Dominic Vito is prone to snack attacks.
I work seven days a week and I'm going to school full time, as well, he said. I snack just about every day, whether it's in place of a meal or in between meals.
Registered Dietitian Elisa Zied says daily snacking is on the rise.
In the 70s, about 71 percent of adults snacked every day. But now, it's about 97 percent. And among children, about 98 percent, she said.
Dietitians have long encouraged snacking. The problem is the line between a snack and a meal is now becoming blurry.
Even if it's a small sandwich, they're considering that a snack. And they're eating 24/7. And that's really because all this enticing, high fat, high calorie fare is increasingly available, said Zied.
At fast food restaurants across the country, dollar menu deals and steals are among the most popular items. The snack wraps from McDonald's and Popeyes havearound 400 calories each.
If something has three or four hundred calories, that's getting into meal territory, said Zied.
McDonald's, Burger King and Kentucky Fried Chicken say their menus include a variety of choices, along with nutritional information so customers can make informed decisions.
Popeyes believes their menu should be enjoyed as part of a balanced lifestyle.
Check out the calorie information on the menu boards. Check out their websites, said Zied.
Zied says there is no true definition for snack, but she considers it to be something that contains one to two hundred calories and comes from the basic food groups.
Whole grains, fruits, vegetables, low fat sources of dairy foods and lean meats, said Zied.
If you like to piece together snack size foods for a meal, Zied says you still need to pay attention to portion size. Pick two or three items that add up to no more than 500 or 600 calories.
