Energy density and Snacking: Understanding the drivers of satiation and satisfaction when mixing foods with different energy densities

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Foods eaten during snacking events contribute significantly to our daily energy intake. Depending on the food choices made during these snacking episodes, i.e., the energy density of the selected foods and the portion size eaten, this can lead to excessive consumption of calories. Many foods that are high in energy density are often highly liked and may easily be overconsumed if presented in large portions. Downsizing of these foods has shown some evidence for a reduction in energy intake, especially in lab conditions. However, in free living conditions, when additional confounding factors interfere, results are less convincing. One highly important influence on eating episodes, especially during snacking, is food satisfaction. The aim of this work is to address the energy density of snacking events by combining high energy foods with low energy dense foods whilst retaining a high level of satisfaction. The understanding of the drivers of the satisfaction related to the food combinations will be part of this work.