Canadians are opting for fruit and yogurt over potato chips, a report on snacking trends shows.

The No. 1 snack food of choice — making up 20 per cent of snacks eaten — is fresh fruit such as apples, bananas and oranges, the NPD Snacking Report found.

Fruit and yogurt are popular snacks for Canadians.
(Carolyn Ryan/CBC)

The findings were supported by a Statistics Canada study, which reported that in 2004 Canadians ate 37.6 kilograms of fresh fruit, up from 37.1 kg in 2003 — and they were eating a greater variety of fruit, including guavas and mangoes. 

"It doesn't matter how we slice it or dice it, it's still fruit is the No. 1 snack," Marion Chan, director of food and beverage for the NPD Group said Monday, noting it was also the first choice in the group's last study in 2001.

"The one big change is that yogurt has taken the No. 3 spot and pushed potato chips down one ranking spot."

People are also reaching for other healthy items, including nuts and granola bars, the group reported.

In 2005, 21 per cent of people said they ate yogurt in an average week, up from 15 per cent in 2001, NPD said.

People tend to choose the "guilt-free" snacks in the morning or early in the day, with 70 per cent of healthy snacks eaten then. By afternoon, people may feel they deserve a treat such as chocolate, Chan said.

NPD asked 3,000 people, including children, to fill in diaries on what they ate for one week in 2005.

Manufacturers and retailers use the snacking report information to follow food trends, such as changes in portion sizes.

With files from the Canadian Press