In recent years, there’s been a ton of so-called ‘healthy snacks’ filling up store shelves that often sound like good choices for our families, but because of the ingredients, lack of nutrition, and processing, they may actually be more like junk food.
Americans are obsessed with snacking but now that we’re working and learning from home, have less structure to our days, and have more stress, we’re snacking more than ever. In fact, a recent survey conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of CVS Pharmacy found that 66% of U.S. adults are snacking at home more, and 59% are choosing healthier snacks more than they would have before the COVID-19 pandemic.
As a result, the growth of the healthy snacks sector shows no signs of slowing day. According to a 2019 report by Grand View Research, the healthy snacks category is expected to reach $32.88 billion by 2025.
So-called ‘healthy snacks’ include those that are plant-based, vegan, low-sugar, sugar-free, Paleo, gluten-free, organic, made with veggies like cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, and cassava root, avocado and dried fruit, ancient grains, nuts and seeds, spices like cinnamon and turmeric, as well as those snacks that have upgraded sweeteners like dates and coconut sugar.
In this episode, I’m talking with Frances Largeman-Roth, a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, a New York Times best-selling author, and a nationally recognized nutrition and wellness expert about what’s driving the healthy snacks trend, whether these new snacks are healthy or simply healthwashing, and how to read labels and serve them to your kids. We’ll also be talking about easy ways to get real, whole foods in at snack time with smoothies and juices.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 37:29 — 25.7MB)
Welcome
1:14 What’s driving the “healthy snacks” trend?
4:44 For those snacks made with fruits and vegetables, parents want to know: do they count as a fruit and vegetable serving for their kids?
8:31 Are “healthy” junk foods healthy or more marketing and healthwashing than anything?
9:54 What should people look for when they’re reading labels?
14:10 Can these new healthy snacks be good options for parents trying to reduce added sugars in their kids’ diets?
17:12 Are these healthy snacks or junk food at the end of the day and can
parents feel good about serving them to their kids?
17:57 They’re still processed foods—does serving these snacks to kids model unhealthy eating habits?
19:52 Are these healthy snacks easy to overeat?
22:46 What are some healthy food pairings for healthy snacks?
25:35 How should parents think about these healthy snacks and approach serving them to their kids?
30:11 What are the benefits of serving smoothies?
34:40 Are smoothies a meal or a snack?
33:28 What are tips for making smoothies easy and fun with kids?
36:31 Where listeners go to get more information about these food issues?
LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW
This Easy Trick Can Get Your Kids To Eat Healthy: Study
Frances Largeman-Roth’s book: Smoothies & Juices: Prevention Healing Kitchen: 100+ Delicious Recipes for Optimal Wellness
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With hundreds of thousands of Americans dying each year from obesity, type-2 diabetes, and a slew of chronic health conditions—all a direct result of food inequities, a broken food culture, and food marketing, and worsened by COVID-19, a significant shift in how we think about food and how we feed our kids must happen now if we want to change the trajectory of health for our kids. Food Issues hosted by health journalist and blogger Julie Revelant features interviews with authors, researchers, healthy food advocates, and thought leaders who want to educate, inspire, and empower organizations, parents, and local communities to create real, lasting change and ensure a healthier future for our kids. Through profound conversations that uncover the real issues affecting families coupled with easy, practical tips for parents, this podcast is the place to change our kids’ futures.
