May 21, 2015 12:25 PM EDT By Staff Reporter, UniversityHerald Reporter

New research afternoon snacks that contain high soy protein can reduce unhealthy eating habits in young people.

Researchers at the University of Missouri-Columbia found that these snacks reduces afternoon appetite, delays subsequent eating and reduces unhealthy evening snacking in teenagers.

"Our research showed that eating high-protein snacks in the afternoon helps teens improve the quality of their diets as well as control appetite," researcher Heather Leidy, an assistant professor of nutrition and exercise physiology, said in a statement. "Standard meals tend to go to the wayside for kids this age -- particularly from mid-afternoon to late evening -- and many of the convenient 'grab-and-go' snacks are high in fat and sugar. When kids eat high-protein snacks in the afternoon, they are less likely to eat unhealthy snacks later in the day, which is particularly important for kids who want to prevent unhealthy weight gain."

For the study, research hers collected and analyzed data from teens between the ages of 13 and 19 who were classified as either normal weight or overweight. The researchers examined how snacking in the afternoon affected teens' appetite, drive to eat and food choices later in the day and whether these were different when teens skipped eating snacks altogether. The researchers also measured how afternoon snacking affected teens' cognitive performance and mood.

"In addition to the appetite and satiety benefits, we found that when the teens ate the high-protein snacks, they incorporated more protein throughout the day and consumed less dietary fat," Leidy said. "Thus, adding protein snacks in the afternoon could be a good strategy for individuals who are trying to eat more protein throughout the day. In addition, we also found that the high-protein snacks improved certain aspects of mood and cognitive function."

Leidy said high-protein, plant-based foods like soy tend to be inexpensive and environmentally friendly.

The findings are detailed in the Journal of Nutrition.

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