Teens More Satisfied During The Day With Soy Protein Snacks

New findings published in the Journal of Nutrition reveal that afternoon snacks high in soy protein may help satisfy hunger and reduce the risk of future unhealthy habits in teens.

Researchers at the University of Missouri-Columbia found that certain snacks high in soy protein could be used to help to reduce snacking in some teens.

"Our research showed that eating high-protein snacks in the afternoon helps teens improve the quality of their diets as well as control appetite," researcher Heather Leidy, an assistant professor of nutrition and exercise physiology, said in a statement. "Standard meals tend to go to the wayside for kids this age -- particularly from mid-afternoon to late evening -- and many of the convenient 'grab-and-go' snacks are high in fat and sugar. When kids eat high-protein snacks in the afternoon, they are less likely to eat unhealthy snacks later in the day, which is particularly important for kids who want to prevent unhealthy weight gain."

For the study, researchers analyzed data from teens between the ages of 13 and 19 who were classified as either normal weight or overweight. Researchers then examined how snacking in the afternoon affected their appetite, drive to eat and food choices later in the day. They also looked to see if skipping afternoon snacks affected their health or ability to focus in school. Then, they measured how afternoon snacking affected teens' cognitive performance and mood.

"In addition to the appetite and satiety benefits, we found that when the teens ate the high-protein snacks, they incorporated more protein throughout the day and consumed less dietary fat," Leidy concluded. "Thus, adding protein snacks in the afternoon could be a good strategy for individuals who are trying to eat more protein throughout the day. In addition, we also found that the high-protein snacks improved certain aspects of mood and cognitive function."