
KUALA LUMPUR: Snacking behaviour is altering as customers change into extra conscious of the affect their selections have on their total wellbeing and stability, in addition to the surroundings.
Findings from a current survey unveil that Malaysians are making efforts to be extra aware and current whereas snacking, with 54% actively controlling their portion sizes, and 51% partaking their senses for a extra rewarding snacking expertise.
On the environmental entrance, nonetheless, recycling remains to be removed from an instinctive behavior amongst Malaysians: solely 36% recycle snack packaging slightly than get rid of them into garbage bins, and 4 out of 5 really feel that much less or recycle-ready packaging doesn’t matter.
These are amongst excerpts from the 2023 Malaysian Snacking Behaviour survey by Mondelēz Worldwide, maker of such manufacturers as Cadbury Dairy Milk, Oreo, Chipsmore, Twisties and extra. Carried out in April, the survey sheds perception into Malaysians’ snacking behaviours and their attitudes to rising world tendencies.
Additionally it is meant to advertise “aware snacking” – consuming with intention and a spotlight, and making acutely aware selections for a extra satisfying snacking expertise.
“Snacking mindfully will not be about selecting between maintaining a healthy diet or proscribing ourselves from snacking,” a Mondelēz consultant factors out. “It guides us to be extra attuned to what and why we snack and the way it makes us really feel – from figuring out our wants within the second, to studying to decelerate by portioning our snacks, lowering distractions, and utilizing all our senses.”
‘Multitask snacking’
The examine discovered that Malaysians generally tend for “multitask snacking”, with prime snacking moments occurring whereas watching TV or browsing the web (75%), and finding out or working (44%).
As well as, snacking stays a supply of consolation for Malaysians as a majority of respondents (63%) flip to snacks to destress or unwind, whereas 61% snack to fulfill cravings.

Dr Satvinder Kaur from UCSI College cautions that multitasking and distraction are among the frequent elements stopping individuals from consuming proper.
“Snacking helps our physique keep enough diet as we go about our busy routine, particularly for individuals with a poor or small urge for food,” she mentioned. “Nevertheless, it shouldn’t be a inconsiderate exercise as consuming whereas distracted can disconnect you out of your inner starvation and satiety cues.
“Focus in your meals to keep away from overeating, and apply strategies reminiscent of stability, moderation and selection to acquire all of the vitamins required by the physique.”
Consuming and the surroundings
Whereas packaging stays a vital instrument to maintain customers knowledgeable, there’s a rising must rethink its affect on environmental sustainability. The survey additionally sheds mild on the attitudes of Malaysians in direction of sustainable snacking, which incorporates their recycling habits and actions the place consumption is worried.
Malaysians aren’t recycling snack packaging at excessive charges, the examine mentioned, including that also they are hesitant to bear the prices of environmental sustainability efforts: solely 31% are keen to pay a small carbon tax on snacks to offset the environmental affect of creating them.
This discovering contrasts sharply with the worldwide pattern of 61% of customers who’re keen to make the dedication.
On a extra encouraging observe, 41% of respondents don’t thoughts paying additional for snacks produced by corporations that adhere to moral and sustainable practices.
For extra data on aware snacking, click here.