Americans may love to snack, but younger adults appear to be taking the habit to another level, according to a new European survey that highlights broader shifts in eating habits.The survey of 2,000 adults, commissioned by European Mushrooms and reported by news agency SWNS, found that Gen Z respondents consumed an average of 81 snacks each month, nearly twice as many as baby boomers, who averaged 45.Experts say the findings reflect a broader trend in how younger adults approach meals, with convenience increasingly replacing traditional breakfast, lunch and dinner.DOCTORS SAY 8 FORGOTTEN HABITS COULD HELP FIGHT STRESS, OBESITY AND CHRONIC DISEASEMany of those snacks, however, are not the healthiest choices.Eight in 10 respondents said they eat foods such as chips, cookies and chocolate every week. Younger adults snack far more often than older generations, with Gen Z leading the habit, according to new research.(iStock)Many also reported feeling sluggish, bloated or fatigued afterward.
Among those who noticed negative effects, 91% said they experienced an energy crash.For many, that slump arrives during the afternoon.Researchers found the average "crash time" was 3:06 p.m., with tiredness, boredom and low energy among the most common reasons people reached for another snack.California-based food policy expert and author Darin Detwiler, who was not involved in the survey, told Fox News Digital that today's snacking habits reflect broader changes in how people consume food.CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER"The bigger story is that the definition of a 'meal' has changed," Detwiler said.Many younger adults no longer organize their day around traditional breakfast, lunch and dinner, Detwiler said.
Instead, protein bars, smoothies, frozen meals and packaged foods increasingly serve as meal replacements rather than simply snacks.The research found that many of those snacks are not the healthiest options.(iStock)Convenience is one of the biggest drivers...