Snacking for Energy Intake in Preschoolers

Age: < 18

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: The University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Disqualifiers: Food allergies, Spoon use, Attendance, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 3

Duration: 3 weeks

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to assess how providing snacks affects the overall energy intake of young children. Researchers are studying different meal plans: one with just three meals a day (No Snacking), one with three meals plus snacks (Snacking), and another with adjusted meal and snack portions. It is suitable for children aged 3 to 5 who are enrolled full-time at the Early Learning Center, have no food allergies, and can use a spoon. The goal is to determine if snacks influence the total daily food intake of children.

As an unphased trial, this study offers parents a unique opportunity to contribute to research that could shape future nutritional guidelines for children.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether participants must stop taking their current medications.

Is there any evidence suggesting that this trial's treatments are likely to be safe?

Research shows that giving snacks to preschoolers is generally safe and well-tolerated. Studies have found that children aged 1 to 5 who include snacks in their daily meals receive the nutrients needed for thinking, learning, and growth. For instance, one study found that snacks can provide about 25% of a child's daily energy needs, with many children choosing healthy options like fruit and milk.

Snacks are a regular part of children's diets and are included in many child care programs. These programs often offer meals and snacks to help meet children's nutritional needs. Including snacks in a study about energy intake aligns with current practices and is considered safe based on existing research. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about this trial because it explores how different eating patterns affect energy intake in preschoolers. Standard care often involves fixed meal schedules, but this study examines the impact of adding snacks to traditional meals. The unique aspect here is comparing three approaches: meals only, meals with snacks, and a combination strategy where snacks match the meal portions. This could reveal important insights into optimizing nutrition and energy balance for young children, potentially offering a more tailored approach to their dietary needs.

What evidence suggests that this trial's treatments could be effective for energy intake in preschoolers?

Research shows that snacking plays a crucial role in children's daily energy intake. Studies have found that preschool children who snack frequently tend to consume more energy overall. For instance, snacks account for about 27% of children's daily calories, highlighting their nutritional impact. In this trial, one group of preschoolers will receive their caloric needs through three meals, while another group will receive three meals and two snacks, with the total daily food amount matching the three-meal group. A third group will receive three meals and two snacks, with the meals' total matching the three-meal group and the snacks' total matching the meal-plus-snacks group. These findings suggest that snacking can effectively manage or increase energy intake in young children. ^{1 6 7 8 9}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Hollie A Raynor, PhD, RD, LDN

Principal Investigator

University of Tennesseem Knoxville

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for preschoolers aged 3 to 5 who are enrolled in the full day program at the Early Learning Center, University of Tennessee. They must have their guardian's consent and should like the foods served.

Inclusion Criteria

I am between 3 and 5 years old.

have guardian consent to participate

like the foods served

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1-2 weeks

Treatment

Children are provided with 3-to-5 ad libitum eating occasions over the course of a day for three sessions, testing different meal and snack combinations

3 weeks

3 sessions (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

1 week

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• No Snacking
• Snacking

Trial Overview The study is looking into how giving snacks affects overall energy intake in young children. It compares two groups: one that receives snacks and another that does not, to see if snacking influences calorie consumption.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Three Meals (TM) Active Control 1 Intervention

Preschoolers will be provided their caloric needs within three meals.

Group II: Meal plus Snack (M+S) Active Control 1 Intervention

Preschoolers will be provided three meals and two snacks, with total amount of food provided in the day the same as the Three Meal (TM) arm.

Group III: Three Meal plus Snack (TM+S) Active Control 1 Intervention

Preschoolers will be provided three meals and two snacks with total amount provided in the meals equal to the Three Meal (TM) arm and total amount provided in the snacks equal to Meal plus Snacks (M+S) arm.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Lead Sponsor

Trials

93

Recruited

19,500+

Citations

1. nesr.usda.gov nesr.usda.gov/sites/default/files/2024-12/Frequency-meals-snacks_energy-intake-2025DGACSystematicReview.pdf

Frequency of Meals and/or Snacking and Energy Intake Prediction of metabolic syndrome by a high intake of energy-dense nutrient-poor snacks in Iranian children and adolescents. Pediatr Res. 2016. 79:697-704 ...

2. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6717546/

Snacking frequency and dietary intake in toddlers and ... In this study, we examined snacking patterns in toddlers and preschool children and the associations between snacking frequency and daily energy intake.

3. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6365002/

Nutritional quality of meals and snacks served and consumed ... Children consumed 60–80% of the food served; for vegetables, dairy, and whole grains, children ate 60–71% of what was served. The Healthy Eating Index-2010 ...

4. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0002916522031872

Portion size has sustained effects over 5 days in preschool ... Of the total energy served on all 5 menus, the 3 main meals provided 68% and the 3 snacks provided 32%. All study foods were prepared in the laboratory kitchen ...

5. healthaffairs.org healthaffairs.org/doi/10.1377/hlthaff.2009.0666

Trends In Snacking Among U.S. Children Childhood snacking trends are moving toward three snacks per day, and more than 27 percent of children's daily calories are coming from snacks.

6. seattlechildrens.org seattlechildrens.org/health-safety/nutrition-wellness/healthy-snacks/

Healthy Snacks: When, What and Where - Health and Safety For most kids, 3 meals plus 2 snacks a day is a healthy way to go. This fuels them with the nutrients they need to think, learn, grow and play.

7. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10261627/

Cross-sectional analysis of eating patterns and snacking in ... Snacks provided 25 % of daily energy from the age of 12 months. Approximately 40 % of toddlers and pre-school children consumed fruit and cow's milk during ...

8. cacfp.org cacfp.org/assets/pdf/SNACS_Report/

Study of Nutrition and Activity in Child Care Settings 5 In early child care programs, CACFP provides reimbursement for two meals (breakfast, lunch, or supper) and one snack, or one meal and two snacks each day.

9. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6001698/

Daily Snacking Occasions and Weight Status Among US ... Conclusions. Snacking frequency and weight are positively associated among US children 1 to 5 years old, with most consistent associations seen among children ...