UK consumers have become self-confessed snackaholics but fresh produce is not the grazing item of choice with the majority of people preferring to eat junk.

A new survey into the nation’s eating habits has revealed that nine out of 10 people keep snacks on hand at all times.

But fruit only made it to number four on the top 10 list of favourite snacks, after crips, chocolate, and biscuits, while raw vegetables was way down at number nine, only beating cereal.

The survey by Panda Licorice found that out of nearly 4,000 respondents, 10 per cent said they snack continually rather than eating main meals and women are twice as likely to eat little and often as men.

But while fifty-one per cent said they opted for healthy main meals, they were not as health-conscious when it came to snacks and only a quarter of respondents said they ate healthily throughout the day.

In response to the survey results, Panda Licorice has teamed up with nutritionist Suzannah Olivier to produce an eight-page booklet to help educate the public about healthy snacking.

Olivier said: “We are clearly a nation of snack addicts. It is natural to snack or ‘graze’ throughout the day but it is

important to make healthy choices which are nutritionally positive.

"The guide to smart snacking provides the information that people need to make informed and sensible decisions about what to eat between meals. It also emphasises that there’s no need to feel guilty about snacking, as long as it’s done in the right way.”