Common advice about kid snacking is outdated. Here's what parents should know

NPR | By Michaeleen Doucleff

Published August 3, 2026 at 4:44 AM EDT

Pediatricians recommend kids eat about five times a day: three meals and two snacks. Parents often carry snacks so kids can eat on the go. Here's what science says about snacking.

Michaeleen Doucleff

Michaeleen Doucleff, PhD, is a correspondent for NPR's Science Desk. For nearly a decade, she has been reporting for the radio and the web for NPR's global health outlet, Goats and Soda. Doucleff focuses on disease outbreaks, cross-cultural parenting, and women and children's health.

See stories by Michaeleen Doucleff

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