According to experts, ensuring good energy and nutritional quality in snacks for boys and girls is vital for their development. but, In Spain, snacks for boys and girls are characterized by their high calorie content and low nutritional quality. Which can directly affect health during childhood and leave an imprint in adulthood. According to the “White Book on Snacks for Children”Prepared by a team of nutritionists led by Dr. Ramon de Cangas and driving it Spanish Association of Yogurt and Fresh Dairy Desserts Manufacturers (AEFY)94% of minors choose some dairy product as a snack every three days, with yogurt being chosen in 22.6% of these cases.
At the same time, this research reveals the prevalence of children’s snacking among Spanish boys, girls and adolescents 7.3% of boys and girls ages 3 to 6 eat fruit and yogurt, one of the healthiest groups to snack on. However, this combination is not among the three most common snack options for children over 7 years of age, being replaced by foods such as milk and biscuits (12.5%), sandwich and juice (8.9%), and milk and pastries (8.8%). ).
Common snack foods for kids
Research confirms that as a child grows, the quality of foods included in children’s snacks decreases, especially for those who eat two or more meals. Thus, the most popular option in Spain is the sandwich, usually with sausage. According to one of the sources of this study (assessment of nutritional status, eating habits and preferences in a group of children and young people, aged 7 to 16 years, from the Community of Madrid), Sausage sandwich is present in half of the snacks (49.9%)While the percentage of pastries and biscuits reached 37.1%. As for yogurt, 41.1% of boys and girls between the ages of 3 and 6 years eat dairy products at least once a week, while this percentage between 7 and 12 years old is 32.4%. On the other hand, fruit is not the most chosen option for a snack, it is present in 45.5% of cases. It is noteworthy that the majority of Spanish children do not eat the recommended five servings of fruits and vegetables daily.
In the same way, the White Paper emphasizes that adequate consumption of dairy products, especially yoghurt, is associated with higher diet quality. For this reason, it is recommended as a good choice for children due to its contribution to energy value and its contribution of calcium and vitamin D, which are involved in bone health, metabolism and antioxidant function. And that, Yogurt contains lactic acid bacteria that help digest food, in addition to other benefits such as a functioning immune system. On the other hand, the Spanish Community Nutrition Society (SENC) recommends consuming two servings of dairy products per day, which is equivalent to two servings of natural yoghurt.
Nutritional profile of children’s diets
The White Paper also describes the diet of Spanish children and adolescents, which is characterized by a high protein intake, low carbohydrate intake and, on the other hand, indicates adequate fat consumption. However, it is striking that Vitamin D and calcium intake remained inadequate for two decades.
The White Paper, as explained in the scientific articles referenced in the same book, inadequate nutrition in childhood has short- and long-term health consequences and can lead to consequences such as reduced growth, pathological weight loss, and insufficient development of vital organs and the immune system. Which may lead to infectious and chronic diseases. For this, Experts warn of the dangers of obesity in children and its relationship to cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and some types of cancer.
Likewise, the White Paper notes that obesity exists in children and the socioeconomic level of families, with a higher incidence in low-income settings. And so, according to The “Study of the role of social and economic actors in obesity in school children in Spain” conducted by AESAN, indicates that the prevalence of obesity among girls in low-income families is 2.3 times higher than in higher-income families, and children by 2.2%. higher. Ernesto Gasco, High Commissioner against Child Poverty, explains the need to make healthy eating more accessible: “We all have an important role to play in this mission: to help make it easy and accessible for children to choose a nutritious, balanced and healthy diet, and finally to build a healthier Spain where growth Health is a right for children and adolescents.
The studies in the white paper show this Skipping five meals a day increases the risk of obesity, as does eating snacks between unhealthy hours.
For Antonio Bandres, President of AEFY, the results of this white paper allow us to start a discussion about the need to review the foods that make up snacks and thus strengthen the recommendation for healthier options such as yoghurt: “From AEFY, we consider the consumption of yoghurt in snacks for children to be very important, regardless of their family situation and socio-economic level. “Including them in children’s snacks as a regular food can help improve the nutritional quality of the diet for all children.”
Along these lines, the Director of the White Paper, Dr. Ramon de Cangas agrees: “It is essential to increase the integration of yogurt and fruit as one of the healthiest possible snack combinations, especially in younger children.”
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