Snack attack: Reaching for treats between meals could lead to health issues

We’ve turned into a nation of snackers with a preference for foods high in sugar and fat. Dietitians warn it puts us at risk of developing obesity and other serious health issues

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The way we eat is changing. The Ireland of the 1980s and 1990s was a country where people ate three meals a day and snacks and treats were a rarity. The opposite is true today with many of us moving from regular meals to grazing all day long.

Many of us have a quick breakfast followed by an energy boost from a protein ball mid-morning. Lunch is often eaten on the go followed by a mid-afternoon treat. Then there’s dinner and maybe some chocolate or popcorn in front of the latest boxset in the evening.