Fresh fruit is favorite snack of kids

PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y., June 16 (UPI) -- A study by a leading marketing company, which should delight parents, says fresh fruit is the favorite snack of U.S. children.

The study by NPD Group, based in Port Washington, N.Y., placed yogurt in second place among children ages 2 to 7, USA Today reported Thursday.

Potato chips came in second among boys 7 to 12. Among girls in that group, chewing gum was second. Chocolate candy ranked in the top five for all children 2 to 12.

The findings come at a time when there's growing concern that children are eating too much junk food, the newspaper said.

Some nutritionists were surprised by the findings. "I'm in total disbelief," said one dietitian. "When I talk to kids about what they are snacking on, often it is chips. It's a rare child that is eating fruit."

The NPD Group study asked 750 people to do online surveys about the snacks they ate the day before. Parents record what children under 7 ate.

NPD also found the favorite snacks among adults, ages 18 to 54, are gum, chocolate, fresh fruit, breath or candy mints and ice cream.