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More and more Italians, due to the restrictions to contain the spread of COVID-19, spend the day at home, a condition that has changed the power supply of families. Second a research by BVA Doxa – Italian Food Union, the new daily life has caused a change in lifestyles in 11.5 million adults, about a third of the entire population aged 25 to 65, who previously lived mainly outside the four domestic walls.
The data of the study, in particular, show that 2 out of 3 Italians, since they have been at home, have mainly changed their way of doing things snack. Favorite snack foods? Homemade fruit, yogurt and desserts (consumption of which has more than doubled) and, of course, the beloved snacks.
The results of the study
3 out of 10 people have a snack more often since they are home
But there is an important fact that emerges from the study: the survey shows that 29% of this target of “neocasalinghi” declares to have a snack more often, both in the morning and in the afternoon (for smart workers the figure rises to 36%). These changes in the approach of Italians to snack at home also affect the quantities. In fact, the study shows that almost 1 in 2 people who spend most of the day at home claim to have one a little richer snack than usual.
The risks of an unbalanced snack
A healthy snack, if too rich or abundant, it could however be disadvantageous. “If on the one hand it is certainly positive that Italians have a snack more often than before because in this way it is possible to better distribute the daily caloric quota, on the other hand we must be careful not to overdo it with a too high calorie snack, especially in this moment when people are at home and do less movement and physical activity, ”says the prof. Luca Piretta, Nutritionist and Gastroenterologist. “In particular, when preparing a sweet at home, which is among the most consumed snacks in this historical period and remains an excellent choice for snacks, care must be taken to the doses and quantity because, not being a portioned product, there is the risk of eating a slice of cake or tart larger than necessary “.
The ideal snack for adults
The ideal snack must therefore be balanced both in the quantity and in the quality of the chosen ingredients. Green light to a portion of seasonal fruit, or a fruit salad, to combine with a homemade snack, such as the classic bread and ham or bread and fresh tomato sauce and oil or a slice of homemade cake or a packaged snack, which “If consumed moderately – adds prof. Piretta – can represent one of the alternatives correct for the snack of Italians at home. The advantage of the snack is also the fact that it is one portioned snack and therefore to have a predetermined caloric content that guarantees that the recommended caloric intake is not exceeded. It plays a rewarding role for kids and never giving it up, as well as not being an unnecessary measure, can turn out to be a boomerang. The ideal, however, is always that of alternate a mix of products with a snack, packaged or homemade, and a fruit “.
Children’s snack
The Doxa – Italian Food Union survey also took stock of the snack at home children from 4 to 13 years old. Research has shown that 1 in 2 children have changed their way of doing things snack since he’s home. Among the most consumed products for the mid-morning or mid-afternoon snack we find snacks and cookies, whose values have remained unchanged compared to before the advent of the pandemic, followed by the homemade dessert, the bread with jam or spreads, from yogurt and fresh and dried fruit.
And the Italian Food Union, together with the Bambino Gesù Institute for the health of the Child and Adolescent, recently disclosed the “Manifesto of the snack”, A document in which experts suggest the secrets to do it correctly and the weekly combinations to help parents prepare it always different.
Advice? It is to never repeat it the same every day and always alternate different foods. The children’s body, in fact, needs all nutrients which can be obtained from fruit, yogurt, bread, homemade or packaged desserts, rustic pies with vegetables, ice cream and smoothies. But also to customize it according to the age of the baby.
Children of 4-6 years they can for example eat a jar of yogurt whole with 20 g of dry wholemeal biscuits or a 25 g sandwich with 15 g of lean cooked ham and an extract (100 ml) of fresh seasonal fruit.
Children’s snack from 7 to 11 years it can be composed of 200 g of apple with a teaspoon of honey, a sprinkling of cinnamon and 10 g of chopped hazelnuts or, if they prefer the salty alternative, 50 g of White pizza with 80 g of fresh tomatoes, 25 g of chickpea humus and a pinch of salt.
For the guys between 12 and 14 years, a typical snack wholemeal croissant with 100 g of fresh seasonal fruit or an artisanal ice cream in a 150 g cup are ideal alternatives.
The afternoon snack for kids from 15 to 17 anni is made up of 80 g of wholemeal bread with 50 g of bresaola and 80 g of rocket or a fresh fruit smoothie (for example 150 g of peach and 150 g of apricot) with 150 g of whole milk and 25 g of oat flakes.
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