Most of America has heard the adages: Three squares a day, breakfast is the most important meal of the day, family dinners by way of curbside takeout or delivery. For years the focus has been on eating three meals a day, but times are changing, and snacking is the catalyst for the change.

Consumers are reporting regularly snacking more and more often, some even saying they snack as a meal replacement. 80 percent of consumers say they snack at least once a day according to Technomic, Inc. 2018 Snacking Consumer Trend Report. This makes snacking an opportunity that operators are trying to find a way to cash in on, morning, afternoon and late night.

Millennials are snacking more often than the average consumer seeing the health benefits, smaller portion sizes, and new trial occasions. Sixty seven percent of millennials said they’d be willing to pay more for ethically produced food they can grab on the go, compared to 55 percent of general consumers according to Nations Restaurant News, Tara Fitzpatrick, Millennials want ethical snacks to go.

There are many ways for operators to cash in on snacking and even test potential menu items.

Thirty seven percent of consumers say that any food can be a snack as long as the portion size is right as reported by Technomic, Inc. Since anything can be a snack, the prospects are endless for operators. Allowing them to offer snack size options of current menu items which does not add any additional costs and in some cases may increase revenue and reduce food waste.

Operators who are wanting to test new menu items can utilize the snacking occasion create snack or small plate LTO’s to determine their viability as full-size menu items.

Blended beverages, especially smoothies, mixed with superfoods like chia seeds, avocado, cinnamon, coconut oil, spinach, kale or blueberries are the perfect addition to any menu. The flavor opportunities are as endless as the revenue, from breakfast to after school pick me up.