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Tribune News Service

Move over, chips and cookies – snacking is getting a GLP-1-era makeover.
A recent Cornell University and Numerator study found households with at least one user of GLP-1 – medications like Ozempic, Mounjaro and Zepbound – cut grocery spending by 6 per cent within six months, with higher-income households slashing nearly 9 per cent from their food bills.
So, what’s not making its way into the grocery cart?
Snacks.

According to the study, purchases of savoury and ultra-processed treats like baked goods showed some of the biggest reductions, averaging between 6.7 per cent and 11.1 per cent. Fast food also saw a decline, down 8.6 per cent.
For major food brands, this is a wake-up call. Confectionery maker Hershey has already acknowledged a “mild” dip in sales, while Nestlé is racing to develop GLP-1-friendly products, according to Food Dive.
But while some brands are scrambling to adapt, others are naturally positioned to thrive in this new snacking landscape.
One of those brands is Uncle Jerry’s Pretzels, a small-batch, family-owned pretzel company based in Lancaster, in the US state of Pennsylvania. Unlike mass-produced pretzels that can pack more than 300 calories per serving, Uncle Jerry’s salted pretzels are handmade, contain just 80 calories and have no oil, sugar or preservatives.
“For people on (GLP-1s), they’re looking for something satisfying but not overwhelming. That’s literally who we are,” Misty Skolnick, co-owner of the company, said .

“We don’t have to change anything about our product because we’ve always been focused on clean, simple ingredients.”
Of course, not all of their snacks are totally GLP-1 approved – but that does not mean they aren’t worth the occasional treat. “We do a line of chocolate-covered ones,” Skolnick added with a laugh. “I think they are deadly.”
When asked if they’d pass as GLP-1-friendly, she admitted, “I’m going to lean on the side of caution and say, ‘I doubt it’. But we do these in small little bites, so I guess you could indulge in one or two and be OK.”

GLP-1 winning snacks
Which snacks are GLP-1 users actually eating?
When asked what she would include on a GLP-1-friendly charcuterie board, apart from her company’s pretzels, Skolnick had some practical picks: unsalted nuts, Greek yogurt dip and dried fruit – without added sugar, of course.
Other snack choices for GLP-1 users, according to Health, include:

Insoluble fibre, found in almonds, walnuts, and peas


Low-glycemic drinks such as water and green tea


Whole grains such as oats and quinoa


High-protein dairy products (cottage cheese, Greek yogurt)


Leafy vegetables with hummus or Greek yogurt dip

With GLP-1 use projected to double by 2030, snacking isn’t going anywhere – it is just evolving.
So, whether you are on GLP-1s or simply looking for smarter choices, embrace the new era of snacking, where smaller portions and nutrient-packed bites reign supreme.
Like what you read? Follow SCMP Lifestyle on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also sign up for our eNewsletter here.


Why Ozempic and other weight-loss drugs are changing the face of snacking

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Why restaurants are buzzing over honey’s flavour and natural goodness – it headlines dishes at Simon Rogan’s Michelin-starred L’Enclume and Rogan & Co, and Five Sails at Vancouver’s Pan Pacific Hotel

High waist-to-hip ratio in middle age could lead to poor brain health later, research shows

Wellness

Nuts such as almonds and walnuts are an appropriate snack for people on GLP-1 weight-loss drugs such as Ozempic. Photo: Shutterstock

Confectionery maker Hershey has reported a “mild” drop in sales since the advent of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs. Photo: Reuters

Pretzels can be a healthy snack of choice for those on the GLP-1 type weight-loss drugs. Photo: Shutterstock

Vegetables with hummus can be a satisfying choice of snack that is not ultra processed. Photo: Shutterstock

How champion Hong Kong bartender who quit alcohol feels now, and the benefits of giving up

Leo Ko holds his world bartender of the year award, given at the International Bartenders Association (IBA) World Cocktail Championship in 2023. Photo: Cordis, Hong Kong

Ko started working as a bartender in his mid-20s. Photo: Cordis, Hong Kong

Ko also gave up cigarettes when he quit alcohol. Photo: Sun Yeung

Melissa Lee is a naturopathic doctor at IMI in Hong Kong. Photo: Melissa Lee

Winston Lau, founder and director of Mindful Sparks, at his factory. Photo: Mindful Sparks

How much should you eat before, during, after a workout? Expert advice on food and exercise

A banana with peanut butter is OK eat ahead of a workout. Photo: Shutterstock 

Doing physical activity on an empty stomach isn’t a good way to burn fat despite what social media exercise enthusiasts may say. A dietitian and physiologist share advice on when to eat around workouts. Photo: Shutterstock


While eating a big meal before a workout is not recommended, a carb-rich snack such as a banana with peanut butter is OK ahead of exercise. Photo: Shutterstock 

The cover of Langer’s book. Photo: Amazon 

Fried tofu salad with avocado, chickpeas, cucumber and mushrooms. Nutrient timing is less important than making sure you consume some protein at every meal, according to Langer. Photo: Shutterstock

How to get your daily protein from plants, what to eat and what to avoid

Soybeans contain high levels of good quality protein. Photo: Shutterstock

If you don’t eat animal products, you can get all the protein you need from plant-based foods, including soybeans and soybean products. Photo: Shutterstock

Dr Andrea Glenn, an assistant professor of nutrition at New York University, said it’s as easy to get protein from sources that grow in the field as it is from the animals that graze there. Photo: New York University 

Oily fish such as salmon, mackerel, herring or sardines are good sources of protein. Photo: Shutterstock

Fish is a good source of protein, but if you do not eat any animal products, you can still get all your protein from plants. Photo: Shutterstock

Tempeh is an Indonesian traditional food made from fermented soybeans and is packed with high-quality protein. Photo: Shutterstock

Some plant-based meatless burgers are highly processed, with high levels of sodium and saturated fats. Photo: Shutterstock

Lifestyle

Health & Wellness

Health

Food & Drink

People are buying healthier snacks and household food bills are dropping as GLP-1 weight-loss drugs alter eating habits


People are buying healthier snacks and household food bills are dropping as GLP-1 weight-loss drugs alter eating habits.


Healthy eating

How to age well