The DOI matches its Crossref record; 55 of the 58 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Eating frequency: methodological and dietary aspects
Open accessAbstract
It is commonly stated that ‘snack’ foods provide ‘empty calories’ and, therefore elevate energy intake whist providing insignificant quantities of other nutrients. The data presented in the present review suggest that foods which contribute to the pattern of ‘snacking’ contribute significantly to the nutrient quality of the diet. Those who ‘snack’ frequently tend to eat more food in general. Part of the difficulty in identifying the nutritional implications of ‘snacking’ is related to the definitions of ‘meals’ and ‘snacks’ and subsequent categorization of individual patterns. The physiological definitions typically relating to energy content or the time of eating do not necessarily coincide with colloquial, cultural or individual perceptions of what constitutes a ‘meal’ or ‘snack’. Clearly, a more consistent approach would facilitate interpretation of the literature and enable more effective health education messages about ‘snacking’ to be delivered.
Overview
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Verification
Claims the paper makes
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
In the citing paper
“It is also subject to bias of the researcher, as the time intervals to define a meal or snack are often based on their understanding of eating patterns, potentially influenced by local or cultural factors( 44 )”
From Understanding meal patterns: definitions, methodology and impact on nutrient intake and diet quality (2015) · cites this paper as [44]
In the citing paper
“it is not standardised due to subjectivity in participants' allocation of an eating event as a meal or snack( 44 , 48 ).”
From Understanding meal patterns: definitions, methodology and impact on nutrient intake and diet quality (2015) · cites this paper as [44]
In the citing paper
“Although it is widely acknowledged that different definitions used to define meals/snacks are likely to hamper interpretation of findings across studies( 8 , 44 ), research explicitly examining the impact of these different definitions is rare( 55 ).”
From Understanding meal patterns: definitions, methodology and impact on nutrient intake and diet quality (2015) · cites this paper as [44]
Self-check
Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.
The self-check needs the paper’s full text.
Citations
Cites
Goldberg, G. R., Black, A., Jebb, S. A., Cole, T. J., Pr, M., Coward, W. A., & Prentice, A. M. (1991) · PubMed · Cited by 1,927
The dietary and nutritional survey of British adults
(1990) · Trends in Food Science & Technology · doi:10.1016/0924-2244(90)90106-9 · Cited by 884
Black, A., Goldberg, G. R., Jebb, S. A., Livingstone, M. B. E., Cole, T. J., & Prentice, A. (1991) · PubMed · Cited by 537
Nibbling versus gorging: metabolic advantages of increased meal frequency
Jenkins, D. J. A., Wolever, T. M. S., Vuksan, V., Brighenti, F., Cunnane, S. C., Rao, A. V., Jenkins, A. L., Buckley, G., Patten, R., Singer, W., et al. (1989) · New England Journal of Medicine · doi:10.1056/nejm198910053211403 · Cited by 467
Dietary fat:carbohydrate ratio and obesity in middle-aged men
Dreon, D., Frey-Hewitt, B., Ellsworth, N., Williams, P., Terry, R., & Wood, P. (1988) · The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition · doi:10.1093/ajcn/47.6.995 · Cited by 340
Meal frequency and energy balance
Bellisle, F., McDevitt, R., & Prentice, A. M. (1997) · British Journal of Nutrition · doi:10.1079/bjn19970104 · Cited by 279
Social facilitation of duration and size but not rate of the spontaneous meal intake of humans
de Castro, J. M. (1990) · Physiology & Behavior · doi:10.1016/0031-9384(90)90363-9 · Cited by 207
Genetic influences on daily intake and meal patterns of humans
de Castro, J. M. (1993) · Physiology & Behavior · doi:10.1016/0031-9384(93)90188-l · Cited by 152
de Castro, J. M. (1993) · Physiology & Behavior · doi:10.1016/0031-9384(93)90370-u · Cited by 141
Snacking patterns among 1,800 adults and children
Cross, A. T., Babicz, D., & Cushman, L. F. (1994) · Journal of the American Dietetic Association · doi:10.1016/0002-8223(94)92542-9 · Cited by 141
Flagged first, then by citations
3 of the 58 references couldn’t be matched to a known paper.
Research works printed but not linked: 20
- Mela, 1997, Honest but invalid: consumer views on recording their food intake, Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 56, 53A
- Hansen, 1980, Expression of nutrient allowances per 1000 kcal, Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 25, 223
- 1989, The Diets of British Schoolchildren. Report on Health and Social Subjects
- Gregory, 1995, National Diet and Nutrition Survey: Children Aged 1½ to 4½ Years. vol. 1, Report of the Diet and Nutrition Survey
- 1986, What is America Eating?
