Time, location and frequency of snack consumption in different age groups of Canadians

Abstract

Background: The location and time of snack consumption may influence the composition, nutrient content and portion sizes of snacks. In this study, we aimed to determine and compare the time, location and frequency of snack consumption among different age groups of Canadians. Methods: Nationally representative dietary data from the 2015 Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) were used (19,677 participants aged ≥2 years). Dietary data were obtained using 24-h dietary recalls. Participants were categorized according to the frequency of snack consumption (1 time, 2-3 times, ≥4 times). The snack consumption over 24 h was divided into four time periods: before 10 am, 10 am to 3 pm, 3 pm to 8 pm and 8 pm to 12 am. Meal and snack location was categorized as at home; someone else's home; restaurants; and other. Results: Snacking 2-3 times per day was the most common reported frequency (53.0%). Snacking at home (73.0%) was more prevalent than snacking away from home (27.0%). The most frequently reported time for snacking among Canadians was 3 pm to 8 pm (36.3%), and the least frequently reported time was before 10 am (8.1%). Snacking contributed to a high proportion of Milk and Alternatives (23.7%) and Vegetables and Fruit (23.4%) food groups and lesser proportions of Grain Products (15.4%) and Meat & Alternatives (9.4%) food groups among Canadians. Conclusions: Home is the main location, 3 pm to 8 pm is the main time, and 2-3 times per day is the most common reported frequency for snacking. A full understanding of snacking behaviors is needed in order to develop targeted strategies to improve the quality of snack food choices.

Added sugars, saturated fat, and sodium intake from snacks among U.S. adolescents by eating location

“…Notably, among children in the United Kingdom, energy dense snacks were consumed most frequently at home, yet portion sizes were greater when these same snacks were consumed outside of the home ( Blundell-Birtill and Hetherington, 2019 ). Higher frequency of snacking at home is also consistent with data from Canada, which demonstrate that 73% of snacking in Canadians over 2 years of age occurs at home ( Vatanparast et al, 2020 ).…”

“…Given the significant contribution of snacks to total energy intake and intakes of added sugars, saturated fat and sodium, there is a growing interest in the location (at home, away from home) of snack consumption, which may influence the types, nutrient content, and portion sizes of snacks consumed ( Vatanparast et al, 2020 , Williams, 2016 , Liu et al, 2015 , Todd, 2010 ). Eating away from home is positively associated with higher frequency of snack consumption ( Williams, 2016 ), and higher intake of snacks that are nutrient poor ( Hess et al, 2016 ).…”

“…While consumption of food away from home is associated with greater weight gain over time and poorer diet quality in children and adolescents ( Powell and Nguyen, 2013 ), the prevalence of snacking at home versus away from home among US adolescents is presently unknown. While snacking at home has been reported to be more prevalent than snacking away from home in 13–18 year-old Canadians (74%) ( Vatanparast et al, 2020 ), the prevalence of snacking at home versus away from home among U.S. children and adolescents has been documented only in toddlers (73% at home) and preschoolers (67% at home) ( Jacquier et al, 2018 ). Furthermore, the contribution of snacks consumed at home versus away from home to intakes of added sugars, saturated fats, and sodium has not been evaluated.…”

Comparison of Home Use Tests with Differing Time and Order Controls

“…All samples were mostly consumed at home, followed by the workplace. The snack consumption location for Canadians and Norwegians was home more frequently, followed by the workplace [29,30]. In addition, participants were informed about the 'Home use test' before the experiment.…”

Explaining diurnal patterns of food consumption

“…It has also been reported that people have less self-constraint resources available later in the day (Hofmann, Friese, & Roefs, 2009;Hofmann, Vohs, & Baumeister, 2012;Kouchaki & Smith, 2013), meaning that they may find it harder to resist the temptations associated with less-healthy foods as the day wears on (Haynes, Kemps, & Moffitt, 2016). Consistent with such a suggestion, North American food survey data reveals that snacking tends to be most common in the afternoon, and least common in the morning (see Cross, Babicz, & Cushman, 1994;Vatanparast, Islam, Masoodi, Shafiee, Patil, Smith, & Whiting, 2020). However, over-and-above any differences in the quantity and types of foods eaten during different meal occasions, what is also important is their timing during the day.…”