EATING FREQUENCY - METHODOLOGICAL AND DIETARY ASPECTS

It is commonly stated that 'snack' foods provide 'empty calories' and, therefore elevate energy intake whilst providing insignificant quanti ties of other nutrients, The data presented in the present review sugg est that foods which contribute to the pattern of 'snacking' contribut e significantly to the nutrient quality of the diet, Those who 'snack' frequently tend to eat more food in general, Part of the difficulty i n identifying the nutritional implications of 'snacking' is related to the definitions of 'meals' and 'snacks' and subsequent categorization of individual patterns, The physiological definitions typically relat ing to energy content or the time of eating do not necessarily coincid e with colloquial, cultural or individual perceptions of what constitu tes a 'meal' or 'snack', Clearly, a more consistent approach would fac ilitate interpretation of the literature and enable more effective hea lth education messages about 'snacking' to be delivered.