No. 1 spot for millennial moms to take a break

Nearly a third of millennial moms (29%) get less than 30 minutes to themselves during an average day, according to new research.

A survey of 2,000 millennial moms revealed that a majority of those surveyed rarely have a moment to themselves during the day (65%).

One in seven even said they “always” forget what day it is due to being so busy, leading many to put eating and snacking on the back burner.

Conducted by Talker Research on behalf of Sun-Maid Farmstand Reserve the survey revealed that in fact, half of moms can’t remember the last time they didn’t feel rushed through a meal (51%).

When they do feel rushed, the car is the No. 1 place that respondents opt for a snack break (51%).

Other times of day that moms sneak in a quick snack include when taking care of their kids (39%), cooking (24%) or doing chores (31%).

Thirty-seven percent eat something on the go every day, with 44% of these respondents preferring not to, but doing it anyway.

Similarly, 31% eat standing up every day, and 39% of these moms prefer not to, but need to.

The average millennial mom surveyed eats at least two meals or snacks a day while standing up or on the go, and the same is true for practically all meals for a quarter of respondents (24%).

These moms who snack on the go keep them handy in their purse (46%).

Others keep them in their car (38%), in their work bag (33%) and even tucked away in their nightstand (19%) for a midnight munch.

When asked about some of the more unusual places they’ve snacked, respondents shared that they’ve enjoyed a snack in “the shower,” “on the treadmill” or while “sitting in service at church.”

The most on-the-go-friendly snacks these moms enjoy include chips (53%), crackers (52%), string cheese (48%), a granola or protein bar (48%) and fresh fruit (45%).

And while millennial moms have been long-time lovers of chips (88%) and candy or sweets (86%), some are opting for healthier snacks; 27% said they’ve grown fond of nuts and trail mix over time, and 34% have said the same about dried fruit.

“As moms’ lives evolve, so do their taste buds. We've seen how today’s snacking choices reflect a shift toward more mindful, elevated flavors. While chips and sweets still hold a special place, more moms are developing a taste for snacks like dried fruit—snacks that satisfy not just hunger, but a craving for something a little more sophisticated. That’s why we created the grown-up fruit snack.” Steve Loftus, President and CEO of Sun-Maid Growers of California.

When millennial moms do get a moment to themselves during the day, they savor it (87%) by catching up on their favorite to-dos like scrolling through their phone (58%), eating or drinking something (47%) or listening to a song or two (42%).

Acts of solitude like embracing quietness (47%) and closing their eyes to enjoy it (42%) also rank high on how millennial moms like to enjoy their moments to themselves.

Six in 10 wish they could enjoy these blissful moments more often (64%).

For many it’s as simple as enjoying a good snack: Nearly half shared that they snack more since becoming a parent (46%).

But it may be time for an update in their pantry, as 37% haven’t discovered a new “favorite” snack in at least a few months.

Typically, 90% of millennial moms eat the same snacks as their child, sometimes without their child even around (57%).

Those who eat the same snacks as their child say it’s because they stock options at home that work for everyone in the family (54%) and because they’re easy to eat on the go (49%).

Forty-five percent simply like them just because they’re tasty, and another 30% said they enjoyed the same ones as a child.

“There’s something special about sharing a snack you’ve loved since childhood. We believe the best snacks bring generations together—unique to fit today’s cravings, delicious for the whole family and timeless enough to pass down,” said Loftus.

Survey methodology:

Talker Research surveyed 2,000 millennial moms; the survey was commissioned by Sun-Maid and administered and conducted online by Talker Research between April 24 and April 30, 2025.

We are sourcing from a non-probability frame and the two main sources we use are:

• Traditional online access panels — where respondents opt-in to take part in online market research for an incentive
• Programmatic — where respondents are online and are given the option to take part in a survey to receive a virtual incentive usually related to the online activity they are engaging in

Those who did not fit the specified sample were terminated from the survey. As the survey is fielded, dynamic online sampling is used, adjusting targeting to achieve the quotas specified as part of the sampling plan.

Regardless of which sources a respondent came from, they were directed to an Online Survey, where the survey was conducted in English; a link to the questionnaire can be shared upon request. Respondents were awarded points for completing the survey. These points have a small cash-equivalent monetary value.

Cells are only reported on for analysis if they have a minimum of 80 respondents, and statistical significance is calculated at the 95% level. Data is not weighted, but quotas and other parameters are put in place to reach the desired sample.

Interviews are excluded from the final analysis if they failed quality-checking measures. This includes:

• Speeders: Respondents who complete the survey in a time that is quicker than one-third of the median length of interview are disqualified as speeders
• Open ends: All verbatim responses (full open-ended questions as well as other please specify options) are checked for inappropriate or irrelevant text
• Bots: Captcha is enabled on surveys, which allows the research team to identify and disqualify bots
• Duplicates: Survey software has “deduping” based on digital fingerprinting, which ensures nobody is allowed to take the survey more than once

It is worth noting that this survey was only available to individuals with internet access, and the results may not be generalizable to those without internet access.