More and more parents share a common frustration: the difficulty in finding healthy snacks on the market that are low in fat and refined white sugar. In addition, preparing balanced snacks, which are both nutritious and to the liking of children, has become a real challenge, especially when it comes to sending practical and healthy options to school or even for a breakfast in the car on the way to school.
Childhood obesity statistics: Worldwide, UK and in Portugal
This concern has been increasing, especially in a context where childhood obesity has become a significant problem in Portugal and in the world. According to the latest report of the COSI Program (Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative) of the WHO (World Health Organization), about 31% of children between 7 and 9 years old in Portugal are overweight, and 12% are classified as obese.
In the same follow-up, in the United Kingdom, approximately 25% of children between 7 and 9 years of age are overweight, and about 10% are classified as obese. Finally, worldwide, 18% of children and adolescents between 5 and 19 years of age are overweight or obese.1
Common Parenting Challenges
Lack of time
Now a days, parents' lack of time to prepare or look for healthy snack options has been a growing concern, reflected in studies on families' eating patterns.
The pressure of schedules and the overload of extracurricular activities often lead to meals being consumed in the car. This affects both the quality of the meal and the eating experience of children, who end up eating less balanced snacks and do not develop a peaceful meal environment 2,3.
This reality has important consequences for child nutrition, as choices for fast, processed and less healthy snacks increase at the expense of fresh and nutritious foods. According to Scaglioni S. et al., time management at home, combined with easy access to ultra-processed snacks, significantly changes eating habits, impacting children's future preferences and their long-term health.
These challenges make it relevant to find practical solutions that combine convenience and adequate nutrition for child growth.
Children and food selectivity
Food selectivity is a common phenomenon in childhood and can compromise the balanced intake of nutrients essential for development 4.
Food selectivity can be aggravated by a resistance to textures, colours, or smells, leading to repeated consumption of preferred foods and rejection of others. This situation not only limits exposure to new flavours and nutrients, but also increases the risk of nutritional deficiencies that can interfere with healthy growth and cognitive development5,6
In addition, the eating routine away from home brings added challenges for parents, who are looking for practical and nutritious snack options, but which often do not correspond to the children's palate. Literature shows that factors such as children's preference for ultra-processed foods and the refusal of more nutritious snacks, such as fresh fruits and dairy products, impact their day-to-day nutritional balance 4.
Recent studies also highlight the importance of the presentation and convenience of snacks, suggesting that young children are more likely to consume foods that are easily accessible and do not require extra preparation 7. This difficulty in balancing preferences and nutrition highlights the need for strategies that facilitate access to healthy snacks, promoting a positive relationship with food from early ages.
After all, what is or is not healthy? Science vs Marketing
In the infant food market, the line between what is and isn't healthy isn't always clear, and nutritional information is often hidden by marketing.
Products aimed at children, with colourful packaging and catchy slogans, are often high in added sugars, saturated fats and additives, contributing little to a balanced diet 8.
In fact, although the labels may include expressions such as "for children" or "enriched with vitamins and minerals," the high levels of sugar and fat found in many of these products contradict scientific recommendations for healthy eating in childhood8.
Studies show that labelling and advertising are designed to capture parents' attention, but also to directly influence children's preferences, leading to the consumption of less nutritious products9.
In this sense, the Portuguese Direção Geral da Saúde (DGS) presents guidelines for healthy eating from 0 to 6 years old 10 and a guide for healthy school snacks 9, where it recommends the consumption of minimally processed and nutritionally dense foods, especially in the first years of life, to support healthy growth and development. However, the discrepancy between marketing and the nutritional reality of products reveals the need for stricter regulation and food education that empowers parents to make informed and appropriate choices for their children.
Oh! MySnacks and Final Thoughts
The issue of healthy snacks for children is complex, but it is crucial to promote eating habits that support their long-term development and health. At Oh! My Snacks, we understand these challenges and seek to support parents by offering a variety of nutritionally balanced and practical snacks. With diverse product categories, which include options with no added white sugar and no fried ingredients, we are committed to facilitating healthy choices, with snacks packed in ready-to-eat portions. For these reasons, we are a reliable solution for parents and children, combining convenience and nutritional quality in everyday life.
Bibliography
1- Report on the fifth round of data collection, 2018–2020: WHO European Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative (COSI). Copenhagen: WHO Regional Office for Europe; 2022. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO
2- Scaglioni S, De Cosmi V, Ciappolino V, Parazzini F, Brambilla P, Agostoni C. Factors Influencing Children's Eating Behaviours. Nutrients. 2018 May 31;10(6):706. doi: 10.3390/nu10060706. PMID: 29857549; PMCID: PMC6024598.
3- Galloway AT, Lee Y, Birch LL. Predictors and consequences of food neophobia and pickiness in young girls. J Am Diet Assoc. 2003;103:692-8. https://doi.org/10.1053/jada.2003.5013
4- Torres TO, Gomes DR, Mattos MP. FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH FOOD NEOPHOBIA IN CHILDREN: SYSTEMATIC REVIEW. Rev Paul Pediatr. 2020 Nov 6;39:e2020089. doi: 10.1590/1984-0462/2021/39/2020089. PMID: 33175005; PMCID: PMC7649857.
5- Falciglia GA, Couch SC, Gribble LS, Pabst SM, Frank R. Food neophobia in childhood affects dietary variety. J Am Diet Assoc. 2000;100:1474-81. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0002 8223(00)00412-0
6- Cooke L, Carnell S, Wardle J. Food neophobia and mealtime food consumption in 4-5 year old children. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2006;3:14. https://doi.org/10.1186/1479-5868-3-14
7- Ogden J, Roy-Stanley C. How do children make food choices? Using a think-aloud method to explore the role of internal and external factors on eating behaviour. Appetite. 2020 Apr 1;147:104551. doi: 10.1016/j.appet.2019.104551. Epub 2019 Dec 7. PMID: 31821839.
8- Smith R, Kelly B, Yeatman H, Boyland E. Food Marketing Influences Children's Attitudes, Preferences and Consumption: A Systematic Critical Review. Nutrients. 2019 Apr 18;11(4):875. doi: 10.3390/nu11040875. PMID: 31003489; PMCID: PMC6520952.
9- DGS- Guia para Lanches Escolares Saudáveis, Abril, 2021.
10- Portugal. Ministério da Saúde. Direção-Geral da Saúde. Alimentação Saudável dos 0 aos 6 anos – Linhas De Orientação Para Profissionais E Educadores., Outubro, 2019.
Author:
Matilde De Carvalho (CP.5756N)