Fruits, cookies, and yoghurts 98% of Brazilian children's snacks

Fruits, cookies, and yoghurts account for 98.2% of the snacks of Brazilian children. Figures can be found in a survey by four paediatrics and nutrition institutions. The research identified the eating habits of children of preschool age during snack time.

The study found that 98.20% of Brazilian children have three food groups for snacks: fruits, cookies, and yoghurts, and that 96.69% of children have an afternoon snack, sometime between lunch and dinner.

More fruits, less sugar

Eating fruit may be viewed as an improvement in Brazil's eating habits. Milk and milk-based beverages were found in nearly 10% of snacks and juice in 8.3%. Soft drinks, in turn, appeared in 5% of kids' afternoon snacks.

The consumption of added sugars, added to the amounts of sugar in their morning and afternoon snacks, was near the limit recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) for children aged four to six-a daily 22.6 grams.

ideal scenario, specialists believe. "Children are not eating enough fruit, and their juice is sweetened. They eat a considerable amount of cereal, with a lot of sugar, cakes, sandwich cookies, and a small amount of dairy," noted Mauro Fisberg, one of the study coordinators and a teacher who specializes in teenage health at the Sao Paulo Medical School.

In his view, the negative impact of these foods depends on how often they are eaten. Excessive consumption may lead to overweight and an increase in chronic illnesses. This is why, he argues, parents are the ones who should be educated, as eating habits are kept under reasonable control at school.

The perfect snacks

According to the recommendation given by the Brazilian Paediatrics Association, children of preschool age are advised to make all main meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner), with three snacks in between-in the morning, afternoon, and the evening, at regular intervals of two and three hours, just long enough to make a child feel hungry for the next meal. To be regarded healthy, children's snack time should include a fruit, carbohydrates of some type, and a source of protein, nearly always milk-based. As for drinks, water and sugar-free juice are recommended.

The survey was conducted in a partnership with the paediatrics departments at the Medical School of the Ribeirao Preto Medical College, the University of Sao Paulo, the Pensi Insititute Center for Eating Difficulties, and the nutrition program at the University of Sao Judas Tadeu, backed by the Brazilian Clinical Nutrition Association.

The study analyzed the responses of parents or legal guardians of 1,391 children aged four to six, all across Brazil.