Americans are still making time for the traditional three meals a day, but they are supplementing with more snacks. According to the NPD Group's National Eating Trends report, meals are getting smaller as snacking continues rise.
- Meals have shrunk in size. Only 4.1 food and beverage items are now consumed per meal versus an average of 5.3 in 1985
- The majority of respondents considered dinner the only complete meal
- One out of five—20%—of “eating occasions” is a snack
- 53 percent of Americans eat two or three snacks a day
“Our frequent snacking is a result of our hectic lifestyles, need for convenience, increasing desire to eat healthier foods, and simply to enjoy what we eat,” concludes Darren Seifer, NPD food and beverage industry analyst.
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