Claire Theobald
Education Services Manager, British Nutrition Foundation
As diets among UK teenagers fall short of key nutritional recommendations,1 healthier snacking habits could play an important role in supporting their health long-term.
For many, snacking is a daily habit. The question is not whether young people snack, but what they are snacking on.
Getting the right nutrients as they grow
Snacking itself is not necessarily bad for children’s health. What matters is the overall balance and nutritional quality of the food and drinks they consume. Young people are going through a period of rapid growth and development; healthier snacks can provide important nutrients. This is the thinking behind Snack-tember, a campaign from the British Nutrition Foundation that encourages schools, families and young people to rethink snacking and discover simple ways to make healthier choices.
Benefits of fibre
According to the latest national dietary survey, only one in 10 young people aged 11–18 are getting their ‘5 A Day.’ Only 4% (on average) have their recommended 25g of fibre each day, and many have more than double the maximum recommended amount of free sugars. 1
Including vegetables, fruit and fibre is key for healthy snacks. Fruit and vegetables provide important vitamins and minerals, which contribute to key functions in the body, such as that of the immune system and brain.
Fibre, from foods such as wholegrains, beans and fruit and vegetables, is important for gut health. Fibre also has other functions, such as helping reduce the risk of heart disease, some cancers and type 2 diabetes. Some types of fibre can even act as food for beneficial bacteria in our digestive system.
Including vegetables, fruit and fibre is key for healthy snacks
Schools’ role in healthy eating
Schools play a key role in equipping children and young people to make informed food choices. Campaigns such as Snack-tember provide schools with practical resources and activities that make healthy eating engaging and achievable, helping translate nutrition knowledge into everyday habits.
With many young people missing out on key nutrients needed for growth, development and long-term health, healthier snacking is more than a small dietary tweak. Initiatives like Snack-tember can help make healthier choices the easy choices.
[1] gov.uk. National Diet and Nutrition Survey 2019 to 2023. Official statistics. tinyurl.com/3umr239n.
