Low-calorie Snacks Research Articles

Study on the Package Design Effect on Low-Calorie Snacks: Analyzing the Basic Behavior of Emotional Design in Low-Calorie Snacks Focused on Delight Project

Study on the Package Design Effect on Low-Calorie Snacks: Analyzing the Basic Behavior of Emotional Design in Low-Calorie Snacks Focused on Delight Project

An Apple and Acáchul Berry Snack Rich in Bioaccessible Antioxidants and Folic Acid: A Healthy Alternative for Prenatal Diets.

A fruit leather (apple and acáchul berry) oriented toward women of reproductive age was developed. The snack was supplemented with an ingredient composed of folic acid (FA) and whey proteins (WPI) to ensure the required vitamin intake to prevent fetal neural tube defects. In order to generate a low-calorie snack, alternative sweeteners were used (stevia and maltitol). The fruit leather composition was determined. Also, an in vitro digestion process was carried out to evaluate the bioaccessibility of compounds with antioxidant capacity (AC), total polyphenols (TPCs), total monomeric anthocyanins (ACY), and FA. The quantification of FA was conducted by a microbiological method and by HPLC. The leather contained carbohydrates (70%) and antioxidant compounds, mainly from fruits. Bioaccessibility was high for AC (50%) and TPCs (90%), and low for ACY (17%). Regarding FA, bioaccessibility was higher for WPI-FA (50%) than for FA alone (37%), suggesting that WPI effectively protected the vitamin from processing and digestion. Furthermore, the product was shown to be non-cytotoxic in a Caco-2 cell model. The developed snack is an interesting option due to its low energy intake, no added sugar, and high content of bioactive compounds. Also, the supplementation with WPI-FA improved the conservation and bioaccessibility of FA.

Almond defect and freshness inspection system using hyperspectral imaging and deep learning techniques

Almonds, recognized as a nutritious and low-calorie snack rich in unsaturated fats and essential nutrients, are primarily imported from California. Despite undergoing grading control by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), concerns persist regarding the presence of defective kernels. Manual hand-picking is the conventional method for almond processing; however, prolonged picking can reduce accuracy due to visual fatigue. Consumers prioritize freshness due to fungi’s potential for aflatoxin production, emphasizing the need for vigilant almond consumption. In response to these challenges, this study presents an innovative approach that employs a lightweight VGG16 and an enhanced MobileNet model for identifying defects based on RGB images of almonds. This method effectively classifies broken, scratched, and malformed kernels. Additionally, hyperspectral imaging (HSI) data in the 400–1000 nm range were collected to distinguish insect-damaged from undamaged kernels and assess almond freshness. For comparative analysis, various band selection algorithms were applied to extract distinct spectral bands. For insect damage identification, we propose a merged CNN model created by simultaneously combining 1D- and 2D-CNNs, allowing for the concurrent extraction of spectral and spatial characteristics. This approach achieved a remarkable ACC of 0.9905 and a Kappa value of 0.9521. Meanwhile, in evaluating freshness, PCA was employed to select the first 30 principal components as vital bands. Our proposed lightweight 1D-CNN delivered an ACC of 0.9768 and a Kappa value of 0.9527 in freshness assessment.

INTERNATIONAL BRAND IMAGE DEVELOPMENT FOR MSMES: CASE OF LEGIT CRACKERS

The growth of MSMEs drives Indonesia's economic growth in significant contribution. Businesses that are quite popular with MSMEs are businesses in the culinary sector. Legit Crackers is an MSME that produces snacks in the form of high quality and low-calorie mackerel fish crackers. Fish crackers are a popular snack among Indonesian people, with various types and various flavors. However, like many other MSME’s businesses, the fish cracker business also faces a number of problems that need to be overcome. One solution is to develop product formulas and brand images. This is important because good product quality can influence the awareness, trust and confidence of potential buyers. For Legit Crackers, a low-calorie snack business that was founded in 2017, building a brand image is a challenge. To increase marketing potential, good quality and unique product development, packaging and promotions are carried out. Development of a comprehensive strategic plan to overcome production efficiency problems, improve business image, and open access to international markets. This research aimed to innovate and develop market potential for low-calorie snack products. It is hoped that this will improve consumer brand image towards Legit Crackers, develop the low-calorie snack market potential and penetrate the global market.

