Alexandre Dalifard 5:55 p.m., December 26, 2022

Snack time remains an important moment for children.

Generally sweetened with biscuits, cakes or hot drinks, this snack is necessary for children and especially teenagers according to food sociologist Jean-Pierre Corbeau and nutritionist Patrick Serog.

Are you a snack lover?

Often associated with children, this time of day, which usually arrives at 4 p.m., has a real history.

For Jean-Pierre Corbeau, food sociologist and vice president of the European Institute of Food History and Cultures (IEHCA), "the closer we get to the 21st century, the more the snack appears in our types of society."

"This moment of the day appeared when drinks were developed, that is to say coffee and chocolate", underlines Jean-Pierre Corbeau in the program

Bienfait pour vous

.

But is the snack a real meal?

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"A physiological necessity" for children

As far as children are concerned, snacking is a "physiological necessity" according to nutritionist Patrick Serog.

"They need a snack at some point in the afternoon to be able to continue their activity in a serene way", he explains.

Long reserved for children, afternoon tea has become a real tradition for everyone, as in the United Kingdom with the famous

tea time

.

"This is often made up, depending on the social class, of biscuits. But as soon as we go up in these social classes, we will see sandwiches with salmon or piles of food appear. It almost becomes a real meal , which was not the story at the start", explains Patrick Serog.

To come back to children and the contribution that snacks can have for them, Patrick Serog specifies that this time of day "represents a substantial energy supply which is necessary".

This is explained by the fact that "the energy expenditure of the child will increase during his childhood", indicates the doctor nutritionist.

"You have to let the teenagers eat"

It is from kindergarten that the child will begin to take these snacks because before, he receives meals throughout the day.

For this afternoon snack, Patrick Serog explains that a drink, and above all milk, is recommended.

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It is during adolescence when energy expenditure will really increase considerably.

This means that the quantities consumed during the snack will be greater.

Pasta dishes, a whole package of cakes, all at 4 p.m.?

For Dr. Serog, "it is absolutely necessary to let these teenagers eat".

"It's the only time in life when there is an absolutely staggering energy expenditure compared to the rest of life," he says.

Pay attention to the amount of sugar consumed.