However, there is continuing concern about the sugar, salt, and fat content of snack food choices. So snacks are a fact of life for our children. It does matter. It matters nutritionally and economically. With the increasing cost of food, it becomes more important to get the best total nutrition out of our food dollar.
Children have high energy needs because their bodies grow rapidly.
In addition, the activity level of many children is high. Children may not be able to consume enough at one meal to last them until the next meal, especially as we encourage them to eat meals low in fat and rich in fiber. Besides extra calories, snacks can also provide children with other nutrients that may not be furnished completely in regular meals. Results from nutrition surveys indicate that some children in the United States may get less than an adequate amount of iron, vitamin A, and vitamin C. Proper snack selections can supply these needed nutrients and complement the contents of the other meals. Another important role for snacks is to develop good eating habits.