The coronavirus health crisis has greatly affected the way we live. People spend more time at home, gatherings and getaways and even a simple meal outside have been restricted or limited.
Amidst all this, food may be occupying more than its usual share of headspace among people today. This is not surprising, given the multifaceted role that food plays in our lives: It sustains us, it comforts us, it brings us together.
While food may be a source of comfort and connection for people during turbulent times, a food company advises settling into fresher perspectives when it comes to how we view eating and snacking.
Mondelez Philippines, maker of beloved snack products such as Tang powdered beverages, Eden cheese, Cheez Whiz spread, Oreo cookies, and Cadbury Dairy Milk and Toblerone chocolates, encourages mindful snacking.
Mindful snacking transforms people’s perceptions about eating as a mechanical response to hunger by focusing on the “hows” and “whys” of eating. This mindset isn’t about resistance or restriction, it’s about bringing awareness into the aspect of eating.
“Mindful snacking is an approach that encourages you to eat with attention and to be present in every moment,” says Toff Rada, CGA country manager of Mondelez Philippines.
Quite simply, mindful snacking is a kinder and gentler approach to eating. It entails reconnecting with our senses and paying full attention to what we are eating. Snacking this way allows us to savor the flavors, aromas, and textures of the food we consume, cultivating a better sensation of the food we ingest and our experience of it.
Further, this allows ourselves to be re-acquainted with the pleasure of eating, leading to more satisfying snacking moments and a more positive relationship with food.
Mondelez said this approach to eating also helps people understand their needs better. Each person’s relationship to food is uniquely their own: We each have our own needs, preferences, and priorities when it comes to making choices about what we eat.
“Mindful snacking can help you understand why you are eating, and based on this, what to eat for a more satisfying snacking experience,” adds Rada. “Are you looking for something sweet or savory, creamy or crunchy, hot or cold, or soft or crispy? By understanding why you are eating, you can better choose the right snack for what you need.”
Ultimately, the only way to understand our relationship with food is to spend time with it. When we slow down to notice what goes on every time we eat and acknowledge the dynamics at play, we are better equipped to change our behavior or thinking about food.
“Mindful snacking tells us it’s actually important to be in the moment, even when we snack,” he says.
Mondelez Philippines is committed to fostering the growth of the mindful snacking movement by providing people with the right snack, for the right moment, and made the right way.
Globally, the company has announced significant progress with its 2020 Impact Goals, including achieving its target of growing portion control snacks to 15 percent of its net revenue, two years ahead of target.
Locally portion control options include the Cadbury Dairy Milk and Cadbury 5Star 15g bar, Oreo three-piece 28.5g cookie packs, and Mini Oreo pouches, which all contain less than 200 calories per pack.
In the Philippines, the company has also expanded its well-being offerings with belVita breakfast biscuits. It has also improved the nutrition profile of its biggest selling brands.
Since 2008, Mondelez has been offering a reduced sugar version of Tang powdered beverage, cutting off as much as 40 percent of its original sugar content.
Aside from promoting mindful snacking, the company has partnered with 44 various organizations, including Rise Against Hunger, the Philippine Red Cross, and the Philippine Business for Social Progress to share some P12 million worth of snack products to frontliners and affected communities in Metro Manila and other provinces.
“With the COVID-19 crisis, we wanted to extend the same warmth and comfort through our snack products,” ends Rada.