Market research firm NPD from Rosemont, Ill., has stated that fresh fruit is the most popular snack that Americans reach for.

According to NPD’s report, Americans chose to snack on fresh fruit 10 times more than they snacked on chocolate in past years and 25 times more than they snacked on potato chips.

Researchers at NPD offered up reasons why fresh fruit has become so popular. They said fruit is a favorite in children and the elderly.  

They also mentioned that fresh fruit can be eaten at any time of day, which lowers the limitations of eating the sweet snack.

Researchers also said that Americans are beginning to care more about their health in general. Plus, people who eat healthy often snack more frequently, which makes fruit an even better choice.

“Campus Dining allows students to carry out a piece of fruit when leaving the dining centers,” Campus Dining registered dietitian Dianne Feasley said.  

“We see quite a few students take advantage of this opportunity to have fresh fruit as a snack for later in the day,” Feasley added.

Feasley said certain fruits such as peaches, clementines and melons are only available in the dining centers when they are in season. However, other fruits such as bananas, oranges and apples are available for students all year.

Feasley gave a run-down of monthly usage figures for Campus Dining, saying ISU dining centers use approximately 10,000 pounds of bananas, 1,000 quarts of strawberries, 6,000 pounds of grapes and 10,000 pounds of apples.
    

Amanda Carlson/ Senior Staff Photographer: Senior marketing major Deanna Silvestri and senior mass communications major Colleen Casey cut up some fresh fruit in their apartment Thursday afternoon as a way to stay healthy this year.

Despite the large quantity of fresh fruit Campus Dining goes through monthly, Feasley said cookies are the snacks students reach for most often.

“We go through a very large number of cookies each day in the dining centers,” she explained.

Although ISU students may not represent the entire U.S., cookies, not fresh fruit, seem to be the campus’ number one snack.

“If fresh fruit really is the number one snack in America, I am glad to hear it, but I’m not too surprised,” Student Health Services medical director Jean Swearingen said.

“Many people reach for fruit in between meals because it is healthy and is full of flavor, which satisfies cravings,” Swearingen added.

Fresh fruit provides nutrients that many other snacks do not, and  fruit is generally lower in calories as opposed to other snack options, she added.

“Spreading calories out across the day is beneficial. Eating small meals and supplementing with snacks is great,” Swearingen explained.

Swearingen said eating about six times per day can be helpful in managing calorie intake, hunger and cravings.

It can also aid in decreasing uncontrolled eating, she added.

Every diet should be balanced, she explained.

“Fruit should be part of that diet, whether it is in a meal or in a snack. The same goes for every other food group in the diet.”