A new research report shows that snacks can help people over 65 get enough calories.
The researchers include Dr. Claire Zizza, an assistant professor and registered dietitian in the Department of Nutrition and Food Science at Auburn University. They pointed out that while snacks may disrupt the calorie balance of young people, older adults may need to eat snacks to make up for their calorie deficit because they consume fewer calories.
Claire Zizza's research team analyzed about 2,000 American adults aged 65 and older from the National Health Survey between 1999 and 2002. The survey found that most respondents ate snacks, with an average of 2.5 snacks per day, each providing 150 kilocalories. At the same time, compared to the average daily intake of 1466 kilocalories for non-snackers, snackers had an average daily intake of 1718 kilocalories. The study did not specify exactly what snacks they ate, but snacks accounted for about one-fourth of their daily carbohydrate and calorie intake, 20% of their daily fat intake, and 14% of their protein intake.
The research results show that snacking does not affect the respondents' appetite, as the calorie intake of snackers during meals did not decrease. At the same time, snacking can ensure that older adults have adequate energy intake from their diet. Of course, the nutritional quality of snacks is also important, and the researchers recommend promoting the consumption of healthy snacks suitable for the elderly.