University of Newcastle snacking study to determine why people snack

To do so, the researchers need help. They're asking people to share photos of 15 days worth of snacking via a new phone app.

Eva Valencic, who is leading the study as part of her PhD project, said the research team "want to understand how and why people make the snack choices they do".

"Are people's snack choices influenced by their surroundings, the time of day or the presence of other people?," Eva said.

Snacking is often considered "discretionary eating" and "more calorie-dense and less nutrient-rich than other meals". In other words, it's thought that people prefer to snack on junk food.

The research team, though, aims to dig into the data and get to the truth.

"We want to understand what makes someone reach for a snack and when? Whether it's mid-morning or late-night - what drives us? Cravings? Hunger? Or something else?," Eva said.

With smartphone technology, the team can gain a more accurate representation of snacks than other methods. By comparing the data the photos provide, the team hopes to gain a broader understanding of what we choose to eat as snacks.

The project aims to help researchers understand snacking habits to inform better eating choices for people.

The Newcastle researchers will work with colleagues at the Jozef Stefan Institute in Slovenia. They'll compare cross-country data to discover how snacking habits vary and how people can better satisfy hunger and cravings in a healthier way.

Anyone over 18 can participate. Download the SnackTrack app on Google Play or the App Store and take a photo of your snack on 15 different days (they need not be consecutive) until April 7. Those who complete the study will go into a prize draw for 20 gift vouchers worth $50 each.

The clock face at Newcastle City Hall will be lit blue and yellow to mark St Patrick's Day on Thursday.

It had been planned to be coloured green, but the organisers decided to go with blue and yellow out of respect for Ukraine.

Australia has the third largest Irish diaspora in the world.

Tourism Ireland has organised a "global greening" campaign since 2009, which now features 725 iconic landmarks across 71 countries. These include the Leaning Tower of Pisa, Niagara Falls, Victoria Falls, Empire State Building, Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro and the Burj Al Arab in Dubai. And, of course, our clock tower.

Now, did you hear the one about the Irish poet. His new rhyme goes like this: "No war no war, to be sure to be sure".

This from US comedian and late night TV host Stephen Colbert on Twitter: "Thanks to Putin's media censorship, Tolstoy now wrote, 'and Peace'.

IN THE NEWS:

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: