Snacking - risks and benefits for older people

Snacking is a nutrition phenomenon common among the elderly. There are various patterns, motives and circumstances of snacking, and we still need to do more research to discover the nature of its impact on health. Snacking is usually associated with high energetic density and low content of nutrients, and in this context it may result in excess weight and obesity. However, snacking can be also beneficial for health as it supplements daily food intake with energetic components and other nutrients, as well as fluids, which usually have to be supplemented when an elderly person has only three meals a day. When providing guidelines regarding snacking for the elderly, we have to bear in mind that there is no universal solution for everyone. It is necessary to adjust the guidelines to the body weight and its changes, as well as to the condition of health. Generally, reasonable snacking including such products as vegetables, fruit, low-fat dairy products or wholegrain products, may be of practical significance for improving the quality of the diet of the elderly, both living with their families and in some sort of social care institution or nursing home, and finally for improving their general health condition and quality of life.