The poll was conducted over two days in early January of this year utilizing a national sample of more than 2,200 adults. No simple click-bait survey, it involved online interviews to gather the data. The results were then weighted to approximate a target sample based on age, race/ethnicity, gender, educational attainment and region. Based on standardized practice, the final tallies have a margin of error of plus or minus 2 percentage points.
You're heard about thousands of these efforts using the same scientific methodology. They focus on Americans' views on the everything from climate change ("Is it man-made?") to vaccinations ("Do they cause autism?"), from marijuana (Should it be legal?") to college tuition ("Should it be free?"), from sanctuary cities ("Should they be banned?") to plastic straws ("Should they be banned?"). This one was on an issue that is less a hot button even if it does directly affect almost every person in the country: snacking.
Defined as "a small amount of food eaten between meals," snacking in general unites us rather than divides us. According to Mintel, a market intelligence agency, "nearly everyone in America snacks every day. Of the 94% of people who snack during the day, half snack two to three times per day." In this particular survey, the question was framed this way: "What snacks would you bring to a party?" While backed by snacking behemoth Frito-Lay and published on March 4, "National Snack Day," it is no less instructive as to the national mood, er, taste.
The results show that that there are essentially three types of snackers. Unsurprisingly, the "Traditionalist" is the most common. They have classic style and prefer options like potato chips or nuts and seeds. Keeping with the stereotype of those set in their ways, they also tend to skew older: 47% of Boomers fall into this category. Gen Xers, for all their embracement of new technologies, also have a solid old school presence: 37% of them feel at home with a pretzel or corn chip. Found all over the country, the only locale where traditionalists weren't in the majority was in Colorado.
The next most popular profile is described as "Daredevil Foodie." For them, every snack has to be an adventure. Not just Cheez-Its, but Chipotle-Cheddar Cheez-Its. Not just Cheetos, but Flamin' Hot Asteroids Flavor Shot Cheetos. Emblematic of this category are Pringles in Screamin' Dill Pickle flavor, which manufacturer Kellogg describes as "so big and bold and freaking Xtra that it just screams ‘PICKLE.'" One in four people fall into this category, with a heavy presence in Dallas, Atlanta, Houston, Miami and L.A. Devotees tend to be younger: in fact, more than a third of Gen Z and Millennials describe themselves this way.
Third are the "Sweet Tooth Snackers." Given the choice, these folks choose candy and cookies for themselves. Very strongly represented in Texas and Michigan, they do acknowledge that they are not in the majority and are sensitive to the desires of the masses: 2 in 5 hide their habit under the rug when they go to that hypothetical party, and bring potato chips for the rest.
Note that the question was not framed as "What snack do you prefer?" but rather "What snacks would you bring to a party?" There is an extrapolation there in that the pollsters are assuming you will project your tastes on your fellow revelers, thereby revealing your true innermost desires. But a last group is at least honest about their actions. It's not that they fall into any particular category or are even an "all of the above" type snacker. Rather, under questioning, 9% of respondents admit to being the "Last-Minute Friend" who stops at the grocery store en route to the party, and buys whatever is on sale. Still, given the bounty of the snack aisle, the pickings of one in four in this group is popcorn. They're also most likely to live in Illinois.
So it turns out that as in almost every other walk of life, we are a divided nation. Not unlike Democrats vs Republicans, or conservatives vs liberals, those divisions cut across region and age. However, unlike those divisions, members of each tribe are still willing to marry outside their own. That said, those unions could be in trouble in the future, especially at Super Bowl parties.
-END-
Marc Wollin of Bedford views snacks as a major food group. His column appears regularly in The Record-Review, The Scarsdale Inquirer and online at http://www.glancingaskance.blogspot.com/, as well as via Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.
You're heard about thousands of these efforts using the same scientific methodology. They focus on Americans' views on the everything from climate change ("Is it man-made?") to vaccinations ("Do they cause autism?"), from marijuana (Should it be legal?") to college tuition ("Should it be free?"), from sanctuary cities ("Should they be banned?") to plastic straws ("Should they be banned?"). This one was on an issue that is less a hot button even if it does directly affect almost every person in the country: snacking.
Defined as "a small amount of food eaten between meals," snacking in general unites us rather than divides us. According to Mintel, a market intelligence agency, "nearly everyone in America snacks every day. Of the 94% of people who snack during the day, half snack two to three times per day." In this particular survey, the question was framed this way: "What snacks would you bring to a party?" While backed by snacking behemoth Frito-Lay and published on March 4, "National Snack Day," it is no less instructive as to the national mood, er, taste.
The results show that that there are essentially three types of snackers. Unsurprisingly, the "Traditionalist" is the most common. They have classic style and prefer options like potato chips or nuts and seeds. Keeping with the stereotype of those set in their ways, they also tend to skew older: 47% of Boomers fall into this category. Gen Xers, for all their embracement of new technologies, also have a solid old school presence: 37% of them feel at home with a pretzel or corn chip. Found all over the country, the only locale where traditionalists weren't in the majority was in Colorado.
The next most popular profile is described as "Daredevil Foodie." For them, every snack has to be an adventure. Not just Cheez-Its, but Chipotle-Cheddar Cheez-Its. Not just Cheetos, but Flamin' Hot Asteroids Flavor Shot Cheetos. Emblematic of this category are Pringles in Screamin' Dill Pickle flavor, which manufacturer Kellogg describes as "so big and bold and freaking Xtra that it just screams ‘PICKLE.'" One in four people fall into this category, with a heavy presence in Dallas, Atlanta, Houston, Miami and L.A. Devotees tend to be younger: in fact, more than a third of Gen Z and Millennials describe themselves this way.
Third are the "Sweet Tooth Snackers." Given the choice, these folks choose candy and cookies for themselves. Very strongly represented in Texas and Michigan, they do acknowledge that they are not in the majority and are sensitive to the desires of the masses: 2 in 5 hide their habit under the rug when they go to that hypothetical party, and bring potato chips for the rest.
Note that the question was not framed as "What snack do you prefer?" but rather "What snacks would you bring to a party?" There is an extrapolation there in that the pollsters are assuming you will project your tastes on your fellow revelers, thereby revealing your true innermost desires. But a last group is at least honest about their actions. It's not that they fall into any particular category or are even an "all of the above" type snacker. Rather, under questioning, 9% of respondents admit to being the "Last-Minute Friend" who stops at the grocery store en route to the party, and buys whatever is on sale. Still, given the bounty of the snack aisle, the pickings of one in four in this group is popcorn. They're also most likely to live in Illinois.
So it turns out that as in almost every other walk of life, we are a divided nation. Not unlike Democrats vs Republicans, or conservatives vs liberals, those divisions cut across region and age. However, unlike those divisions, members of each tribe are still willing to marry outside their own. That said, those unions could be in trouble in the future, especially at Super Bowl parties.
-END-
Marc Wollin of Bedford views snacks as a major food group. His column appears regularly in The Record-Review, The Scarsdale Inquirer and online at http://www.glancingaskance.blogspot.com/, as well as via Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.
No comments:
Post a Comment