Crunch time on bad snacking habits

The Australian Apples 2021 Snack Report has revealed that the majority of Australians are keen to break away from the bad snacking habits they picked up during 2020 lockdowns.

Lockdown came with many challenges – from home-schooling and mask-induced foggy glasses to isolation and boredom. The COVID pandemic also saw our collective lives change from being a nation of cafe and restaurant lovers to a land of locked-in home diners. For some, this led to a newfound passion for making sourdough and complicated Julia Child recipes. But for others, it meant takeaway and too much booze.

Confession time

New research by Aussie Apples has found that Australians’ daily snacking habits went downhill, too. Most likely thanks to all those endless commutes between fridge and desk while WFH. In fact, 50 percent of Aussies confessed that they were snacking more in 2020.

The Australian Apples 2021 Snack Report confirms that, as a nation, we collectively hit the wall in the afternoon; a sizeable 87 percent admitted to experiencing this daily. A further 65 percent of Aussies pinpointed 2pm to 4pm as the typical time they crashed and craved a snack. More than half reached for a sweet treat like chocolate, biscuits or ice cream. Only about a third said they opted for healthier snacking options like yoghurt or muesli bars.

From sugar high to sugar coma

While these options might seem like a pretty good idea at the time, habit change and wellbeing expert Dr Gina Cleo says that snacking choices like flavoured yoghurts and muesli or protein bars often aren’t giving our bodies what they really need.

“As we start to slow down mid-afternoon, our bodies begin to crave a boost to keep us going for the rest of the day,” she says. “Sweet and even perceived ‘healthy’ snacks can give us a quick sugary hit. But they don’t provide us with the long-lasting mind and body boost we actually need to make it through the day.”

One year on from when the word “lockdown” became common parlance, it’s encouraging to note that nearly three-quarters of Australians are keen to hit refresh on their bad snacking habits and start looking to healthier choices in 2021, such as fresh fruit.

A smarter snack swap

A fresh fruit alternative that 82 percent of Aussies want to make the switch to is a good old-fashioned apple. It’s a great source of dietary fibre that’s low GI and full of essential nutrients to help support our bodies through the afternoon slump.

To put the mind and body benefits of apples to the test, TV personality and self-confessed snackaholic Beau Ryan has embarked on the Snack Swap Challenge. He’s traded in his usual afternoon snacks for an apple and documented the experience.

“My lifestyle is quite busy and I’m racing around a lot,” Ryan says. “So I was interested to see if swapping my usual arvo snack for an apple would give me a boost in the afternoons. The results were interesting but unsurprising for a fruit that packs in a lot of goodness.”

When the 3pm slump hits, add an apple

Dr Cleo says that apples are the ideal afternoon snack. They’re packed with many nutritional benefits; some of which many people are unaware of.

“As many as 65 percent of Australians don’t know that apples are low GI, which can give the body and mind an energy boost,” she says. “They’re also a great source of hydration, antioxidants, vitamin C and fibre. All this makes them the perfect afternoon pick-me-up.

“Swapping your typical snacks to healthier options like apples can help you feel refreshed and fuller for longer. This in turn will help to support a more balanced diet and lifestyle.”

From Ambrosia to Sundowner

Aussie apples are available year-round. However, we’re heading into prime apple season now, which means you can have your pick of more than 15 varieties. But which one to choose? Research from the University of Western Australia and Edith Cowan University found that Pink Lady and Bravo apples are the highest in polyphenols. These are thought to improve health through their antioxidant effects. But all apples are high in polyphenols, particularly the polyphenol quercetin. This has been linked to everything from reducing inflammation and lowering blood pressure to reducing your risk of heart disease.

Jazz up your snacking

When it comes to crunch factor and flavour burst, we at Eativity can’t go past a Jazz apple. Being a red-skinned variety, Jazz are high in antioxidant compounds. Plus, their sweet, tangy taste and crisp texture even saw this variety score a rave review in OprahMag.com, the digital site of O! The Oprah Magazine. Jazz apples are grown in orchards all across southern Australia, from Pemberton in WA and Stanthorpe in Queensland to the Huon Valley in Tassie. You can find them in-store from April to December.

For more information on Australian apple varieties, their health benefits and apple recipe ideas, head to aussieapples.com.au