The goal of this clinical trial is to learn how eating different snack foods affects acute hunger, energy intake and eating behaviour in healthy adults. The study will be conducted remotely over 5 days.
The main questions it aims to answer are:
1. Does eating a snack bar intervention change how hungry participants feel later in the same day? 2. Does eating a snack bar intervention change participants' energy intake, nutrient intake and eating behaviour on the same day? 3. Does eating a snack bar intervention change participants mood, energy levels and alertness later in the same day?
Researchers will compare an intervention snack bar to a control snack bar to see if the intervention improves hunger, energy intake, eating behaviour, and other subjective measures.
Participants will:
* Eat 2 snack bars for breakfast on 2 separate days, with 2 days in between * Not eat anything after 9pm the night before each test day * Fill out short online surveys (under 5 minutes) before breakfast and at set times over the next 3 hours * Not eat for 3 hours after breakfast * Write down everything they eat that day
Willing and able to follow the study protocol
Willing and able to provide informed consent
Regular consumption of snacks (≥2 per day)
Fibre intake <20 g/d
Have BMI of less than 18.5 kg/m² or more than 40 kg/m²
Have an allergy or intolerance to ingredients in the intervention or control snack bars (including inulin) or cannot eat the food products safely and comfortably for any reason
Have a personal medical history of inflammatory bowel disease, coeliac disease, Crohn's disease, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic constipation, or chronic diarrhoea
Have started a new supplement in the past month, or are unwilling to maintain current supplement use throughout the study
Crossover
High-fibre plant-based snack bar
Other interventionA high-fibre plant-based snack bar.
Control snack bars
Other interventionCommercially available snack bars (UK); reflects the energy and macronutrient profile of a typical UK snack.
Postprandial hunger
Assessed using digital visual analogue scales (VAS; 0-100) with anchor points 0 = 'not at all hungry', 100 = 'extremely hungry'. Completed at pre-specified time points immediately before and during a 3h post-meal fast.
Postprandial satiety
Subjective postprandial satiety ratings, assessed using digital visual analogue scales (VAS; 0-100), with anchor points 0 = 'not at all', 100 = 'extremely'. Completed at pre-specified time points immediately before and during a 3h post-meal fast.
Postprandial mood and energy
Subjective postprandial ratings of mood and energy, assessed using digital visual analogue scales (VAS; 0-100), with anchor points 0 = 'not at all', 100 = 'extremely'. Completed at pre-specified time points immediately before and during a 3h post-meal fast.
Eating rate
Self-reported eating rate (g/min) of the intervention and control test meals. Derived from the amount of food consumed (g) and self-reported eating duration (mins)
Time to next meal
Self-reported time to next meal (mins) following the test meals.
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