Raisins as an after-school snack for children can reduce appetite and help maintain a healthy weight


A recent study looked at the effect of an after-school snack of raisins, grapes, potato chips or chocolate chip cookies on subjective appetite and food intake among children ages 8 to 11. The snack was given without an imposed limit, so children could eat as much or as often as they wanted. Twenty six boys and girls were randomly assigned to eat raisins or other snacks until they were comfortably full.

Additionally, each child received the same standardized breakfast, morning snack, and lunch on test days. Subjective appetite was measured before and immediately after snack consumption at 15-minute intervals. After the raisin snack, snack comsumption was lower and satiety was greater. Cumulative energy intake was lowest after raisin consumption compared to the other snacks.

The study authors concluded that eating raisins as an after-school snack contributes to lower energy intake and subjective appetite and may promote the maintenance of healthier body weights in children.

Bellissimo N, Luhovyy B, Hurton E. et al. An after-school raisins snack reduces subjective appetite and energy intake and increases satiety in normal weight children. Presented at the Canadian Nutrition Society Meeting, Vancouver, Canada May 2012.