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You know you're getting old when you say things like, "In my day...," but...well...in my day, snacking was strictly monitored in my house, although my sisters and I managed to get the required daily amounts of sugar and fat at my grandmother's house (which was, conveniently across the creek).
Snacking has changed over the years and experts are worried that all this snacking may be a major contributor to childhood obesity. In a study published in Health Affairs, experts looked at snacking trends over the years and found that many kids are eating up to 3 snacks a day and that more than 27% of their daily calories come from snacks. Munching on carrot sticks is one thing, but too many kids' snacks include salt, sugar and fat. The study found that desserts and sweetened beverages are the major sources of calories from snacks.
The question is, where is this trend coming from? Have we forgotten what a healthy level of snacking is or did we ever know in the first place? Are we dropping the ball when it comes to the extra calories kids get from snacking? Vote in this week's poll and then leave a comment and tell us what you think. Where are we going wrong and how can we reverse the trend?
More About Snacking
Source:
Peirnas, C; Popkin, B. Trends in Snacking Among U.S. Children. Health Affairs. 2010; 29(3): 398-404. Fit Question: Do your kids snack too much? originally appeared on About.com Exercise on Friday, March 19th, 2010 at 05:00:39. Permalink | Comment | Email this |
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