Importance of Snacking and its Benefits

Although there is no authoritative definition for the terms “snack” and “snacking,” many people consider snacks to be the food that they eat between meals. Clearly there is a difference between snacking to curb the appetite between meals and eating mindlessly without hunger, for example, out of emotion (e.g. stress or boredom). Snacking can have many benefits, especially when keeping healthier ingredients, portion sizes and personal caloric needs in mind. In fact, healthy snacking is useful for your patients and clients interested in managing their weight, losing weight, sustaining energy throughout the day and especially for those with diabetes.

Snacking Benefit How It Works
For everyone:
Weight management
  • Creates an opportunity to include good-for-you nutrients such as vitamins, minerals and "good" fats in the diet.
  • Provides structure to a daily eating plan, even when work/school/travel schedules are erratic.
Losing weight
  • Pre-empts hunger with planned snacks.
  • Helps to avoid overeating at meals.
Sustained energy throughout the day
  • Fuels the body to prepare for exercise and physical activity.
  • Supplies energy during periods of the day when hunger strikes (e.g. "the 4 o'clock slump").
  • Adds healthy, energy-boosting nutrients to the diet.
For children and adults with Type 1 or 2 diabetes:
Controlling blood sugar
  • Improves blood sugar control by providing consistent source of carbohydrates.
  • Decreases the risk for various causes of hypoglycemia including rapid gastric emptying, known as dumping syndrome and recurrent episodes of low blood glucose levels, known as reactive hypoglycemia.