SEASONAL SNACKING

As Christmas approaches, TGI provides insight into snacks associated with the festive season... 

• 84% of adults in the Republic of Ireland 'snack' and half say they often eat between meals. Women are more likely to snack - 89% do so compared to 79% of men - and the age group most likely to do so is 15-24 (of whom 91% snack).
   
• As in Northern Ireland, snacking is on the rise: the proportion of adults who 'don't normally eat between meals' has fallen from 39% in 2008 to 32% this year. More than a third of adults say that, because of their busy lifestyle, they don't take care of themselves as well as they should.     
   
• Since 2000 the proportion of adults who like to 'treat' themselves to foods that are not good for them has climbed from 47% to 54% - that is, 58% of women and 50% of men. 
   
• Snacking brand repertoire declines with age. 37% of 15-24s are heavy repertoire consumers (more than 3 brands per category) compared to only 3% of over-65s. This is also apparent with confectionery, for which half of 15-24s are heavy repertoire (more than 4.5 brands per category) compared to 11% of those aged over 65.
   
• Consumption of nuts and dried fruit is down slightly from 59% of adults in 2009 to 55% today. This change appears to be due mainly to a drop in consumption of salted nuts from 30% to 26% of adults.
   
• Three-quarters of main shoppers buy savoury snacks such as crackers and crispbread. Crackers are the most popular type, used by 55% of main shoppers, followed by savoury biscuits (26%) and rice cakes (20%). Women are twice as likely as men to consume crispbread - 22% do so.

• Chocolate remains popular, consumed by 88% of all adults. The number of heavy consumers (three times a week or more) has risen slightly from 38% of adults last year to 40% today.
   
• Milk chocolate is the most popular type, consumed by 70% of the population, followed by dark (20%) and white chocolate (14%). Dark chocolate consumption climbs to 26% of Empty Nesters, while white chocolate is most popular with Fledglings - 30% of whom eat it.

• More than half (54%) of adults bought boxed chocolates in the last 12 months, up from 48% at the start of the decade. Young people aged 15-24 are 20% more likely to buy boxed chocolates once a month or more.
   
• Generally speaking, the types of snack consumed become less healthy as the day goes on. Fruit is the most popular snack at breakfast time or mid-morning, eaten by 10% and 16% of adults respectively. Chocolate comes into its own later on when it emerges as the top evening snack, consumed by 19% of adults after 8pm.   
  
   
   

 Base: All adults 15+   Source: ROI TGI 2010

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Eimear Faughnan
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