Popping raisins curbs calorie intake in children

Toronto : Eating raisins, or dried grapes, as an after-school snack curbs calorie intake and promotes a feeling of fullness as compared to other snacks, says a study.

The study was conducted by the University of Toronto among a group of normal-weight boys and girls aged eight to 11 years during a three-month timeframe.

Participants were randomly assigned to eat raisins or other snacks, including grapes, potato chips or chocolate chip cookies, until they were comfortably full, according to a Toronto statement.

Additionally, each child received the same standardised breakfast, morning snack and lunch on test days. Subjective appetite was measured before and immediately after snack consumption at 15-minute intervals. Key study findings include:

–Grapes, potato chips and cookies resulted in 56 percent, 70 percent and 108 percent higher calorie intake compared to raisins, respectively.

–Cumulative calorie intake (breakfast + morning snack + lunch + after-school snack) was 10 percent to 19 percent lower after raisins compared to other snacks.

–Although all snacks reduced subjective appetite, desire-to-eat was lowest after consuming raisins.

“To our knowledge, this is the first controlled study that looks at after-school snacking and satiety among children,” said G. Harvey Anderson, professor of Nutritional Sciences and Physiology, University of Toronto, who led the study.

“We found consumption of raisins as a snack prevented excessive calorie intake, increased the feeling of fullness, and thereby may help contribute to the maintenance of a healthy weight in school-age children,” added Anderson.