National Snack Month occurs every February and encourages everyone to rethink the snack foods they enjoy between meals. Too many people in the U.S. snack on foods that are high in sodium, sugar, and/or fat. This includes chips, candy, cookies, and other unhealthy items.

During this month, individuals should reconsider some of those foods and replace them with healthier options. Examples of healthy snacks include oats, granola, nuts, fruit, veggie sticks, popcorn, edamame, and an assortment of other foods. Choosing a healthy snack can prevent a person from gaining weight over time and can help keep them healthy.

The History of National Snack Month

This month was originally created by the National Potato Promotion Board and the National Snack Food Association. These two organizations teamed up in 1989 to encourage people to continue snacking. Over time, it has become a month during which people are still encouraged to snack, but the focus has shifted to choosing healthier snacks instead of just any available snack.

Amazing Facts About Snacks

Please excuse the rhyme, but we don’t have much time, and we wanted to drop some facts about snacks. So without further hesitation, below are some snack facts that we’d like to unpack.

• Approximately 5.5 million pounds of peanuts end up as JIF peanut butter.
• Chex Mix made its debut in 1985.
• Jell-O, Pop-Tarts, and Butterfinger candy bars are some of the snacks found only in the U.S.
• One of the most popular brands of chips in the U.S. is Lay’s.
• Oreos are one of the few cookies that are actually vegan.
• Kit Kats are filled with crushed-up Kit Kats that were broken during production.
• U.S. President Ronald Reagan had a love for Jelly Bellies.

Observing National Snack Month

During this month, everyone should go out and choose snacks that they like, but they should also choose snacks that are actually healthy. Although people are often reluctant to change, it’s not that difficult for a person to swap their unhealthy snacks for healthier ones.

For example, instead of choosing chips, one can choose celery or apple slices. Instead of using ranch as a condiment, a person can use cottage cheese. And instead of eating ice cream, a person can always opt for Greek yogurt with berries. No matter what a person chooses, however, they should be sure to use the hashtag #NationalSnackMonth to let us all know what they’re snacking on.