Snacking may be good or bad for your health

By Joe Kleinsasser

Snacking is not a new phenomenon. Its popularity, though, seems to have grown in recent decades.

The snacking options are multiplying for people on the go, thanks to entrepreneurial manufacturers and a general public that enjoys a good snack.

Is snacking good for your health? The answer is a definite "maybe," according to Ann Hunter, a registered dietitian in the College of Health Professions.

"Snacking is far from bad. In fact, in many cases it’s a plus," she says.

"Children need to snack because they can’t tolerate large amounts of food at one time. The elderly frequently can’t eat a lot at one time and also should snack.

"Someone who’s active needs to snack to replace calories, and a ‘regular’ person may snack as long as they understand what they’re doing."

Hunter says the major problem with snacking is losing track of calories.

She says that too often we make improper choices, choosing fatty foods instead of food that is nourishing.

"Experts are saying that grazing is going to be the way that everyone eats sometime during this millennium," says Hunter. "And that means having small feedings all day long.

"This can be great if the choices are good or it can be a negative thing if we are just choosing ice cream and donuts."

Hunter says there are many good snacks that people can enjoy such as vegetables, fruit, pretzels, fruit bars, popcorn and cookies with fruit in them.

Chocolate lovers should know that dark chocolate is better for you than light chocolate because of the antioxidants. But for energy, any chocolate is fine.

"Since there’s really no such thing as a good or bad food, there’s no such thing as a good or bad snack. However, things that we think of as bad, such as donuts, potato chips, and possibly ice cream need to be eaten in moderation," says Hunter.

Hunter will talk about "New News in Nutrition" during a free Soup with Substance lecture at 11:45 a.m. Wednesday, March 15, in the Heskett Center lobby. A bowl of soup and a beverage are complimentary.