Lean Hack Series - Snacking

Lean Hack Series | #BeingLean in the Everyday

Sometimes the simplest tweaks can shift behaviours dramatically.
Take snacking, for example.

We all know it’s easy to demolish a big bag of sweets or crisps without thinking—especially when they’re open and inviting. But what if we engineered our environment to work for us instead of against us?

Here’s a Lean Thinking trick I use:
Buy snacks in individually wrapped or portion-controlled packs.
Why? Because they:

• Introduce a micro-barrier (motion, delay, effort)

• Give you a moment to think before reaching for another

• Mistake-proof the mindless munching

• Reinforce intentionality over impulse

In Lean, this is a form of poka-yoke—designing the process to reduce error or unwanted outcomes. You’re still free to enjoy, but you’ve added a deliberate step that supports better decision-making.

Think:

• Mini KitKats, Twix or Freddos instead of a full bar

• Portion bags of crisps instead of jumbo family-size

• Wrapped sweets like these strawberry gummies

• Babybels or mini cheese portions

• Even fruit pre-chopped into snack-sized tubs

This tiny change shifts the behaviour from auto-grab to pause and choose—and that’s where the magic of Lean kicks in. You’re not just relying on willpower; you’re building the right behaviour into your environment.

Lean isn’t just for processes or factories. It’s a way of life.
And it starts with choices as small as your snacks.

Lean snacking