entirely.

Remote and hybrid work may be a key driver for the increase in snacking.

How We Think About Snacks

From America’s inception through about the mid-1980s, the American workday, menu, and social clock centered around meals, and people discouraged eating between meals. Think of all the times you might have heard, “Don’t eat that; you’ll spoil your appetite,” as a kid. Even as adults, eating outside of mealtimes might be unseemly or overindulgent.

Now, it seems more people have embraced snacking, especially folks from Millennial, Gen Z, and Gen Alpha generations. These groups tend to run on snacks. Think about viral internet trends like “girl dinner” where young women and girls ditch big dinners for high-volume assortments of low-effort snack foods like vegetables, fruits, nuts, and cheeses. Charcuterie boards are all the rage, and young people are embracing the idea of grabbing “a little treat” or “a sweet treat” to boost their moods throughout the day.

In the three decades leading up to 2008, the average American doubled their daily snack intake. The percentage of adults snacking during the day rose from 59% to 90%.

More and more, people are considering snacking as a form of self care. More consumers are turning to snacks for a form of emotional support. Millennials and Gen Z love their snacks, and they also love to share them. 71% of global consumers say that sharing snacks is their “love language,” and nine in 10 consumers agree, “Life is more fun with a bit of indulgence.”

The stigma around enjoying snacks has lessened overtime, and more and more people have accepted the fun side of snacking. Some people eat snacks just because it’s a fun thing to do! It can also be a way to connect with others. We often gather around meals, and snacks are no different. When people want to meet up, they’ll often do so around food, whether it’s a nice dinner or a quick bite in a coffee shop.

This positive repositioning of snacks and the culture that surrounds them is another key driver creating a snack-happy society.

Snacks and Health-Consciousness

It might seem counterintuitive that snacking would be a health-conscious activity, but that isn’t the reality! Eating smaller meals and snacks throughout the day can be just as healthy, if not more healthy, than prioritizing three meals a day. 

In fact, many studies suggest that eating more frequently can decrease hunger and overall food intake. One study of about 2,700 people even found that people who ate at least six times a day at fewer calories, consumed healthier foods, and had a lower body mass index than those who ate fewer than four times a day. Eating multiple small meals throughout the day may also have positive effects on cholesterol and insulin levels.

It’s also becoming more common to eat meals frequently. According to the Mondelēz International State of Snacking Report, 62% of consumers agree that they prefer to eat many small meals throughout the day, as opposed to a few large ones.

People are also starting to consume snacks more mindfully than they have in the past. It’s not just about grabbing something convenient, it’s also about fueling your body to keep you going throughout the day. 

Wellness is on the rise, and folks have begun to scrutinize nutrition and ingredient labels a little more closely. The healthy snacks market reached $90.62 billion in 2022, continuing the trend of steady annual growth.

More consumers are choosing brands that include quality ingredients in their food. They want to enjoy less healthy foods in moderation and prioritize eating what’s good for them and aligns with their dietary goals. Options like low or no fat, low or no sugar, gluten-free, and vegan snacks are growing increasingly popular.

Having snacks is important. Having the right snacks is crucial.

The Future of Snacking

We’ve looked at the present, now let’s take a glance toward the future. Several consumer-related trends are shaping the way we snack.

Increasingly Fluid Lifestyles

As we mentioned before, more people work remotely or on hybrid schedules than ever before. The home has become a central hub of activity. As more workers prioritize a work-life balance, the demand for convenient and on-the-go options increase.

Modern consumers live busy lives. Some people don’t have time to sit down and plan out what meals they’ll eat throughout the week. More than ever, people decide on their meals in the moment. They might have less time to prepare meals. This is another reason the “snackification” of meals has become more popular. When you don’t have time to map out what you’re going to cook for dinner, having a pre-packaged back-up. It’s  all the more important that consumers have snacks that are high in nutritional value and can replace meals.

In the digital age, convenience is key. Whether it’s because more people are multi-tasking while working and eating simultaneously or the need for time-saving solutions, people crave efficiency. More than ever, convenient checkouts and hassle-free eating are shaping how we eat and making snacks that much more relevant. 

Sustainable Snacking

Knowledge surrounding environmental awareness is all the more accessible, and people are making more sustainable and ethical decisions about how and what they eat. People are looking for food options that aren’t just good for them, but are also good for the planet.

Today’s consumers are increasingly looking for brands and products that seek to minimize their carbon footprint. They are looking to support brands that prioritize environmentally-friendly packaging and reduced food waste.

There is also an increased interest in plant-based and vegan options. More consumers are concerned with greenhouse gas emissions and animal welfare, leading them to choose foods with plant-based and alternative ingredients. 57% of consumers say they are trying to eat less meat, and 46% are actively reducing their overall dairy consumption.

Health and Well-Being

Greater understanding of health and nutrition has influenced how we eat. As more people are aware of how nutrition works and how they can make mindful, healthy decisions, there is a greater emphasis on making nutritional choices.

There is a growing demand for foods with clean ingredients and clear, straight-to-the-point nutrition information.

People also prioritize certain ingredients in their foods. Whether it’s the season’s superfood or ingredients that play a key role in gut health, consumers are interested in functional nutrition. For example, gut health has become a hot topic, driving the creation and sales of products with pre-and probiotics. 

In recent years, people have had  increased stress and mental health concerns. This has placed an emphasis on products with ingredients like vitamins B and D, zinc, and magnesium, to support mood and cognitive function. It’s also played into a need for taking breaks, enjoying snacks, and being mindful about indulgence.

An Experience Economy

People have also put an emphasis on experiences over material possessions. The experience and social situations surrounding food are all the more relevant in a current context.

Food and snacks can then be an exciting way to try new things. There is more emphasis on innovative flavors and attention-grabbing ingredients that can offer a brand new experience to a consumer. Premium and artisanal foods also play into the novelty of food.

Aside from new experiences, one might prefer to reflect on the past. Escapism and nostalgia offer a moment of reprieve in today’s fast-paced and complex world. 68% of global consumers often seek out snacks that remind them of their childhood or past experiences. In a world of an experience-based economy, looking at the past can be just as worthwhile as looking to the future.

 

How we eat has changed drastically, especially since the boom in remote and hybrid work. More people are snacking through rather than building a schedule around three large meals. Workers are all the more interested in what perks and benefits their employees offer, specifically when it comes to free or subsidized food. 

Keeping up with how modern consumers, and employees, speaks to how your company cares about its workers. At Canteen, we understand it can be difficult to stay on top of every snack trend. That’s why we make partnering with us simple and do all the heavy-lifting for you!

As a food service partner and the largest unattended retail provider in the U.S., we leverage design expertise, consumer insights, and the latest in product and equipment innovation to help you create a better workplace and connect your employees. Get started with Canteen today and see how a food and beverage program can transform your workplace.