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 MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - Jo Spann used to be a steak-and-potatoes, three-squares-a-day type, but as the years have gone by, the 72-year-old now finds herself snacking "all the time." A full meal now is usually a once-a-day event. Researchers say such snacking is OK — in fact, regular nibbling can be good for older people.
An Auburn University study of the diets of 2,000 people aged 65 and older found that snackers ate more calories at a time in their lives when they are susceptible to weight loss and poor nutrition. Snacking provided significantly more protein, carbohydrates and fat.
So while snacking might fuel obesity for the young, it may ensure that seniors are eating enough calories, said Claire Zizza, an assistant professor of nutrition at Auburn and lead author of the study published in this month's Journal of the American Dietetic Association.
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