Snacking and Skipping Meals

My main observation when looking at our food journals was a majority of people tend to snack often during the day, which could be due to time constraints or lack of appetizing choices at the dining halls. While some of us tended to eat healthy, delicately prepared meals, some of us got quick, unhealthy meals on the go with lots of going out to eat away from the dining halls on the weekends.

            According to David Crawford, writer of Snacking Behaviors of Adolescents and their Association with Skipping Meals, 87-88% of adolescents from ages 12-18 snack at least once a day, which evidently leads to an increased chance of skipping meals, another common theme among students at DU. The main problem many adolescents have is snacking too much on unhealthy food items. Snacks provide 25% of our total energy intake needed for one day, and by over-indulging on this salty, crunchy, tasty foods, unhealthy food patterns involving too much snacking have lead to the increased obesity rates seen in youth all around the country (Crawford). As I eat flaming hot Cheetos while writing this essay, I realize I am also a huge culprit of the snacking food trend.

            Regular meal patterns without constant snacking are important because they provide greater dietary diversity, healthier food choices and higher nutrient intake. However, due to lack of time and temptation of unhealthy snack options, a majority of people tend to snack. According to the study conducted by David Crawford, snacking occurs more often in urban areas in people with higher incomes and education levels. This observation could very well explain the eating habits of many DU students. With education being a primary focus in a majority of student’s lives, eating full meals becomes secondary and snacking becomes frequent. The study also stated that a majority of people snack most often after or during school, with females snacking more often than males (Crawford). 

            What is most shocking about this study is the potential correlation snacking has with skipping meals, which could lead to even more unsafe, unhealthy eating habits. In adolescents, 20% of students skipped breakfast, 12% skipped lunch, and 2% skipped dinner (Crawford). This is also another observation I personally relate with. I often tend to skip lunch during the day due to a hectic schedule, too big a breakfast, snacking during the day, and irregular meal times. I often get hungry when the dining hall is closed, so snacking in order to cure starvation is the only real alternative. In addition, those who snack late at night while doing homework are more likely to skip breakfast, which could potentially explain while some food journals often lacked a breakfast or contained a breakfast almost too small to be considered a real meal. Not only does snacking lead to skipping meals, snacking can tend to lead to other secondary health practices. Those who skipped meals more often were more likely to drink alcohol, smoke, and participate in unhealthy weight control behaviors like dieting and binge-eating (Crawford).

            As seen through DU student’s eating habits and the survey conducted, snacking often and skipping meals in more than common. This unhealthy practice can often lead to health concerns, which can affect one’s work ethic, sleeping patterns, and everyday life. While many DU students attempt to eat healthy, the options available make this alternate lifestyle difficult. In order to change this prevalent eating habit, a wider variety of healthier snack options need to be provided by selling more health foods and removing less healthy options. I hope to benefit from this change by eating something like a fruit or vegetable instead of flaming hot Cheetos. 

Works Cited

Crawford, David. "Snacking Behaviours of Adolescents and Their Association with Skipping Meals." International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity. BioMed Central, 17 Sept. 2007. Web. 15 May 2012. <http://www.ijbnpa.org/content/4/1/36>.