Peckish Brits snack twice a day - and spend over £10 a week on tasty treats

29 September 2023 , 11:54

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Crisps are the nation's favourite snack - followed by biscuits and chocolate bars (Image: Irina Marwan/Getty Images)

Brits spend over £10 each week on snacks to get them through the day – with crisps, biscuits, and chocolate bars among their favourite tasty treats.

Hungry adults typically snack twice a day, with other popular light bites including cookies, cakes, nuts, and cereal bars.

But they try to make healthy choices when they can – as fruits such as apples, grapes, bananas, and oranges or satsumas also appear among the top 20 favourite snack choices.

The poll of 2,000 adults found that 27% feel peckish by mid-morning – as 10.30am emerged as the time they tend to feel overcome by hunger.

But one in three admit they have even got out of bed for a midnight snack, according to the research, commissioned by Wall's.

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A spokesman for the food brand, which commissioned the study as part of its “When hunger calls, grab a Wall’s” campaign, said: “Sometimes a snack can be an absolute saviour to your day, as the research has shown.

“Uncontrollable hunger at times can absolutely take over, and leave you unable to get on with your day until it’s been satisfied – and there’s real enjoyment taken from ridding of this hunger whenever it strikes, with a snack never being far away.”

Brits typically snack twice a day - with one in four peckish adults reaching for their first snack by 10.30am (SWNS)

The study also found 23% of adults don’t usually have breakfast, with 36% of those claiming they are more prone to snacking as a result.

While watching TV, over the weekend, and in the workplace were the most common times and places to chomp on a treat, according to the OnePoll data.

More than seven in ten (73%) have snacks stocked up in their homes for when they need them – and 25% have even hidden these from loved ones.

Meanwhile, 21% have a dedicated drawer in their workplace to stash snacks away for when hunger calls.

The importance of a snack cannot be underestimated, though, as 60% believe a great treat can save a rubbish day. And to avoid a bad day, 33% will typically pack themselves a treat to nibble on when leaving the house.

However, one in five have been made to feel guilty about their snacking habits, with others pointing out the frequency with which they do so.

The spokesman from Wall's, added: “Hunger can be overpowering, and there’s nothing worse than being caught short and having nothing to hand.

“However, there’s no better feeling than finally chomping on something after having been hungry for a while, and satisfying that desire. Snacks such as sausage rolls are a great and versatile option for when hunger calls.”

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TOP 20 MOST POPULAR SNACKS, ACCORDING TO BRITS:

1. Crisps
2. Biscuits
3. Chocolate bar
4. Banana
5. Nuts
6. Cookies
7. Cake
8. Toast
9. Apple
10. Grapes
11. Crackers
12. Cereal bar
13. Yoghurt
14. Sausage roll
15. Orange/satsuma
16. Cereal
17. Doughnut
18. Berries
19. Flapjack
20. Popcorn

Sarah Lumley