Abstract

ROCHA, Ada  and  LEITE, Daniela. Quality Assessment of Snacks in a Population with Special Needs. Nutrícias [online]. 2012, n.15, pp.05-08. ISSN 2182-7230.

Objectives: Quantity assessment of midmorning and midafternoon snacks in a population with special needs attending to a social solidarity institution. Methodology: The sample comprised 58 clients, aged 17 to 61 years. It was estimated the nutritional composition of 621 mid-morning snacks and 733 midafternoon snacks, through direct observation and recording of each type of food, as well as trademarks at the time of consumption. Total energy content and percentage of macronutrients of total mid-morning and midafternoon snacks were compared with recommendations for adults. Anthropometric, demographic, family and socio-economic issues were obtained through a survey applied to caregivers. Results: Most snacks consumed at midmorning and midafternoon was brought from home. The median sugar content of midmorning and midafternoon snacks was significantly higher than the recommended values (three and four times higher, respectively), while the protein and total energy content of midafternoon snacks were lower than recommended. Males consumed more energetic snacks. 87.0% of caregivers considered midmorning and midafternoon snacks prepared as healthy choices. Parents were the caregivers who prepared the most energetic snacks. Conclusions: It seems appropriate to consider educational policies for caregivers about the quality of prepared snacks, emphasizing the importance of choosing few refined and low sugar items to include in snacks.

Keywords : Snacks; Nutritional composition; Caregivers; Population with special needs.

        · abstract in Portuguese     · text in Portuguese     · Portuguese ( pdf )