New research has revealed that a fifth of calorie intake for children aged just two to four-years-old is from foods like biscuits, chocolate, soft drinks, and savoury snacks.
This calorie intake from these treat foods rises to 25% for children of primary school age.
The START campaign from safefood, the HSE and Healthy Ireland is encouraging parents to continue to take steps towards healthier family habits by reducing the amount of treats they give their children and to give healthier snacks when children are hungry.
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The research also found that treat foods like biscuits, chocolate, soft drinks, and savoury snacks contributed significantly to the total intakes of saturated fat and added sugar among children aged 2-4 and 5-12.
The research, which was conducted in May 2022, analysed existing national food consumption data to understand the role of snacking and treat foods in children’s lives and to identify patterns of consumption in households and how that impacted upon dietary quality overall.
Introducing the research, Dr Aileen McGloin, Director of Nutrition with safefood said: “We know that snacks play an important role in children’s diets, particularly so for younger children.
"However, what this research is showing is that children are getting too many of their snacks from unhealthy foods like biscuits, crisps, chocolate, and sweets.
"We want to support parents to rethink their children’s snacks, both in terms of what they buy and what they give.
"Offering healthier snacks particularly during those after-school times during the week would be a good place to start."
Sarah O’Brien, National Lead for the HSE’s Healthy Eating and Active Living Programme continued “Snacking everyday on unhealthy foods like biscuits,chocolate and crisps means that our children aren’t getting all the nutrients they need to help them grow and develop.
"It can also mean they are at greater risk of tooth decay. Replacing these snacks with nutritious foods such as vegetables, fruit, cheese and so on may be challenging but it can be done."
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