Thursday 11 February 2021 10:36am
On average, 12-year-old children snack on unhealthy food and beverages five times a day, according to new research from the University of Otago.
The average child snacked on confectionary, salty snacks, cookies/cakes and sugary drinks at least once a day. Healthier snacks, such as fruit, were consumed occasionally, although for every healthy snack consumed, children ate 2.5 unhealthy snacks.
Ryan Gage.
Lead researcher Ryan Gage, of the University of Otago, Wellington, says current guidelines recommend that children consume snacks low in fat, sugar and salt.
“Our research shows that most snacking episodes involve unhealthy items, and that healthier options like fruit, vegetables, nuts and milk being consumed less frequently.”