The influence of social norms on anticipated snacking: An experimental study comparing different types of social norms

Previous studies have found that social norms affect eating behavior for different types of social norm measures and manipulations as well as different types of eating behavior. The current study investigated the effects of descriptive, injunctive, and liking norms on intentions to consume healthy snacks and anticipated snack choice, compared to a no-norm control condition. Moreover, we distinguished between descriptive norms that stress the frequency versus the quantity of food consumption. An experiment was conducted among 189 young adults. It was hypothesized that participants who received a descriptive quantity or frequency norm would intend to consume, and make an anticipated selection of, more low-calorie snacks than participants who received a no-norm control message. Due to inconsistency or lacking evidence regarding the effects of the other types of norms on eating behavior, no hypotheses were formulated for the injunctive and liking norm conditions. The hypothesis was partly confirmed. Descriptive quantity and frequency norms did not result in a stronger intention to consume healthy snacks in the upcoming week, but they did result in lower-calorie snack choices when people were asked to select three snacks that they planned to eat on the following day. No other differences between the conditions were found. These findings show that emphasizing both how much and how often most other people consume healthy foods affects anticipated healthy food choices. This can provide health professionals more options to mobilize the power of descriptive social norms for affecting health behavior change.

Training on making Nata de coco at SMA Kesatrian 1 Semarang

Nata de coco business development has good economic potential. Nata de coco is a low-calorie snack whose fiber can aid physiological processes. It has an appealing aroma and can be prepared in a variety of flavors, and it lasts a long time. The nata de coco snack was chosen as the training material because it can be prepared with simple processing technologies, making it simple to execute for students. The purpose of the program for SMA Kesatrian 1 Semarang students is to strengthen their business skills. Lectures, debates, and practices are used to carry out the program method. The program's results reveal that students understand and can produce nata de coco, as well as the different types of nata. Students believed that the nata-making course was quite beneficial in increasing their excitement for entrepreneurship.

Daily stressors and food choices: A lab experiment with low-SES mothers

We investigate experimentally the effects of daily-like stressors on immediate and planned food choices, in a sample of low socioeconomic status (SES) mothers. We design a novel stress protocol that aims to mimic everyday stressors experienced by low socioeconomic status individuals. The protocol consists of budget and time allocation tasks to be performed under time and financial pressure. Immediate consumption is measured with in-laboratory consumption of low calorie and high calorie snacks; planned consumption is measured with an incentivized food shopping task. We find no evidence of a significant effect of the stressor on planned food consumption. We do find a notable increase in high-calorie snacking following the stress protocol but it is not precisely estimated. Overall, we find little support for the hypothesis that daily-life stressors induce unhealthy food choices.

To play or not to play? The relationship between active video game play and electrophysiological indices of food-related inhibitory control in adolescents.

Sedentary behaviors, such as computer use and sedentary video games, are barriers to physical activity, contribute to overweight and obesity among adolescents, and can adversely affect eating behaviors. Active video games may increase daily physical activity levels among adolescents and improve food-related inhibitory control. We compared the effects of acute bouts of active and sedentary video gaming on event-related potential (ERP) indices of food-related inhibitory control, energy expenditure, and ad libitum eating. In a within-subjects design, 59 adolescent participants (49% female, Mage =13.29±1.15) completed two separate counterbalanced, 60-min long video gaming sessions separated by seven days. Immediately after, participants completed two go/no-go tasks with high- and low-calorie images and N2 and P3 ERP amplitudes were measured. Participants also completed a Stroop task and were given high- and low-calorie snacks to consume ad libitum. Results indicated that active relative to sedentary video games significantly increased energy expenditure on multiple measures (e.g., METs, heart rate, kcals burned) and participants consumed more calories after the active compared to the sedentary video game session. N2 amplitudes were larger when participants inhibited to high- compared to low-calorie foods, suggesting that high-calorie foods necessitate increased the recruitment of inhibitory control resources; however, there were non-significant differences for the N2 or P3 amplitudes, accuracy or response times, and Stroop performance between active versus sedentary video game sessions. Overall, sixty minutes of active video gaming increased energy expenditure and food consumption but did not significantly alter neural or behavioral measures of inhibitory control to food stimuli.

