That Snack Attack

By Catherine Steele and Beth Ellen Rossen

Summertime, and the living is easy... lots more time to sit back and snack!

What do Canadian youth choose for their snack attack? A survey asked 7,000 Canadian youth, aged 11 to 16 years, how often they eat raw veggies, fruit, chips and soft drinks. The results showed that, at least once a day, 47 per cent ate raw veggies, 76 had fruit, 18 ate chips and 49 consumed soft drinks.

How do you think 319 Canadian youth with disabilities, aged 11 to 16 years, answered the same questions? At least once a day, 32 per cent of youth with disabilities ate raw veggies, 62 had fruit, 25 ate chips, and 52 consumed soft drinks. What a difference! They appear to choose less healthy foods when a snack attack hits.

But wait, there must be some healthy snacks that youth with disabilities can enjoy! We went right to the source -- and here is what youth with disabilities told us: be cool with a sherbet or low-fat frozen yogurt; low fat milkshakes; lemonade; fruit juice; vegetable or tomato juice; and sugar-reduced pop.

For those who are having a serious snack attack, reach for some dried fruit (like dates and raisins), crackers with peanut butter or low-sugar fruit jam, popcorn, unsalted pretzels, bagels, English muffins, Rice Krispies squares, homemade apple crisp, a bowl of healthy cereal... and for those in the mood for major munchies, whole-wheat-crust pizza -- but hold that meat and double cheese.

Now, it is not always easy to stop a snack attack with healthy foods. Our sources gave us some examples of barriers to healthy snacking: lack of available healthy foods while unhealthy foods are accessible; cravings for junk foods; it being "uncool" to eat healthy foods; and lack of time for proper meals.

But have no fear, as some solutions were given. Stock up on healthy foods rather than junk foods, to satisfy cravings; eat junk foods in moderation; try not to skip meals; and, above all, taste your food, eat slowly, and attack a healthy snack.

(If you have any other ideas, please let us know by calling Catherine Steele at Bloorview MacMillan Centre in Toronto, (416) 424-3855 (or 1-800-363-2440), ext. 3642. Or leave e-mail at ortccs@oise.utoronto.ca. Thanks to Laura Booth, Dave Candido, Zeb Lewis and Christine Stapleford for their terrific ideas.)