Snacking Recommendations Worldwide: A Scoping Review

Abstract

Across the globe, dietary habits include the consumption of foods and drinks between main meals. Although often described as "snacks" or "snacking," there is no scientific consensus of what constitutes a snack, either as an eating occasion or as a snack food. Nonetheless, food-based dietary guidelines, compiled at national or regional levels by governments, learned societies, and health organizations, frequently refer to snacking habits and desirable or undesirable snack food choices. This review aims to provide a comprehensive snapshot of snacking recommendations worldwide. From a search of 207 countries and organizations, 49 countries and 7 regional or global organizations were identified that referred to snacks, snack foods, or snacking. A total of 136 snacking-specific recommendations or examples were identified, which varied in nature whereby some provided advice on the quality of the snack food choice and others focused on the frequency or energy and nutrient composition of such snacks. Guidelines varied in terms of the detail of foods and drinks identified, wherein some recommendations focused only on foods or food categories to include (e.g., fruit or dairy) or to exclude (e.g., processed foods), whereas other recommendations made reference to both. Both individual foods (e.g., apples) and food categories (e.g., fruit) were mentioned. Reasons or rationales to support the snacking choices were less frequently identified and varied across regions. It is hoped that this analysis will stimulate discussion on the need for a consensus in the scientific community and beyond with regard to snacking. An agreed-upon definition of snacks, snacking, and snack foods could be used to inform a number of stakeholders and ultimately help consumers adhere to healthful diets as defined locally.

Energy Dense Salty Food Consumption Frequency Is Associated with Diastolic Hypertension in Spanish Children

“…As for SSB and HSF we suggest limiting their consumption according to individual country guidelines. However, we suggest promoting their exchange in favor of a higher consumption of healthy foods, since this practice has been more effective for the general population [48].…”

Daily Snacking Occasions, Snack Size, and Snack Energy Density as Predictors of Diet Quality among US Children Aged 2 to 5 Years

“…Understanding the role that snacking plays in the diet quality of young children is critical given that roughly one out of every four calories consumed by US preschool-aged children are currently eaten outside of meals [3]. A recent review of snacking recommendations from 49 countries and 7 global/regional organizations worldwide, revealed that the most frequent rationale given in support of snacking was the potential value for energy and/or nutrient intakes [4]. This possibility has remained largely speculative where young children are concerned given that empirical inquiry to date has been limited and primarily descriptive [3].…”

“…In 2016, snacking provided 26–27% of daily energy among US children aged two to five years [3]. Given its central contribution to daily energy intake, whether snacking plays an “essential” or “excessive” role in children’s diets is an important nutritional consideration, particularly for young children for whom snacks are believed to have most nutritional relevance for growth and development [4].…”

The Melanocortin System behind the Dysfunctional Eating Behaviors

“…Moreover, the following works have tried to clarify the possible implication of this MC4R SNP in feeding behavior: Stutzmann et al revealed an excessive appetite in a large cohort of European populations, especially eating a large amount of food during meals with a higher frequency of snacking in children and teenagers carriers of this SNP, and a greater hunger in adults carriers of the same polymorphism [ 143 ]. Snacking is a particular dietary pattern, principally during childhood, in which energy-dense and nutrient-poor food is consumed between meals exhibiting a recurrent “snack episode”, which can be translated into a bad feeding style and a risk factor for altered eating behavior and elevated BMI [ 145 , 146 ].…”