Who Benefits from Healthy Snacking?

Infants and Toddlers

According to the University of Michigan Health System "infants and toddlers need to snack because they have such high energy demands and small stomachs"[1].  This interesting combination results in the demand for more thant the traditional breakfast, lunch, and dinner.  Healthy snacking can help provide the energy and nutrition needed throughout the day.  This young age group is the fastest growing stage in development, and requires a great amount of nutritional intake to keep up with this growth.  "The sooner your children develop healthy eating habits, the less likely they will suffer from obesity, diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular disease" [2].   Healthy snacking is and important habit to instill in our youth, as it helps them to build a strong foundation for a long and healthy adult life.  Offering young children healthy foods similar to the ones you and your family eat, such as KIND Fruit and Nut bars, will help set a healthy example for them to follow.

Kids

All Kids love snacking, the trick is to promote "Healthy Snacking" habits.  Snack time can actually be a golden opportunity to supplement a child's diet as well as calm hunger between meals.  When children are in need of food, they often times find focusing on the task at hand very difficult, and can even become more easily irritated.  It has been shown that when kids skip breakfast, it can have a negative effect on their performance in school.  "Without it [breakfast], children miss a lot of vitamins and minerals, have a hard time staying awake in school and become famished later in the day, leading to overeating in the evening or night" [3].   Healthy snacks can offer the body nutrients to help kids make it to the next meal, rather than over-eating when dinner is finally on the table.  It is important that children conume foods from all the nutritional groups, which can sometimes be difficlut in a single sitting.  A study at Colorado State concluded that "healthy snacks can round out the diet, helping to ensure that children are getting all of the nutrients they need to fuel thier growth and development"[4].  KIND Fruit and Nut bars offer the benefit of two very important food groups in one tasty package.

Teens

Teenagers need healthy snacks to keep up with theneeds of their quickly growing bodies.  Not only are tenager's bodies rapidly growing, many teens are living very active lifestyles as well.  Attending school, competing in sports, and being involved in various activities require increased levels of nutritional input and energy.  With such a busy schedule, many teenagers find themselves hungry in between meals throughout the day.  According to KidsHealth.com, "Snacks are a terrific way to satisfy that hunger and get all the vitamins and nutrients your body needs"[5].  Healthy snacking can be a nutritious and delicious part of any daily routine with the help of KIND Fruit and Nut bars.

Adults

A recent article released by the UCSF Medical Center explains "snacking is not just for children;  adults need snacks as well"[6].  Adults in today's working force often find themselves in too much of a rush to sit down for a traditional meal, and often times resort to various unhealthy snacks when hunger strikes.  as people grow older, their overall calorie intake tends to steadily drop on average, possibly due to loss of appetite, medical issues, or even just hectic daily schedules.  Along with this loss i calorie intake is an increase in the number of malnourished men and women.  In a new study published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, researchers discovered that snacks were an important source of older adults' daily calories and nutrients.  Elderly adults often find themselves without the appetite they once had in their younger years.  Due to a decrease in physical activity, the body demands less and less calories over the years.  "Compared to 25-year-olds, 70-year-old men ate 1,000 to 1,200 fewer calories" [7].  To ensure that the elderly are consuming enough calories and nutrients a day, sancking plays an important role.  Snacking on nutritionally-balanced foods periodically helps to maintain the sufficient calorie and nutrition levels required for a healthy lifestyle.

 

Sources

1. Berning, Jackie, Ph.D., R.D. Eating Healthy Snacks.  2005. McKesson Provider Technologies, approved by the University of Michigan Health System.

2. Mast, Carlotta. Prescription for Healthy Kids.  May, 2007.  Delicious Living.  

3. Healthy Eating, Healthy Foods and Snacking.  January 2006.  Cincinnati Children's Hospital.  

4. Dean, Pamela K.  Healthy Snacking Grows Healthy Kids.  August, 1998.  Colorado State

5. Kids Health, Smart Snacking.  Reviewed by: Gavin, Mary L. 2006. 

6. Healthy Snack Ideas.  Reviewed by health care specialists at UCSF Medical Center May 8, 2007.  

7. Hunter, Desiree.  Between Meal Snacks OK For Elderly. May 25, 2007.  U.S. News and World Report.