Lim
Chain Yin, Nutrition Lead for Mondelēz International Southeast Asia
On product
innovation and reformulation:
“People typically think that
reformulation means taking something out and putting something else in. But it
is not that simple. If we were to remove a certain ingredient from a biscuit
for instance, we need to add another ingredient in and that could alter the
entire calorie of the product. Therefore, at Mondelēz International (Malaysia),
we invest into research and development to reduce and replace certain
ingredients in our products but still retain the tastes that our consumers
prefer. We also listen to feedback from our consumers about our product as we
put our consumers at the forefront of business.”
On the
importance of mindful snacking
“Mindful Snacking is more relevant now
with the pandemic. As we are now at home, we can cultivate this habit with our
family and even our children. For example, by asking our children to describe
the taste and the texture of the food they are eating - that way it helps them
to think and savour the food.
From Mondelēz’s standpoint, we will
continue to advocate mindful snacking through our packaging by providing more
information to help consumers understand what the right portion for them is. We
aim to update the packaging of all our products with the Mindful Snacking
information by 2025 and continue to offer more portion control options. We will
also continue to invest in our research and development to improve the
nutritional offerings in our products.”
Assistant
Professor Dr. Satvinder Kaur, Nutritional Education Consultant
What are
some challenges people face when it comes to snacking and what are some mindful
snacking tips they can adopt?
· Snacking
can be driven by moods for example, if someone is stressed, they may turn to
snacking as a form of release. Hence, it is important to be mindful of what we
are snacking on as it helps keep us in check.
· Sometimes,
there are certain moments where we know we will need to snack, so before the
moment comes, we can surround ourselves with healthy snacks and that is one way
we can be mindful about our snacking.
· Another
way we can be mindful about our snacking is to be aware of the taste and
texture of our snacks, like if it’s hard or soft, or too salty or sweet. When
we put some thoughts into tasting our food, we can decide that we had enough
and stop snacking.
What is
the most important information on a product’s packaging that consumers should
be aware of?
·
This is
based on the consumer’s preference, should they want a less sweet option, they
should look for packaging that says it’s less sweet.
·
Everyone
needs to select the product based on their dietary needs.
·
For
example, if you require more nutrients in your diet, look for packaging
information that tells you that this particular product contains the nutrients
that you need.
What do
you think of stress eating and how can these individuals change to be more
mindful about their snacks?
· Stress
eating is tied to emotional eating so, for some individuals who are feeling
overwhelmed they may turn to food or snacks as a source of comfort.
· To avoid
this, one needs to recognise that they are eating as a consequence to their
stress. They need to be mindful of the food they are eating when that stressful
moment comes and they can avoid unhealthy eating by surrounding themselves with
healthy food.
· Individuals
should also focus on portion control. They need to know when it is too much.
They can speak to a peer like a spouse or friend and tell them about this
habit. When a peer sees you doing this, they can advise you to have some
control.
· The more
you talk about it, the more conscious and aware you will be.
How can
people be more conscious when it comes to what to snack on and what time to
snack?
· This is
related to the individual’s habits. For some, they can plan when they want to
snack, whether it is in the morning or afternoon.
· For some
who snack past midnight, this comes back to the individual’s practices such as
what time they go to bed and sometimes it is tied to work commitments.
· Studies
have shown that people who stay up late at night snack a bit more as humans are
programmed in such a way that the body demands more energy at that particular
time, as we are supposed to be resting.
· When it
comes to maintaining a good energy balance, the best time to snack is during
the day as we are active and our body is very efficient in metabolising the
energy.
· These days
there are wearable devices that can track the way we sleep and this can really
help the individual be more conscious and mindful about what they are snacking
on. So, these are just some ways individuals can keep track of their snacking
habits.
Is there
any difference in individuals’ eating patterns if they are from either the city
or the suburbs?
· Previously,
we would think that those living in suburban/rural areas would have better
access to healthier food.
· However,
looking at diet studies that are being done, it is usually based on
socio-economic status because now we’re seeing a lot of people living in the
city having poor diet quality.
· In terms
of eating patterns, it does not differ distinctively with someone living in the
city and outside the city, but it has got to do with accessibility,
availability and food safety. I think these are more important factors to
evaluate to see the differences in eating habits.
Sharifah
Sofia, Health and Wellness Advocate
On picking
the right snack for her children
“Packaging that has labels to inform
you about portion control, will definitely help you realise that you are
overeating. It helps you to be mindful and I try to teach that to my children
as well. When you start teaching them from a young age, they will grow-up with
that mindset and automatically be mindful of what they are eating. Typically,
at home, I try to stock my fridge up with fruits and occasionally, we would
have a bar of chocolate.”
On what
consumers look out for on product packaging
“I typically don’t pay
attention to the nutrition labels, however I do check if it is the low sugar
option or the normal one. Being mindful of what I’m snacking on, I would often
choose the product with the lesser option. For people who are on a diet, you
will definitely be mindful of what you are consuming hence information like the
Mindful Snacking logos help you to make the right choice. Hence, I am pleased
to see companies like Mondelēz taking this lead to help consumers make better
decisions.”
