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Nutritional Intakes and Status as Reported in Surveys 177

Table 6.2.2 Guidance for choosing healthier snack foods and take-away meals

Choose less Reason Choose instead Reason
Fizzy drinks
High in sugar and acid Plain or flavoured milks or Good for strengthening
Diet soft drinks which damage tooth
enamel and increase risk yogurt drinks bone and preventing
Crisps and other savoury of dental caries
snacks fractures during sport
High in acid which
dissolves tooth enamel Plain or sparkling water Do not damage teeth or
May decrease bone bones and good for
density hydrating the skin

High in saturated fat and Sandwiches with meat, More protein, iron and
salt fish, egg or hummus zinc for skin repair and
combined with salad building muscle rather
Pan-fried pizzas High in fat fillings than fat
Plain oven-baked pizza
Doner kebab High in fat bases Less fat and a good source
of nutrients depending
Croissants, doughnuts, High in fat Shish kebab on toppings
sweet pastries, flapjacks
Hot cross buns, tea bread, Less fat and a better
Fries with a burger High in fat fruit scones, pancakes source of protein, iron
and zinc
Fried rice/noodles or naan High in fat Burger in bun with salad
without the fries A convenient high-energy
Creamy and oily sauces Sauces are high in fat Boiled or steamed rice or snack and a good source
with pasta chapatti of a range of nutrients
Tomato-based or
Fried chicken and fish in The batter coatings are vegetable sauces with Less fat and more
batter high in fat with few pasta vitamins and minerals
nutrients Eat the chicken and fish
inside the batter and Low-fat,
throw away the batter – high-carbohydrate
or most of it
Vegetables provide more
vitamins and antioxidants
which aid skin repair

Protein, iron, zinc and
B vitamins from the meat
or fish are good for
muscle building

Young women who do not consume fortified The snacks are more likely to comprise crisps,
breakfast cereals and have low intakes of other biscuits, confectionery and carbonated drinks
important dietary sources of folate, such as green than fresh fruit, sandwiches or milk-based
leafy vegetables, pulses and citrus fruits, are products.
particularly at risk.
●● In fact, savoury snacks such as crisps, potato
Food choices chips, biscuits and chocolate confectionery are
among the most commonly consumed foods,
The National Diet and Nutrition Surveys (NDNS) with large numbers eating them every day.
and other dietary surveys suggest that factors
contributing to nutritional imbalances in this age ●● High consumption of sugar-containing foods
group include the following: and soft drinks provides a high intake of energy
but few micronutrients.
●● Snacking or ‘grazing’ is a common pattern of
eating in this age group, with most adolescents ●● Fruit and vegetable consumption is poor, with
eating on at least six occasions during the day. many adolescents eating less than one portion
a day.