What junk food? Kids prefer fruit to cookies

Children snack on fresh fruit more than potato chips, chocolate, or cookies, according to a new report that appears to defy recent reports that an abundance of junk food is inflating kids’ waistlines.

In a study of eating habits among girls and boys ages 2 to 12, market research firm The NPD Group found fresh fruit to be the No. 1 snack food.

Yogurt claimed the second place spot among younger children, while gum and potato chips claimed the No. 2 slots among older girls and boys, respectively, the report said.

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Among adults participating in the study, fruit took a backseat to both gum and chocolate candy.

“It’s surprising to see that the number one category of snacks consumed by children is fresh fruit,” Harry Balzer, vice president at NPD Group, said in a statement. “As we age, the importance of fruit drops as convenient snacks take hold.”

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The report comes as concerns about the roughly 15 percent of U.S. children and adolescents who are overweight or obese have received widespread media attention.

Food and soft drink manufacturers like Pepsi maker PepsiCo Inc. and Oreo cookie maker Kraft Foods Inc. have received the bulk of the criticism, and have responded by introducing new, healthier products.

Kraft, also, has stopped advertising certain products to young children.