Australia is a nation of snackers, with new data revealing almost nine in ten (89%) Australians surveyed snack every day - with boredom, routine and stress among the key reasons Aussies find themselves reaching for something between meals.
According to data from the world's number one nutrition and food tracking app, MyFitnessPal, just 11% of Australians surveyed say they don't snack each day. Among those reaching for a daily snack, more than a third (34%) typically snack once or twice a day, while a similar number (29%) snack once and one in five (20%) snack two to three times a day.
While snacking is an everyday habit for many, Australians appear to turn up the dial as the weekend approaches. Among Australians surveyed who snack, almost a third (32%) of Australians surveyed say Saturday is the day they snack the most, making it the biggest snacking day of the week. A further one in five (20%) snack most on Sundays, suggesting more than half of Australians who identify a peak snacking day are most likely to do so across the weekend.
Interestingly, among Australians surveyed who snack, nearly a third (32%) of Australians surveyed say they snack out of boredom, while one in four (25%) say snacking has simply become part of their daily routine. Emotional triggers can also play a role, with one in five (20%) saying they snack when they feel stressed.
Nutritionist and MyFitnessPal Ambassador, Michaela Sparrow, said the findings highlight an opportunity for Australians to become more aware of not only what they snack on, but why they're reaching for food throughout the day.
"Snacking is a completely normal part of the way many of us eat, and there's nothing inherently wrong with enjoying a snack between meals. However, these survey findings suggest our snacking habits can be influenced by factors beyond hunger, with boredom, stress or simply being accustomed to eating at a certain time seeing us reach for something tasty between meals," said Michaela.
"Becoming more mindful of these patterns can help us better understand our overall nutrition. Before automatically reaching for a snack, it can be useful to check in with yourself and consider whether you're genuinely hungry, eating out of habit, or responding to something like boredom or stress."
With weekends emerging as Australians' peak snacking period, Michaela said tracking what you eat can also help provide a clearer picture of habits that may otherwise go unnoticed.
"Nutrition isn't about trying to be perfect or feeling guilty about the foods you enjoy. It's about understanding your habits and making choices that work for you. Logging meals and snacks helps you see patterns in what and when you're eating, and MyFitnessPal's AI Coach can help you make sense of the nutrients you're consuming throughout the day. ," added Michaela.