- Gatenby, 1995, ‘Meals’ and ‘snacks’: implications for eating patterns in adults, Appetite, 24, 292
- 1984, Eating in the Early 1980s. Attitudes and Behaviour
- New, 1997, Frequency of consumption of biscuits, cakes and confectionery: relationship with nutrient intake, Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 56, 157A
- Bolton-Smith, 1997, The relationship between confectionery consumption, physical activity and BMI in a Scottish population, Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 56, 158A
- Gibson, 1996, Consumption of cakes, biscuits and confectionery in British schoolchildren: association with nutrient intakes, Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 55, 121A
- 1991, Dietary Reference Values for Food Energy and Nutrients for the United Kingdom. Report of the Panel on Dietary Reference Values of the Committee on Medical Aspects of Food Policy. Report on Health and Social Subjects
- New, 1996, Relationship between biscuit, cake and confectionery consumption to body mass index and energy intake in Scottish females, Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 55, 122A
- Livingstone, 1991, Children's food and snacking, CHO International Dialogue on Carbohydrates, 2, 1
- Poppitt, 1995, Is under-reporting of energy intake in obese women macronutrient specific? Covert measurements in a metabolic facility, International Journal of Obesity, 19, 29
- 1985, Nationwide Food Consumption Survey, Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals: Men 19–50 years and Children 1–5 years, I day, 1985, National Food Consumption Survey Report
- Musgrave, 1981, Strategies for measuring adolescent snacking patterns, Nutrition Reports International, 24, 557
- Robson, 1991, Snack energy and nutrient intakes of Northern Ireland adolescents, Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 50, 180A
- Ruxton, 1994, Few differences in mean daily intake associated with a high intake of snacks in schoolchildren, Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 53, 253A
- Schlettwein-Gsell, 1996, Euronut SENECA Investigators. Longitudinal changes in dietary habits and attitudes of elderly Europeans, European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 50, 556
- Schlettwein-Gsell, 1991, Euronut SENECA investigators. Dietary habits and attitudes, European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 45, 83
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Items 101–180 of 180
Food Patterns and Nutrient Intake in Relation to Childhood Obesity
Rodrı́guez, G., Sjöberg, A., Lissner, L., & Moreno, L. A. (2010) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-1-4419-6039-9_18 · Cited by 12
Heller, T., Kloos, C., Kessler, D. S., Muller, N., Thierbach, R., Wolf, G., & Müller, U. (2014) · Diabetic Medicine · doi:10.1111/dme.12616 · Cited by 11
Meal patterns and food selection of elderly people from six European towns
de Groot, C. P. G. M., Schlettwein-Gsell, D., Schroll-Bjørnsbo, K., & van Staveren, W. A. (1998) · Food Quality and Preference · doi:10.1016/s0950-3293(98)00030-5 · Cited by 9
Gauche, H., Calvo, M. C. M., & de Assis, M. A. A. (2006) · Revista de Nutrição · doi:10.1590/s1415-52732006000200005 · Cited by 9
Waterhouse, J. M., Edwards, B., & Reilly, T. (2005) · Biological Rhythm Research · doi:10.1080/09291010500051733 · Cited by 8
Patterns of energy intake in patients with cirrhosis and healthy volunteers
Madden, A. M., & Morgan, M. Y. (1999) · British Journal Of Nutrition · doi:10.1017/s0007114599001105 · Cited by 8
Wills, W., Dickinson, A. M., Short, F., & Comrie, F. (2013) · Catalan Journal of Communication & Cultural Studies · doi:10.1386/cjcs.5.2.221_1 · Cited by 6
Ms, Z., Mirnalini, K., Safiah, M. Y., Tahir, A., Haslinda, S., Siti Rohana, D., My, K. Z., Hasyami, S. M., Normah, H., & Fatimah, A. S. (2008) · PubMed · Cited by 7
Food habits of the school population from La Mancha-Centro Health Area (Ciudad Real)
González-González, A., Falero-Gallego, M. P., González, O. R., & Muñoz-Serrano, A. (2016) · Anales de Pediatría (English Edition) · doi:10.1016/j.anpede.2015.06.016 · Cited by 6
