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Temporal snacking patterns among Canadian children and adolescents
Claire N Tugault-Lafleur1, Jane Y Polsky2
1Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
Summary
Snacking is common in children, contributing a quarter of daily calories. Morning snacks are less energy-dense and more nutritious than afternoon or evening snacks for Canadian youth.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Public Health Nutrition
- Dietary Assessment
Background:
- Snacking is prevalent in children and adolescents.
- Concerns exist regarding snacking patterns and their energy contribution.
- Understanding temporal snacking is crucial for nutritional guidance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize temporal snacking patterns in Canadian children and adolescents.
- To analyze the energy contribution of morning, afternoon, and evening snacks.
- To identify top snack food categories consumed by different age groups.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional analysis of 5209 Canadian children and adolescents (aged 4-18).
- Utilized data from the 2015 Canadian Community Health Survey Nutrition.
- Employed one 24-hour dietary recall for data collection and descriptive statistics.
Main Results:
- Snacking accounted for 25% of total daily energy intake.
- Morning snacks were more common in children than adolescents and contributed less energy.
- Top snack foods included fruits, milks, and energy-dense, nutrient-poor options like cookies and cereal bars.
Conclusions:
- Snacking patterns and their nutritional impact vary by time of day.
- Morning snacks, particularly for children, were more nutrient-dense.
- Time-specific dietary guidance may improve children's nutrient intake from snacks.
