New research recently announced at the Canadian Nutrition
Society annual meeting in Vancouver suggests eating raisins as
an after-school snack prevents excessive calorie intake and
increases satiety – or feeling of fullness – as compared to
other commonly consumed snacks. The study, funded by a grant
from the California Raisin Marketing Board, was conducted among
26 normal-weight boys and girls ages 8 – 11 during a three-month
timeframe. Study participants were randomly assigned to eat
raisins or other snacks, including grapes, potato chips or
chocolate chip cookies, until they were comfortably full.
Additionally, each child received the same standardized
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:
The study was conducted by lead researcher, G. Harvey Anderson,
Ph.D., Professor of Nutritional Sciences and Physiology,
Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Toronto