Glutamate and Caffeine intake of Some Snacks and Drinks in Saudi Arabia
Hassan, M. I., & Al-Abbad, N. A. (2011) · Food and Nutrition Sciences · doi:10.4236/fns.2011.22023 · Cited by 6
Al‐Qahtani, A. M., & Alharbi, L. F. (2019) · Current Nutrition & Food Science · doi:10.2174/1573401315666191009095502 · Cited by 6
Hunt, L. C., Dashti, H. S., Chan, Q. M., Gibson, R., & Vetter, C. (2020) · Nutrients · doi:10.3390/nu12041170 · Cited by 6
Gupta, C. C., Dorrian, J., Coates, A. M., Zadow, A. J., Dollard, M. F., & Banks, S. (2020) · Work · doi:10.3233/wor-203228 · Cited by 6
MATSUSHITA, S., Hashizume, M., Kisara, K., Yokoyama, Y., Kotemori, A., Tada, Y., Hida, A., Yoshimura, Y., Ishizaki, S., & Kawano, Y. (2019) · Journal of Nutritional Science and Vitaminology · doi:10.3177/jnsv.65.233 · Cited by 6
Raulio, S. (2011) · Työväentutkimus Vuosikirja · Cited by 6
Tumuluru, J. S. (2015) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-384947-2.00632-2 · Cited by 10
Unpredictable Feeding Impairs Glucose Tolerance in Growing Lambs
Jaquiery, A. L., Oliver, M. H., Landon-Lane, N., Matthews, S. J., Harding, J. E., & Bloomfield, F. H. (2013) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0061040 · Cited by 5
Abidoye, R. O., Madueke, L., & Abidoye, G. O. (2002) · Nutrition and Health · doi:10.1177/026010600201600307 · Cited by 5
Abstracts of Original Communications (King's College, London, UK. 7–10 July 2003)
Pagmantidis, V., Villette, S., Bermano, G., Broom, J., Arthur, J. R., & Hesketh, J. E. (2003) · Proceedings of The Nutrition Society · doi:10.1017/s0029665103000776 · Cited by 5
Factors that influence snacking behaviors among urban Indian adolescents – a qualitative inquiry
Rathi, N., Worsley, A. F., & Bruening, M. M. (2025) · Frontiers in Nutrition · doi:10.3389/fnut.2025.1637799 · Cited by 4
To Snack or Not to Snack: What should we advise for weight management?
PALMER, M. A., Capra, S. M., & Baines, S. (2011) · Nutrition & Dietetics · doi:10.1111/j.1747-0080.2010.01497.x · Cited by 4
Lunch eating patterns during working hours and their social and work-related determinants
Raulio, S. (2011) · Cited by 4
Patrón dietético de la población escolar del Área La Mancha-Centro (Ciudad Real)
González-González, A., Falero-Gallego, M. P., González, O. R., & Muñoz-Serrano, A. (2015) · Anales de Pediatría · doi:10.1016/j.anpedi.2015.06.001 · Cited by 4
Dietary intake and the contribution of snacks among adolescents during the summer months
Anding, J. D., Kubena, K. S., McIntosh, W. A., & Wolinsky, I. (1998) · Journal Of Consumer Studies and Home Economics · doi:10.1046/j.1365-2737.1998.00077.x · Cited by 4
Schübert, H., Müller, U., Kramer, G., Muller, N., Heller, T., Kloos, C., & Kuniß, N. (2018) · Experimental and Clinical Endocrinology & Diabetes · doi:10.1055/a-0631-8813 · Cited by 4
Fuentes, F. I., Northstone, K., Zou, M., & Johnson, L. (2025) · American Journal of Clinical Nutrition · doi:10.1016/j.ajcnut.2025.01.012 · Cited by 2
Maffeis, C., & Provera, S. (2000) · Journal de Pédiatrie et de Puériculture · doi:10.1016/s0987-7983(00)80134-6 · Cited by 3
Sepp, H., Lennernäs, M. A. ‐., & Abrahamsson, L. (2006) · Food & Nutrition Research · doi:10.3402/fnr.v50i3.1592 · Cited by 3
Guan, V. X., Neale, E. P., & Probst, Y. (2023) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0279567 · Cited by 3
The position of biscuits in nutrition
Smith, H. C. (2011) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1533/9780857093646.3.372 · Cited by 4
Perceived body image, obesity and food intake in 13-years old adolescents
Leite, C. D. D. J. L. S. S. (2011) · Portuguese National Funding Agency for Science, Research and Technology (RCAAP Project by FCT) · doi:10.34626/174z-rb13 · Cited by 3
Anthropometry for the Needs of the Elderly
Nowak, E. (2006) · CRC Press eBooks · doi:10.1201/9780849375477.ch60 · Cited by 3
New flavour bars with cherry, almond and honey
Pintado, C. M., Veloso, A., Maria, Z. A. D. J., Silveira, A., Beato, H., Andrade, L. P., & Delgado, F. (2020) · Emirates Journal of Food and Agriculture · doi:10.9755/ejfa.2020.v32.i12.2220 · Cited by 2
