It probably won't come as a surprise to you that more Aussies are snacking during lockdown, but did you know that over half of us want a snack that's good for the environment? A new study called Snack It Good by YouGov and Fancy Plants looked at the way Australians' eating habits had changed during last year's COVID-19 lockdown. It found nearly half of all Aussies (49 per cent) were replacing normal meals with snacks and a third (32 per cent) of us barely ate full meals anymore and just snacked all day long instead. Half (50 per cent) started eating healthier to boost immunity, and 56 per cent were actively seeking out food and snacks with added nutrition. However, the ideal snack went beyond something that was 'good for me', with people also looking for snacks that were good for the planet. Eighty-nine per cent of respondents said they were worried about the planet's health, typically thinking about the wellbeing of the planet 2.3 times per week. In NSW, 28 per cent of us were flexitarians - people who primarily eat plant-based foods but eat meat and fish occasionally. Nutritionist and Ambassador for Fancy Plants, Leanne Ward, said a plant-based diet was good for the planet and gut health. "You don't need to be vegetarian or vegan to eat plant-based - anyone can enjoy both the nutritional benefits and the delicious taste of plants while at the same time helping the planet thrive," she said. "When it comes to good gut health, one of the best things we can do is to incorporate a diversity of plants into our diet. We are all looking to achieve a healthy gut right now because the bulk of our immune system is located in our gut. Considering the state of our world today, gut health has become more important than ever."
