Kid snacking on the rise
Chips during halftime at the soccer game. Brownies at the cub scout meeting. According to new research from the University of North Carolina, kids are snacking more than ever. After following the eating trends of over 30,000 children and adolescents from 1977 to 2006, the study found that kids today consume an average of 168 more snack calories (about 600 calories per day) than they did 30 years ago.
While the increase in calorie intake is at least partly responsible for the childhood obesity epidemic, the problem with excess snacking doesn’t stop there. Instead of being hungry for healthier foods at meal time, their tummies are usually full from frequent grazing on less nutritious snack fare like cookies, candy, soda, or juice. The outcome? Kids are eating more calories than they need—and getting fewer important vitamins and minerals in the process.
According to the study, kids snack an average of 4 times per day. Is this too much? Should parents aim to feed their kids fewer snacks and focus instead on filling, nutritious meals? Should unlimited healthy snacks still be allowed? Tell us what you think!
-Marygrace, KIWI staff writer
Tags: kids obesity, snacking
2 comments
I don’t think that snacks should ever be unlimited. Healthy snacks are important but they don’t make up for the nutrition gained in regular meals. A well balanced diet is most important.
I am really torn with this because I don’t think most kids can go more than a few hours without eating so I aim for 2 or 3 snack times a day – midmorning, midafternoon, and before bedtime if they request it. I think the more important thing is what you are feeding at snack time. If you are serving fresh fruit, vegetables, whole grains, and nuts, then snack away!
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