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The science of nutrition and healthy eating
The science of nutrition and healthy eating

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2 Healthy snacks

Do you eat snacks like those in Figure 10? Should we be eating them?

Examples of snack foods
Figure 10 Examples of snack foods

Activity 4 Being more aware of what is in your snack

Timing: Allow approximately 20 minutes.

Make a list of the snacks you eat and when you tend to eat them. Think about the Eatwell Guide and make an assessment of whether they fit into the healthy eating guidelines. Compare the labels of the snacks according to the labelling guides in Week 4. Now answer the following questions.

  • Do you eat snacks?
  • If yes, from your list are there any you would consider changing?
  • If so, which ones and why would you change them?
  • What makes you have a snack? Reflect on your reasons and write them in the box below. Click ‘Save’ when you are happy with what you have written.
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Discussion

There is nothing wrong with having snacks. Some people need snacks to ensure they have enough energy from food throughout the day. The main point to remember is that you choose the type of snack that suits your needs for health.

The Change 4 life website has many tips and ideas that will help you make suitable choices (Figure 11).

Two Change 4 life logos
Figure 11 The Change 4 life initiative for children and adults (Change 4 life, 2018 [Tip: hold Ctrl and click a link to open it in a new tab. (Hide tip)] )

This is an England and Wales initiative but there are initiatives in Scotland and Ireland too (Figure 12).

Large text that reads: Choose to live better
Figure 12 Healthy eating campaign for Scotland (Eat better feel better, 2018)
Described image
Figure 13 Healthy eating campaign for Ireland (Choose to live better, 2018)