Hello there and welcome to the Nutrition Diva Podcast, a show where we take a closer look

at nutrition trends, research and headlines so that you can make more informed decisions

about what you eat.

I'm your host, Monica Reinagel, and today I want to talk about an interesting paradox that was revealed by a recent survey of consumer attitudes about food and nutrition.

It was conducted by the International Food Information Council, an organization that regularly takes the pulse

of consumers on various issues relating to food, diet, and health.

Their most recent annual survey just came out and as always this one explored a wide

range of topics including the impacts of stress on our food choices.

The influence of social media on nutrition decisions,

snacking trends, beliefs about added sugars,

and the degree of confidence that consumers feel in the safety of our food supply.

I'll be talking about more of these findings in future episodes, but today I want to zero in on an apparent contradiction that was

revealed by the survey. Three quarters of Americans reported snacking at least once a day, most people two or three or more times

per day.

But at the same time, two-thirds said they are trying to avoid processed foods. But what are they snacking on?

Mostly processed foods. So what is the disconnect here?

First, let's take a look at how and why we are snacking so much. Getting

hungry between meals is one reason that people reach for a snack, but a lot of snacking is simply due to habit.

We snack because we're bored, or we need a break from whatever we're doing. Often we get into the habit of snacking at particular

times of day, whether or not we're hungry. And sometimes it's just a crime of opportunity. We see something to eat, and so we eat it.

According to various studies, snacks can account for 20 to 25 percent of our daily energy intake.

Now interestingly, some estimates suggest that the majority of Americans are also eating 20 to 25 percent more calories than they would need in

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