Being overwhelmed by the urge to gobble down whatever is handy is a common impulse that can inspire humorous tales of frustration and desire. As a result, there are four short animated films on YouTube titled "Snack Attack."

But snack foods are no joke when it comes to your health or your wallet.

A recent survey estimates the average American spends $30,000 over a lifetime on snack foods. Favorites include potato chips and chocolate, especially milk chocolate or chocolate with caramel — not the 70% cacao chocolate that has health benefits.

In fact, Americans get an average of 25% of their daily calories from nutrition-light, calorie-dense snack foods, and 16% get more than 40% of their calories from such sources.  

A new study from the University of Sussex explains one reason why indiscriminate snacking is so common. If you're watching an engaging TV show or working at your computer while a bag of chips is within your reach, you'll keep eating them long after you're full. That’s because you can't hear your body's message telling you "Enough."

In the study, people who were engaged in an engrossing activity took in 45% more snacking calories than those who were minimally distracted.

To protect yourself from a snack attack, don't snack while doing attention-grabbing activities.

It’s equally important to upgrade your snacks. Try artichoke cream, sweet potato and butternut squash hummus with whole grain rye and spelt crackers, or celery sticks with minted tahini sauce.