(Redirected from Snack)
A 'snack food' (commonly shortened to 'snack') is seen in Western culture as a type of food not meant to be eaten as a main
meal of the day (
breakfast,
lunch,
dinner) but one that is intended rather to assuage a person's
hunger between these meals, providing a brief supply of energy for the body, or as a food item consumed between meals purely for the enjoyment of its taste.
Appeal
Snack foods are generally designed to be portable, quick and satisfying.
Processed snack foods are designed to be less perishable, more durable, and/or more appealing than prepared foods. They often contain substantial amounts of
sweeteners,
preservatives, and appealing ingredients such as
chocolate,
peanuts, and specially designed flavors (such as flavored
potato chips).
Nutritional concerns
Foods manufactured primarily as snack foods are often subjectively classified as
junk food: they have little or no nutritional value, and are not seen as contributing towards general
health and
nutrition. With growing concerns for
diet,
weight control and general
health, government bodies like
Health Canada[1] are recommending people make a conscious effort to eat more healthy, natural snacks such as
fruit,
vegetables,
nuts and
cereal grains while avoiding high-calorie, low-nutrient junk food.
Industry concerns
The snack food industry in market-driven societies such as the
United States generates billions of dollars in revenue each year. The market for processed snack foods is enormous, and a number of large corporations are constantly struggling to capture larger shares of the snack food market. Consequently, heavy promotions are used to convince consumers to buy snack foods. Processed snack foods are advertised far more than regular nutritional foods (such as fruit, vegetables, meat, dairy products), and the flashiest
TV commercials and
advertising campaigns are often designed to sell these products.
Types of snack foods
Gallery
See also
★
List of snack foods
★
Canapés
External links
★
Complete Recipes: Snacks
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