As Kids Grow Up, Snack Quality Goes Down

By Carol Church, Writer, Family Album
Reviewed by Karla P. Shelnutt, Ph.D., RD, LD/N, Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences, University of Florida

Did you know that the average American child snacks three times a day? That’s a lot of crackers, cookies, fruit, or whatever it is your kids are eating in between meals!

When my children were very young, I was really careful about these snacks, making sure to serve them “growing food” in between meals. Back then, this was easy, because they were with me most of the day. Even after they got a bit older, I was able to control their food environment much of the time.

But then, of course, they started to grow up! As children reach the tween and teen years, they experience less parental supervision, are offered food in all kinds of situations, and are given many more opportunities to make their own decisions about what to eat. Of course, learning to make our own choices is an incredibly important part of becoming a healthy eater. But for most kids, there are probably times when decision-making may not be the best—especially in today’s food environment, where nutrient-poor, high-calorie snacks are everywhere.

Data Show: Snacks Get Worse As Kids Grow

A recent study appears to confirm that as kids grow older, the nutritional quality of their snacks deteriorates. Researchers analyzed the diets of 176 children between the ages of 9 and 15 from two separate days, using the help of a trained dietitian. It wasn’t a shock to learn that snacks are a major contributor to kids’ overall calorie count. But the researchers noticed a major difference between the snacks eaten by the elementary schoolers (between 9 and 11) and the older children.

For younger kids, the quality of snacks they ate was good enough that snacking actually improved their overall daily nutrition a bit. For the older kids, however, snacks made their diet quality worse. Instead, eating more actual meals (versus snacks) was helpful to the quality of their diets.

This study suggests that as kids get older, they start to move away from the healthier snacks that parents and caregivers try to encourage. Instead, they’re likely attracted to snacks that are low in nutrients and high in calories. With their additional freedom, they’re able to choose these snacks more often.

What to Do?

So what can parents do? Older tweens and teens are bound to experiment with less healthy foods outside of the home as they grow, and they do need to learn how to manage having more options. Of course, parents will want to continue to provide healthy snacks at home. But your best defense may be to continue to emphasize family meals–including breakfast.

Remember, family meals have been associated with a range of benefits, including better nutrition, better behavior, and better school performance. So even when things get hectic, try to find the time to get together around the table.

(Photo credit: vending machine by ashish joy. CC BY 2.0. Cropped.)

Further Reading:

Raising Healthy Children: The Role of Snacking--from UF-IFAS EDIS

Raising Healthy Children: The Importance of Family Meals–from UF-IFAS EDIS

Family Nutrition: The Truth About Family Meals--from UF-IFAS EDIS

Raising Healthy Children: Promoting a Positive Feeding Experience–from UF-IFAS EDIS

References:

Evans, E. W., Jacques, P. F., Dallal, G. E., Sacheck, J., & Must, A. (2014). The role of eating frequency on total energy intake and diet quality in a low-income, racially diverse sample of schoolchildren. Public Health Nutrition. Advance online publication. doi:10.1017/S1368980014000470

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Posted: July 15, 2014


Category: Health & Nutrition, Work & Life
Tags: Healthy Foods, Nutrition And Food Systems, Parenting


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