Snackification; it’s a new term you may be hearing allot about. In a recent article about soaring sales of snack foods, the Wall Street Journal cited government data showing that, while only 10% of Americans snacked three or more times a day in the late 1970’s, the figure had risen to 56% in 2010.
Can it really be that low? Snacks seem to be everywhere, and in fact Hartman Group, a market research firm, found in a 2013 survey that 90% of consumers snack multiple times daily. Many snacks are nutritionally dubious, yet increasingly they are crowding out traditional breakfasts, lunches and dinners. About half of Americans replace meals with snacks at least three to four times a week!
As the times have changed, so have our lifestyles. Over the past century, we have gone from working on farms to working in factories to working in offices. With the development of technology has come a drastic change in the way food is grown, processed, transported, marketed and sold. The fast-paced lifestyle that comes with living in a city also greatly influences what we eat as well as the way we eat. It is not always possible for us to prepare a filling breakfast, break in the middle of the day to sit down for lunch, or even find the time and energy at the end of the day to spend hours in the kitchen preparing dinner.
Those of us working full-time office jobs are especially in trouble when it comes to having time and access to nutritious foods to energize us throughout our busy work day. All too often, we find ourselves reaching for another donut or muffin during our morning staff meeting in an attempt to stay the hunger that gnaws at our stomachs. If we had only known what we could have eaten this morning for breakfast, had the ingredients for such food at the ready, and had the time to prepare and eat this food before having to rush out the door, we wouldn’t be settling for refined carbs and sugar later on in our day, which can only mean an energy crash later in the afternoon. And what happens when we experience an energy crash? We can’t let our hazy mind or sleepy eyes interfere with our productivity, so we reach for a soda or energy drink, thinking these products will wake us up and help us get through the rest of the day. Instead, we find that only a couple hours later we experience a second crash.
And thus the cycle continues for thousands of Americans today who lack the time, energy, know-how—and often, creativity—to plan for and prepare wholesome meals or snacks they can enjoy and fuel their body with on the go. The “snackification” of America is the eating phenomenon that has become one of the key culprits of increased rates of obesity, diabetes, heart disease and cancer in our country. Over the past sixty years, big food companies have taken advantage of the increased numbers of men and women working full time and the busy lifestyle that has become the trademark of society in the U.S. They saw a need, and they filled it.
The need is for quick, convenient foods that require little to no preparation and are easy to eat on the go. These kinds of in-between-meal foods are what we refer to as snacks. Snacks are what many children and adults live off of today. In fact, mealtimes are becoming a thing of the past in many households. Instead, it seems to be always “snack time”—never meal time. People’s lifestyles today simply don’t allow for as much time in the kitchen as we once had sixty plus years ago. The increasing number of women in the workplace plays a large part in this, of course.
Big food companies such as General Mills, Nestle, Coca Cola, and the Kellogg Company have done an excellent job of filling this need by pumping our system full of addicting and conveniently packaged snacks loaded with saturated fats, refined sugar, artificial colorants and flavors, preservatives and other harmful chemicals. Although these snacks may provide temporary relief from hunger, they have been associated by study after study with many fatal diseases and overall, negative long-term impacts on one’s health and quality of life.
However, though it may be too late to turn back time and alter the busy, fast-paced lifestyles that have become a common part of today’s society, it is possible for us to make better choices about the snacks and meals we eat. Better health is possible, and is what we strive to achieve at Nutrient Rich—for us, for you, and for your family.
Imagine a snack that was free of unhealthy fats, processed sugars, artificial chemicals, or preservatives. A soy and gluten-free, 100% plant-based, vegan and paleo friendly, non-GMO, fiber and antioxidant-rich source of energy, vitamins and irresistible flavor that you could throw in your purse, computer bag or child’s backpack; eat in your car on the way to work or between meetings; take on your kids’ next outing to the park; or simply indulge in after a long day of work while your feet enjoy some much-needed rest.
Nutrient Rich’s NRg infusions are just that snack. In one simple, BPA free pouch you have your next boost of energy that won’t bring on a crash two hours later, leave you feeling bloated or greasy fingered, and will ultimately be an investment in your long-term, overall health—one small, yet vital step to reaching and maintaining your body’s proper vital functions, which will increase your productivity and mood, boost your immune system, and can encourage you to crave and incorporate more nutrient-rich foods into your diet.
We understand you lead a hectic life—trust us; we do too. We understand you don’t always have the time to sit down for a wholesome meal. Neither you nor we will stop having a need to consistently and healthfully re-energize ourselves throughout our busy days. But the solution is simple: start with the snacks you eat. When you begin to replace the fatty, GMO-laden potato chips, candy bars and sugary sodas with fresh, natural, nutrient-rich goodness, your body will begin to taste what healthy feels like. It will have a source of guilt-free goodness to nosh on and will thank you for it.
Head over here to check out our unique varieties of NRg infusions and take the first step to a healthier, happier you today. Be sure to remember that for every monthly subscription to Nutrient Rich’s organic, non-GMO superfood smoothies, we will be donating three of our NRg infusions to a member of a food-insecure household. You’ll be doing yourself and someone else a huge favor.
To learn more about Nutrient Rich’s mission in partnership with Feeding America to help food-insecure families live a more nutrient-rich life, check out our last post, “The Right to a Nutrient-Rich Life.”