A Laboratory-Based Study of the Priming Effects of Food Cues and Stress on Hunger and Food Intake in Individuals with Obesity.

This study aimed to assess the effects of exposures to food cues and stress on hunger and food intake and examine whether cue responses differ by weight status. In a laboratory-based experimental study, participants (n = 138) were exposed to stress, neutral, and food cues delivered using an individualized script-driven imagery task on three separate days. After each cue exposure, participants ate high- and low-calorie snack foods ad libitum (Food Snack Test). Hunger was measured by visual analog scales. Food cues elicited significantly greater increases in hunger compared with neutral and stress stimuli. Cue-induced hunger did not differ by weight status. Participants consumed a similar number of total calories across stimuli. In response to food cue provocation, participants with obesity consumed [mean (SE)] 81.0% (4.0%) of calories from high-calorie foods, which was significantly greater than participants with normal weight (63.5% [3.6%]; P = 0.001). After the stress cue, participants with obesity consumed 81.4% (4.0%) of calories from high-calorie foods, which was significantly more than participants with normal weight (70.2% [3.6%]; P = 0.04). Energy intake from high-calorie foods did not differ by weight status after the neutral cue. Among individuals with obesity, exposure to food and stress cues shifted consumption to high-calorie snack foods within a well-controlled experimental setting.

Stress and Food Preferences: A Lab Experiment with Low-Ses Mothers

We investigate whether short-term everyday stressors leads to unhealthier dietary choices among low socioeconomic status mothers. We propose a novel stress protocol that aims to mimic everyday stressors experienced by this population, involving time and financial pressure. We evaluate the impact of stress on immediate and planned food choices, comparing a group exposed to our stress protocol relative to a control group. Immediate consumption is measured with in-laboratory consumption of low calorie and high calorie snacks; planned consumption is measured with an incentivized food shopping task. The stressfulness of the stress protocol is evaluated using subjective assessments, as well as physiological measurements (heart rate and salivary cortisol levels). We find no evidence of an effect of stress on the nutritional content of immediate or planned food consumption, thus no support for the hypothesis that everyday stressors are a likely explanation for unhealthy food choices.

Food cravings in everyday life: An EMA study on snack-related thoughts, cravings, and consumption

Food craving refers to an intense desire to consume a specific food and is regularly experienced by the majority of individuals. Yet, there are interindividual differences in the frequency and intensity of food craving experiences, which is often referred to as trait food craving. The characteristics and consequences of trait and state food craving have mainly been investigated in questionnaire-based and laboratory studies, which may not reflect individuals’ behavior in daily life. In the present study, sixty-one participants completed the Food Cravings Questionnaire-Trait-reduced (FCQ-T-r) as measure of trait food craving, followed by seven days of Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA), during which they reported snack-related thoughts, craving intensity, and snack consumption at five times per day. Results showed that 86 percent of reported snacks were high-caloric, with chocolate-containing foods being the most often reported snacks. Individuals with high FCQ-T-r scores (high trait food cravers, HCs) thought more often about high-calorie than low-calorie snacks whereas no differences were found in individuals with low FCQ-T-r scores (low trait food cravers, LCs). Further, the relationship between craving intensity and snack-related thoughts was stronger in HCs than in LCs. Higher craving intensity was associated with more consumption of snacks and again this relationship was stronger in HCs than in LCs. Finally, more snack-related thoughts were related to more frequent consumption of snacks, independent of trait food craving. Thus, HCs are more prone to think about high-calorie snacks in their daily lives and to consume more snack foods when they experience intense cravings, which might be indicative of a heightened responding towards high-calorie foods. Thus, trait-level differences as well as snack-related thoughts should be targeted in dietary interventions.

