Freshman-15 is a phenomenon of first-year university students resulting in weight gain partly due to new cafeteria eating patterns and stress. This study determined if a premeal walnut snack alters planned eating behavior and mealtime nutrient intake during a subsequent buffet-model meal. Healthy university students ( n = 36; 18.1 ± 0.5 years; body mass index: 23.6 ± 3.9) received three treatments (90 min premeal) in randomized order on 3 consecutive days: (1) snack of 190 Cal (1 oz) of walnuts (WS), (2) snack of 190 Cal of gummy candy (GS), or (3) no snack (NS; control) before a standard cafeteria dinner (1760 Cal). Visual analog scale (VAS) surveys were administered before and after dinner, and caloric intake was determined. Premeal VAS desire to eat was lower after WS and GS than NS, whereas the sense of hunger and sense of fullness were higher after WS and GS compared with NS. Postmeal VAS was not different between treatments. Mealtime calories, total fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, protein, sodium, fiber, and sugar consumed after WS were significantly less than NS. Total fat and sodium consumed after GS did not significantly differ from NS. Mealtime total fat, sodium, and fiber for WS were significantly less than GC, and a trend was observed for total calories. Differences in calorie intake were not observed between treatments when snack calories were included as part of the mealtime caloric intake. These findings could be helpful for promoting WS and to a lesser degree GS for increased satiety before meals possibly leading to reduced food intake during dinner by university students.

Freshman‐15 is a phenomenon of first year university students enrolled in cafeteria meal plans resulting in weight gain due to new eating patterns and stress. Eating habits established at a young age continue into later adulthood and contribute to obesity. Walnuts are a nutrient dense snack that may improve weight control in middle to older aged adults. This study determined if a pre‐meal walnut snack alters hunger and satiety before and after a subsequent standardized meal, and meal‐time nutrient intake. Healthy university students (18.1 ± 0.5 years; 33 female and 3 male; BMI 23.6 ± 3.9) received a standard dinner (1760 Calories) with three treatments (90 minutes pre‐meal) in single crossover design: 1) Snack of 190 Cal (1oz) of walnuts (WS; Jugans regia), 2) Snack of 190 Cal of gummi candy (GS), or 3) No snack (NS; control) on three consecutive evenings. Visual analog scale (VAS) surveys were administered 5 minutes before and after dinner ingestion to measure sense of hunger, desire to eat, fullness, and intent to eat 30 minutes after study completion. Digital meal images were used to determine caloric and nutrient intake during the meal (LSM ± SE; Significance: P< 0.05). Pre‐meal VAS for desire to eat during the subsequent meal after WS, GS, and NS was 8.1 ± 0.5, 8.6 ± 0.5, and 9.3 ± 0.4 (WSNS; GS>NS). Post‐meal sense of hunger for WS, GS and NS were, 1.6 ± 0.4, 1.3 ± 0.2, and 1.4 ± 0.2. Pre‐meal sense of fullness for WS, GS, and NS were 2.5 ± 0.4, 2.1 ± 0.3, and 1.2 ± 0.2 (W>NS; G>NS). Post‐meal sense of fullness for WS, GS, and NS were 8.5 ± 0.5, 9.2 ± 0.3, and 9.1 ± 0.4. Sense of intent to eat 30 minutes after study completion pre‐ or post‐meal time was not significantly affected by treatment. Calories consumed after WS, GS and NS were 982 ± 62, 1050 ± 61, and 1079 ± 61 (WS