WHO?
Nearly everyone in the U.S.
Over 70% of surveyed Americans said they snack.
WHAT?
Food that isn’t part of a regular meal, usually a small amount.
In fact, dictionary definitions specify a small amount. However, eating more than a quart of ice cream can be a snack without being small. (For some of the most popular snack foods, see last week’s blog.)
WHEN?
Any time, day or night. Or habitually, the same time every day and/or every night
WHERE?
Anywhere possible!
- Wherever you watch TV
- Reading chair
- Bed
- Boat
- Car
- Bar
- At sports events
- On fishing trips
- Hiking
- Pillow fort
- Treehouse
- In front of the refrigerator
- While driving
- Backstage
- Grandma’s house
- In class (not recommended)
- Hospital waiting room
- Swimming
- Camping
- Wakes
- Wedding receptions
- Card parties
- Cocktail parties
- Retirement parties
- Birthday parties
- Graduation parties
- Virtually any kind of party
WHY?
Duh! Who needs a reason? But let me list a few.
- Too hungry to wait for a meal
- Too busy to stop for a meal
- Too tired to cook a meal
- Need to gain weight
- Need to lose weight
- To maintain blood sugar levels
- To explore when traveling
- It’s a favorite food, so it’s the pleasure principle
- It’s right there
- When you see it, you eat it, the convenience factor
- To be polite when someone offers food
- In many cultures, it is considered rude to refuse an offer of food, particularly from a host
- You’re drinking
- Well established that people snack more with alcohol
- You always eat leftovers
- The waste-not principle
- You need an energy boost
- You feel like celebrating
- You’re feeling down or depressed
- You want to reward yourself
- It’s a habit
- You always have a bite to eat at a particular time
- Other people are snacking
- Psychology has documented that people who’ve stopped snacking when alone in a room start eating again when someone else comes in and starts eating
Bottom line: Snacking is ubiquitous. What can we learn about ourselves and/or our characters based on what, when, where, and why we snack?
An increase in a person’s dopamine level is the most fundamental reason for snacking or for almost everything else. So next time some body askes you why you are having a bowl of ice cream, just say to increase your dopamine level.
Some say that chocolate ice cream is best. Some say that strawberry is best. Some say that ihis is a matter upon which reasonable people can differ.