When and How Multitasking Impacts Consumer Shopping Decisions

This project provides insights into how multitasking impacts consumer decision-making. The effect of multitasking on shopping task performance is investigated across three studies. Authors propose that the effect of multitasking on consumers’ shopping task performance (e.g., to purchase low calorie snacks for a get together) is moderated by whether the consumer is in a how (implementation) or why (deliberation) mindset. To the benefit of consumers, results from two lab studies and a field experiment in a retail context suggest that shoppers in how-mindsets can multitask without any negative impact on shopping task performance. However, consumers in a why (deliberation) mindset are negatively affected by multitasking and this effect is mediated by task-induced stress. Results demonstrate that intervention to reduce the stress level eliminates the negative impact of multitasking on consumers in why-mindsets. Taken together, the results suggest that interventions to channel consumers to an implementation mindset or strategies to alleviate the stress levels can help consumers avoid negative impact of multitasking on shopping decisions.

An associative account of how the obesogenic environment biases adolescents' food choices

Adolescents and children are the targets of much food advertising, the majority of which is for unhealthy snacks. Although the effects of advertising on food preferences and consummatory behavior are well documented, our understanding of the underlying mechanisms is still limited. The present study investigates an associative (ideomotor) mechanism by which exposure to rewarding (snack) outcomes may activate behavior that previously resulted in these rewards. Specifically, we used a computerized task to investigate whether exposing adolescents to food pictures directly, or to Pavlovian cues predictive of those food pictures, would bias their subsequent responses towards the presented/signaled food. Furthermore, we assessed whether this effect was particularly pronounced with palatable, high-calorie snacks (crisps and chocolate) relative to low-calorie snacks (tomatoes and cucumber). In two experiments, adolescents learnt that certain key presses would yield particular food pictures – some high calorie and others low calorie – before learning Pavlovian associations between cues (cartoon monsters) and these same food pictures. Subsequently, in a response-priming test, we examined the extent to which the food pictures and Pavlovian cues spontaneously primed the previously associated response. The results show that we replicated, in adolescents, previous demonstrations of ideomotor response priming in adults: food pictures biased responding towards the response that previously yielded them, and this effect transferred to the Pavlovian cues. Furthermore, the priming effect was significantly stronger for high-calorie rewards than for low-calorie. These findings indicate that the ideomotor mechanism plays an important role in the detrimental effect of our obesogenic environment, with its plethora of unhealthy food reminders, on adolescents' food-related choices.

Consumer Acceptance of Population-Level Intervention Strategies for Healthy Food Choices: The Role of Perceived Effectiveness and Perceived Fairness.

The present study investigates acceptance of intervention strategies for low-calorie snack choices that vary regarding the effect they have on consumers’ freedom of choice (providing information, guiding choice through (dis)incentives, and restricting choice). We examine the mediating effects of perceived effectiveness and perceived fairness, and the moderating effects of barriers to choose low-calorie snacks and perceived responsibility for food choice. Data was collected through an online survey, involving three waves that were completed over a seven week timespan. Information was collected on barriers and perceived responsibility, and evaluations of a total of 128 intervention strategies with varying levels of intrusiveness that were further systematically varied in terms of source, location, approach/avoidance, type, and severity. A total of 1173 respondents completed all three waves. We found that the effect of intervention intrusiveness on acceptance was mediated by the perceived personal- and societal effectiveness, and the perceived fairness of interventions. For barriers and perceived responsibility, only main effects on intervention-specific beliefs were found. Government interventions were accepted less than interventions by food manufacturers. In conclusion, the present study shows that acceptance of interventions depends on perceptions of personal- and societal effectiveness and fairness, thereby providing novel starting points for increasing acceptance of both existing and new food choice interventions.

