(ARA) - The Journal of the American Dietetic Association recently published a report confirming something parents have suspected for a long time -- kids get almost half their daily calories from snacks.
"There used to be a time when candy bars, chips and pretzels were the only snacks available for kids on the go; but as Americans are becoming more conscious about the dangers of obesity, there is more demand for healthy snacks," says Don Davide, senior brand manager for the snack food company Hain-Celestial.
Researchers believe that unhealthy snacking is a significant cause of rising obesity rates among children. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 15 percent of children and teens between the ages of 6 and 19 are considered overweight -- a number that has more than doubled since 1980.
The trend is prompting a lot of parents to change their buying behavior, and the food companies are taking notice. Chances are good you've already noticed the latest trend in snack foods at the grocery store. Healthy snacks that used to be messy to eat "on the go" now come in tubes. Today, kids can enjoy yogurt, peanut butter, jelly and even apple sauce whenever and wherever they want. "The idea is to make healthy snacking convenient for both kids and their parents," says Davide.
Hain-Celestial's Walnut Acres has been selling its certified organic apple sauce in squeezable tubes since September 2002. Right now, the only place to find "Fruit Squeezies" is in conventional supermarkets, natural supermarkets and independent health food stores.
Fruit Squeezies come in two flavors -- Go Berry Wild and Wild Apple. They contain pureed certified organic apples, organic grape juice concentrate, natural flavors and added vitamin C.
You can find more information about Walnut Acres, America's first organic food company, by logging onto www.hain-celestial.com.
Courtesy of ARA Content