Number and Type of Meals consumed by Children in a Subset of Schools in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Preston, A. M., & Rodríguez‐Quintana, N. (2015) · PubMed · Cited by 2
Process evaluation and quality optimization of apple snack
Gill, N. (2014) · eScholarship@McGill (McGill) · doi:10.82308/54117 · Cited by 2
Genetic and environmental influences on body image, disordered eating, and intentional weight loss
Keski‐Rahkonen, A. (2004) · Työväentutkimus Vuosikirja · Cited by 2
Functional extruded products from rice flour, pulse flour and tomato powder blends
Singh, P. (2017) · doi:10.82308/1237 · Cited by 2
Salunke, S. (2016) · doi:10.82308/30497 · Cited by 2
Snackification: understanding healthiness and naturalness in snacking products
Klerks, M. M. (2023) · doi:10.18174/629947 · Cited by 1
Students' consumption of healthy food items using a social marketing intervention
Dalton, K. A. (2013) · The Keep (Eastern Illinois University) · Cited by 2
Snack Barlar ve Tüketim Eğilimleri (Snack Bars and Consumption Trends)
SAYGI, Y. B., MANKAN, E., Ceylan, Z., Çelik, Ş., & Çakır, M. U. (2022) · Turk Turizm Arastirmalari Dergisi · doi:10.26677/tr1010.2022.1079 · Cited by 1
Eating Frequency and Anthropometry
Duval, K., & Doucet, É. (2012) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-1-4419-1788-1_178 · Cited by 1
Effect of Nibbling and Gorging Dietary Regimens on Weight and Lipid Profile in Rat
Shahraki, M., Mahboob, S., Rashidi, M., Majidi, M., Mesgari, M., & Shahraki, T. (2007) · Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences · doi:10.3923/pjbs.2007.4444.4448 · Cited by 1
An Exploratory Analysis of Snack Food Purchasing Behaviour in New Zealand
Kahiya, E. T., Forbes, S. L., & Balderstone, C. (2015) · Developments in marketing science: proceedings of the Academy of Marketing Science · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-24184-5_14 · Cited by 1
Diet and related behaviors of low-income, overweight women in early postpartum
Shah, B. S. (2009) · Texas ScholarWorks (Texas Digital Library) · Cited by 1
Healthy Food Choice and Dietary Behavior in the Elderly
Brombach, C., Landmann, M., Ziesemer, K., Bartsch, S., & Winkler, G. (2017) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-805376-8.00011-3 · Cited by 1
Healthy snack preferences in Danish and Swedish school children.
Holmer, A. (2010) · Gothenburg University Publications Electronic Archive (Gothenburg University) · Cited by 1
Anthropometry for the Needs of the Elderly
(2006) · CRC Press eBooks · doi:10.1201/9780849375477-69 · Cited by 1
Jääskeläinen, A. (2013) · UEF eRepo (University of Eastern Finland) · Cited by 1
Nutritional Factors Contributing to Childhood Obesity
(2016) · CRC Press eBooks · doi:10.1201/9781315370958-7 · Cited by 1
Biobehavioral Determinants of Energy Intake and Childhood Obesity
Livingstone, M. B. E., & Rennie, K. L. (2005) · Society for the Study of Human Biology/Society for the Study of Human Biology series · doi:10.1201/9781420038071.ch8 · Cited by 1
An Eating Frequency Prescription for a Behavioral Weight Loss Intervention
Bachman, J. L. (2011)
Association of eating patterns with blood pressure and body mass index: the INTERMAP study
Aljuraiban, G. S. (2014) · doi:10.25560/24145
Antecedents and consequences of eating and their role in obesity
Bower, J. (2014) · eCite Digital Repository (University of Tasmania) · doi:10.25959/23222405
Energy Intake, Obesity, and Eating Behavior
Johnstone, A. M. (2012) · Wiley eBooks · doi:10.1002/9781119946045.ch61
The Effects of Eating Periodicity on Weight Loss
Mohr, C. R. (2005) · D-Scholarship@Pitt (University of Pittsburgh)
The effect of physical activity on the insulin response to frequent meals
Holmstrup, M. E. (2011) · Syracuse University Libraries (Syracuse University)
Hull, S. L., Matthews, A., Re, R., Angus, F., & Johnston, K. L. (2010) · Proceedings of The Nutrition Society · doi:10.1017/s0029665110003150
Organizational food culture : a theoretical and empirical construct
Ng, J. C. Y. (2013) · Cross Connect (Southern Cross University)