Heterogeneity in barriers regarding the motivation, the opportunity and the ability to choose low-calorie snack foods and beverages: associations with real-life choices.

Employing Rothschild's Motivation-Opportunity-Ability framework, the present study examines the extent to which heterogeneity in barriers regarding the motivation, the perceived opportunity and the perceived ability to choose low-calorie over high-calorie snacks is associated with the proportion of low-calorie snack choices in real life. Furthermore, the study investigates which dominant barrier profiles can be discerned. Data were obtained from a survey about participants' motivation, opportunity and ability to choose low-calorie over high-calorie snacks and an FFQ that measured habitual consumption of snack foods and beverages. Data were analysed using R packages lavaan and NbClust, and IBM SPSS Statistics. A representative sample (n 1318) of the Dutch population based on gender (686 women), age and education level. For both snack foods and beverages, motivation to choose low-calorie over high-calorie snacks was associated strongest with proportions of low-calorie choices. The perceived ability and perceived opportunity were also associated with proportions of low-calorie choices, albeit to a lesser extent. Furthermore, three dominant profiles of barriers were identified: the no-barrier profile, the lack-of-opportunity profile and the lack-of-motivation profile. These profiles differed significantly on proportions of low-calorie snack choices, daily meal consumption and sociodemographic characteristics. Heterogeneity in barriers regarding the motivation, the perceived opportunity and the perceived ability to choose low-calorie over high-calorie snacks is associated with the proportion of low-calorie snack choices in real life. By identifying and appreciating heterogeneity in barriers, the present study provides further incentives for the tailoring of intervention strategies.

Emolabeling increases healthy food choices among grade school children in a structured grocery aisle setting

Health literacy, the ability to acquire health-related knowledge and make appropriate health-related decisions, is regarded as a key barrier to meaningfully convey health information to children and can impact food choice. Emolabeling is an image-based labeling strategy aimed at addressing this problem by conveying health information using emotional correlates of health using emoticons (happy = healthy; sad = not healthy). To test the utility of such a method to promote healthy food choices among children, 64 children (59% girls, <5% non-White, mean BMI = 52nd percentile) in kindergarten through 5th grade were first given a brief 5-min lesson on how to use the emoticons, then asked to choose any 4 foods in each of 2 aisles structured to mimic a grocery aisle – there were 12 identical foods placed in the same location in each aisle with half being low calorie and half high calorie snacks. Foods were emolabeled in one aisle; no emolabels were used in the other aisle; the order that children were brought in each aisle was counterbalanced. Results showed that adding emolabels increased the number (M ± SD) of healthy foods chosen (3.6 ± 0.7 with vs. 2.3 ± 1.1 without emolabels present [95% CI 1.0, 1.5], R2 = .67) and reduced the total calories (M ± SD) of foods chosen (193.5 ± 88.5 Cal with vs. 374.3 ± 152.6 Cal without emolabels present [95% CI −212.6, −149.0], R2 = .70). Hence, adding emolabels was associated with healthier food choices among children, thereby demonstrating one possible strategy to effectively overcome health literacy barriers at these ages.

Pengaruh variasi pemberian Snack bar ubi jalar kedelai hitam terhadap Kadar Superoksida Dismutase (SOD) darah

