Continuing Snack-tember for long term change 

What is Snack-tember? 

Snack-tember is a month-long campaign run by the British Nutrition Foundation (BNF) in September 2025 that replaces their previous Healthy Eating Week. Snacking is a big part of daily eating for children hence why there is such a big focus on it in 2025. It’s aimed at children and young people aged 5-16 years with the goal of helping children explore, try, and make healthier, more sustainable snack choices. Ensuring snacks are not just filling but positively contribute to areas of children’s health which are currently lacking, such as fibre consumption, means this could lead to a real shift in overall childhood nutrition. 

The British Nutrition Foundation is focusing heavily on snacks as they are more likely to be within a young person’s control. The versatility of snacks makes them a perfect platform to highlight key health messages such as increasing 5 A DAY and fibre whilst reducing saturated fat, salt and sugars. Main meals are often planned by parents and schools which means children may not be involved in the decision-making process. Research tells us that children feel empowered with food choices by keeping them involved throughout the process. Whether 

that’s having them involved in cooking, letting them choose which meal they are having from the lunch menu or giving them autonomy with snack choices too. However, it is important that within this choice, the options children are provided with are sustainable and packed with nutrients too! 

The research behind snacking in children 

A scoping review conducted in 2023 investigated the patterns of snacking in children aged 2–12 years. It found that: 

• Over 92% of children consumed snacks
• On average they had 3 snacks a day
• Snacks contributed 231-565kcal a day to the diet

The study concluded that snacking plays a significant role in children’s diets with multiple snacking occasions occurring throughout a child’s day. Overconsumption of snacks has the potential to increase risk of childhood obesity. 

A survey by the BNF in November 2024 of approximately 2,592 young people aged 10-13 found: 

• 79% usually have two or more snacks in a school day
• 69% are open to learning how to choose and make healthier snacks
• Over half (53%) buy snacks from the school canteen at break, but only 19% believe their school canteen helps them make healthier choices

Further to the above research some key nutrient deficiencies in children are reported as: 

• In children aged 4-6, roughly 5% have anaemia, and around 9% of girls aged 15-18 also have anaemia
• Fewer than 1 in 10 young adults achieve the 5 a day recommendation for fruit and veg
• Among preschool-aged children globally, around 56% are estimated to be deficient in at least one of three key micronutrients which are iron, zinc and vitamin A

Campaign uptake and goals 

By mid-June 2025, nearly 2,000 schools had registered to take part in Snack-tember, however the true number of sign-ups won’t be reflected until after the campaign finishes. The campaign encourages three main actions among children and young people: 

1. To encourage people working with children to look at current snacking habits with the eyes of making them better. How can snacking be improved with enhanced nutrition, rather than cutting foods out altogether. What can be added in to snacks and how can they be adapted to become more nutritious that they currently are. How can we shift the norm from less nutritious to more nutritious. 

2. To sample different, healthier snacks and encourage this through role modelling and positive reinforcement. 

3. To demonstrate and encourage confidence in the kitchen, getting children to make their own snacks. This provides them with life skills and gives them the feeling of being proud when making their own food.

Sustainability is also part of the Snack-tember programme, and this aspect focusses on including more plant-based ingredients (wholegrains, pulses, beans) and reducing waste or overprocessing. Including more plant rich foods will also help positively contribute to higher fibre consumption amongst children and make snacks more affordable too.

Materials and resources 

The BNF have created some free practical materials for educators, schools, and people working with children. These can be continually promoted throughout the year and shouldn’t be solely used in September. Schools could go the extra mile by printing these recipe and fact sheets and sending them home with students and/or adding them to the school newsletter. 

Some ideas for “Hero” snacks are below which are simple, cost-effective and versatile, many of the batch cooked options can be frozen too. 

• Fruit & oat bites
• Homemade popcorn – this is great to get children involved in the kitchen, they love listening for the pops of the corn
• Paprika tortilla chips & spring onion dip
• Beany dip & crunchy veg
• Pizza muffins
• Whole fruits and vegetables with the skin on where possible
• Sliced apple with nut butter
• Mini berry pikelets or sheet pancakes
• Hulk pancakes
• Zucchini slice
• Banana, carrot & sultana loaf

Why continue Snack-tember principles all year round? 

Snack-tember encourages children to explore, try and make healthier snacks, focusing on more fruit and vegetables, wholegrains, beans and pulses, and reducing foods high in saturated fat, salt, and added sugars. While the campaign takes place in September, its principles are relevant throughout the year and should be adopted at as many touch points as possible. 

Children snack every day, and these choices make a big difference to their overall diet, growth, energy, and concentration at school, playing sport and to ensure they are getting restful sleep. 

Embedding Snack-tember ideas beyond September helps reinforce good habits, builds confidence in making healthier food choices, and supports long-term health. It also keeps sustainability on the agenda, encouraging more plant-based and less wasteful snacking. 

For schools, clubs, and families, continuing these practices means that healthier options become the norm rather than the exception helping children carry positive behaviours into adulthood. 

How schools can get involved 

Independent schools have a unique opportunity to lead the way in promoting healthier eating habits among pupils. Many independent schools have greater flexibility with catering, curriculum activities, and parent engagement, so they can take Snack-tember further by: 

• Incorporating Snack-tember into the school calendar: Use assemblies, lessons, or activities to introduce the principles of healthy snacking and sustainability.
• Engaging pupils in hands-on cooking workshops: Involve catering staff or local nutritionists to run sessions where pupils make their own healthy snacks, building skills and confidence.
• Creating a “Snack of the Week” initiative: Feature a nutritious snack on the school menu and encourage pupils to try it. Invite feedback and even get pupils to name the snack for extra engagement.
• Collaborating with parents: Share Snack-tember resources and recipe ideas through newsletters or parent portals so families can continue healthy snacking at home.
• Measuring impact: Consider simple surveys or pupil-led feedback to see how snack choices evolve over the year, keeping pupils involved in shaping the school’s food culture.

Register your school, download the free BNF resources, and start planning activities that make healthy snacking fun and accessible for every child.