Determinants of fruit & vegetable and fat intake in university students:
Verhoeven, H. (2013)
Gabrijeli-Blenkuö, M. (2001) · DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) · Cited by 1
Mishler, E. K. (2014) · University of Minnesota Digital Conservancy (University of Minnesota)
The role of “snacks” in the diets of 5-year old children in Dunedin, New Zealand
Chee, L. K. (2016) · Otago University Research Archive (University of Otago)
Pasqua, I. C. (2019) · Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations (Universidade de São Paulo) · doi:10.11606/d.6.2019.tde-09112018-115951
Dietary habits among persons hired on shift
Bojar, I., Strzemecka, E., Owoc, A., Paul, P. J., Strzemecka, J., Strzemecka-Kopytowska, E., & Dietary, O. A. (2014)
Biobehavioral Determinants of Energy Intake and Childhood Obesity
Livingstone, M. B. E., & Rennie, K. L. (2005) · CRC Press eBooks · doi:10.1201/9781420038071-8 · Cited by 1
The effects of fasting for a single day and during Ramadan upon performance
Alabed, H. (2017) · Liverpool John Moores University · doi:10.24377/ljmu.t.00005958
Gorgulho, B. M. (2016) · Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations (Universidade de São Paulo) · doi:10.11606/t.6.2016.tde-19102016-143657
Modulation of food consumption in healthy adults by exposure to coloured lighting
Edmondson-Jones, K. (2017) · Sheffield Hallam University · doi:10.7190/shu-thesis-00022
Quantifying Appetite and Satiety
Gibbons, C., & Blundell, J. E. (2019) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-11748-1_5
Dietary intake data quality in the clinical research setting: Implications of quality improvement
Guan, V. X. (2019) · Research Online (University of Wollongong)
Padrões alimentares de indivíduos em situação de pobreza
Santos, R. D. O. (2019) · Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations (Universidade de São Paulo) · doi:10.11606/t.6.2019.tde-14052019-130545
Does shift work lead to change in energy intake? : a systematic review
Kumar, S. (2015) · UEF eRepo (University of Eastern Finland)
Tihnje, M. A., Tanya, A., & Oben, J. E. (2021) · Journal of the Cameroon academy of sciences · doi:10.4314/jcas.v16i2.3
Diet, body adiposity and cardiometabolic risk in a population sample of primary school children
Eloranta, A. (2014) · UEF eRepo (University of Eastern Finland)
Sepp, H., Lennernäs, M. A. ‐., & Abrahamsson, L. (2006) · Scandinavian Journal of Food & Nutrition · doi:10.1080/17482970600960681
How might postprandial ‘extras’ fatten? Simulation of a gastric mixing hypothesisPreprint
Booth, D. (2022) · medRxiv · doi:10.1101/2022.05.17.22275194
Atıcı, Y., Şen, M. B., Saglam, A., Dogan, G., Yücel, D., & Turan, B. (2026) · Toxicology Reports · doi:10.1016/j.toxrep.2026.102276
Shift work, food intake at work and performance
Meloni, M., Farci, G. A. M., Belfiori, P., & Cocco, P. (2007) · UNICA IRIS Institutional Research Information System (University of Cagliari)
Metadata
- Authors
- Gatenby, S. J.
- Corresponding author
- Gatenby, Susan J.
- Venue
- British Journal of Nutrition
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press (CUP)
- Published
- 1997-04
- Volume
- 77
- Issue
- S1
- Pages
- S7-S20
- ISSN
- 0007-1145 (ISSN-L)
- 1475-2662
- OpenAlex
- W2036961767
- Cited by
- 180
- References
- 58
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 11 · 2015: 12 · 2014: 13 · 2013: 11 · 2012: 6
- FWCI
- 1.24
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- British Journal Of Nutrition (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Nutrition, Health and Food Behavior
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Nutritional Studies and Diet
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology (medical) › Dietary Effects on Health
- Keywords
- meal frequency, snacking, meal patterns, snacks, empty calories, energy intake, nutrient intake, dietary assessment, health education
- MeSH terms
- Age Factors, Feeding Behavior, Female, Food, Food Preferences, Humans, Male, Nutritional Physiological Phenomena, Nutritive Value, Periodicity
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review