Background: Snack bar from sweet potatoes and black soybeans is low GI, fat and calorie snack which haveantioxidant content, such as β-carotene, anthocyanin, isoflavone, and antioxidant activity, so can be an alternativesnack for patients with DM type 2. Antioxidants intake can prevent the oxidative stress that lead micro- and macrovascularcomplications in DM type 2. Antioxidant intake may preserve endogen antioxidant capacity, which is can bedetermined by analyzing SOD concentration.Objective: analyze effect variety of Snack bar from sweet potatoes and black soybeans consume to SOD concentration.Methods: experimental post-pretest research used 3 varieties of sweet potato’s color (red, yellow, and purple)interventions. SOD concentration was analyzed by colorimetric. Statistic data was analyzed by dependent t-test andOne Way Anova.Results: No different between groups interventions Snack bar from purple, yellow or red sweet potatoes (p=0,122).Group with snack bar from purple sweet potatoes intervention has lowest SOD decreasing percentage among otherintervention groups.Conclusion: Consume snack bar form purple sweet potatoes and black soybeans can preserve SOD concentrationbetter than consume snack bar form yellow or red sweet potatoes and black soybeans

Development of low calorie snack food based on intense sweeteners.

Intense sweeteners namely Aspartame, Acesulfame K and Sucralose were used in the preparation of sugar substitute sprinklers and these were used in snack food, replacing sugar. Study was conducted with an objective to develop low calorie snack food. The psychometric study showed that the threshold values for Acesulfame K, Aspartame and Sucralose were 0.012, 0.030 and 0.005g respectively. The time intensity study revealed that among three sweeteners Aspartame had more lingering sweetness (at 60s). The sensory evaluation of Shankarpoli prepared using refined wheat flour revealed that there was no significant difference in typical attributes of the snack; Aspartame and Acesulfame K had same sweetness intensity where as Sucralose had higher intensity of sweetness. Consumer acceptance study revealed that 53% of the consumers liked the snack with Sucralose, which is highest compared to other two sweeteners namely Aspartame and Acesulfame K (47%). Thus sweeteners can be used as sweetening agents in traditional food preparations.

Nutritional, Functional and Physical Properties of Extrudates from Blends of Cassava Flour with Cereal and Legume Flours

Low protein and poor functionality limit the use of cassava flour in snack foods, which were modified using blends with cereal and/or legume flours. Native, malted (using alpha-amylase) as well as malted and pre-gelatinized was blended with cereal (finger millet and whole wheat flours) and/or legume (chick pea flour). Extrudates were prepared at a screw speed of 100 rpm and die temperature of 180 °C. Malted flour based extrudates had lower starch content than native flour. Gram malted cassava based blends gave products with the highest protein. In vitro starch digestibility was the highest for pre-gelatinized flour based mixes. Extrudates with low fat and energy have scope as low calorie snacks for obese and diabetic people.

PRODUCTION OF FLAVORED APPLE CHIPS OF HIGH ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY

ABSTRACT The objective of the present study was to create flavored apple chips thatwould conform to consumers’ preferences, and would characterize high anti-oxidantproperties.Theadditionofspicesduringapplechipproductionresultedinincreasedantioxidantpropertiesincomparisonwithcontrolchip(from16.51to 29.12 g of Trolox/kg depending on spice kind and concentration versus16.19 g of Trolox/kg). The increase of antioxidant potential (2–12%) and hightaste-and-aroma attractiveness (from 4.2 points [pts] for control to 4.5 pts forvanilla chips) were observed for apple chips with the addition of vanilla.Considerably higher antioxidant activity (by ca. 25%) and total polyphenolcontent (from 59.09 to 75.20 g of catechin/kg versus 49.45 g of catechin/kg forcontrol)wererevealedfortheapplechipsofpepperflavor–bothforthesweetandhottype.Potentialconsumersfoundthesenewproductsmoreattractiveincomparison to apple chips of garlic, onion and ginger flavor. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS Because of the increasing incidence of civilization diseases, there is agrowing tendency to produce low-calorie snacks. Different fruit chips (pro-duced from apples, carrot, beetroot, banana) are currently available, but theirassortment is quite narrow. The production of flavored apple chips with theaddition of vanilla, pepper, cinnamon and garlic could meet the demand. Theadditives used for chip production, because of their high antioxidant potential,increase the prohealth properties of chips.