What is a Healthy Snack? Expert vs Layperson
We try and eat healthy on a regular basis. Keyword being “try.” Some of us succeed, some of us fail. But, it seems like we all have a difference of opinion when it comes to what is considered to be a healthy snack. Sure, marketing plays a huge role, because many of us expect manufacturers and brands to be honest. Unfortunately, these days brands are stretching the truth and pushing things on their packaging to entice you to purchase, yet they might not be the best option for you. Deceptive? Yes. Illegal? No. The question arises, should there be more regulation on what can go on consumer-packaged goods?
Is this a good healthy snack?
On product packaging these days, many are saying the item is “nutritious,” but what exactly does that mean? It appears that consumers and experts have different definitions and things they look at and for when it comes to a healthy snack option.
Researchers are saying, “In order to promote healthy eating and to design nutrition information panels that are relevant to consumer needs, it is important for nutrition experts and policymakers to understand how the general population defines and interprets the term ‘nutritious’. In line with how nutrient profile scores are defined, experts used terms such as micronutrients and macronutrients, vitamins and minerals, as well as nutrient density and concentration. Lay participants [the general public and consumer], however, used more holistic and descriptive terms such as body needs, fuel, and fresh.”
“The term ‘nutritious’ is currently not regulated in most countries and little is known about how consumers interpret the term, especially when it comes to a healthy snack option. The results also highlight the potential need for definitions and regulation of the term ‘nutritious’ in food marketing.” I believe this is very important even though there has been a crackdown on what manufacturers can put on labels, there are still many out there that are extremely misleading.
Beg to ask the question…
In a published study, researchers asked 269 consumers and 206 nutrition experts what their individual definition is for “nutritious.” They were then asked to view 20 different snack foods and establish if they are nutritious or not (in their opinion). What they found was that the experts spoke about their actual makeup—calories, macronutrients, and micronutrients. Then when the consumers were asked to describe the same 20 snacks, they spoke about if the item was natural, fresh, used as fuel, etc.
Out of all the foods, there seemed to be the biggest difference in whether or not toast and yogurt is considered a healthy snack. Consumers deemed these food items as not nutritious, while the nutrition experts said that they were. Other items such as rice cakes, carrot cake, and other snacks both groups seemed to be on the same page.
I think for the most part (at least I’d like to believe) that we are on the same page in terms of what’s a healthy snack and what isn’t. We’ve been beating the dead horse in the media on “eat this, not that” type of content. Sure, there might be some confusing snacks, but for the most part we should all know the difference on 90% of the items we would normally be consuming. On a side note, it’s my belief that most people who consume the unhealthy snack options know they are unhealthy, they simply don’t care and want to eat them anyway because they taste good.
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