This is interesting. Researchers from Cornell University conducted phone interviews with teens in New York City to explore how they define the word “snack.” Overall, the adolescents defined a snack as “a small, unhealthy food item that can be quickly eaten to reduce hunger between meals.”
We’ve got some work to do. Yes, the food kids eat between meals should reduce hunger. But the best snack is one that adds vital nutrients to their bodies as well. In other words, a snack needs to be nourishing, not just fill material.
Nutrition researchers report that most of our youngsters tend to eat too many “empty” calories from sugar, fat and salt. And they really need more protein, iron, calcium, vitamin D and zinc, as well as the vast array of vitamins and dietary fiber contained in fruits and vegetables.
