Snacks Contribute Nearly As Many Calories As A Meal
Snacks can add up fast, according to researchers at Ohio State University. For a recent analysis, they reviewed dietary data from 23,708 U.S. adults over age 30 who had participated in the large National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHNES). The snacks people reported consuming were mostly convenience foods high in carbs and fats, sweets, and alcoholic and sugar-sweetened beverages, with low contributions from protein, dairy, fruits, grains, and vegetables.
The researchers found that snacks contributed almost a quarter of daily calories for NHNES enrollees— with about one-third of the daily added sugar intake. Specifically, the participants consumed 400 to 500 calories daily in snacks, often exceeding breakfast intake. In other words, snacks essentially added a meal’s worth of caloric intake without providing a balanced nutritional profile.
Source
journals.plos/globalpublichealth/article?id=10.1371/journal.pgph.0000802
Try this health snack today: Pickled Vegetables
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