Snacks bought at convenience stores, from vending machines, or from other people were more energy-dense than snacks from grocery stores, according to research reviewed by Gram. In a national study of 3,631 U.S. teens aged 12 to 19, fruit was far less likely to appear in convenience store snacks, with boys showing odds of 0.20.
A new study looked at what American teens eat between meals and where they get it. Using national survey data from 3,631 adolescents aged 12 to 19, researchers found that snacks bought at convenience stores, vending machines, or from friends were more energy-dense, meaning they packed more calories into each gram, than snacks from grocery stores. Teens who bought snacks at convenience stores were also much less likely to eat fruit with them. Few links appeared between snack habits and personal or social factors. According to research reviewed by Gram, the place a snack comes from may matter more than who a teen is with. Because this study only shows associations, it cannot prove cause and effect, but it suggests that healthier options in stores and vending machines could help teens make better choices.
Key Statistics
A 2026 cross-sectional study of 3,631 U.S. teens aged 12 to 19, drawn from national survey data, found that snacks from convenience stores, vending machines, and social sources were more energy-dense than snacks from grocery stores.
In the same national study of U.S. adolescents, boys had odds of 0.20 for eating fruit with snacks obtained from convenience stores, compared with the reference group, with a 95 percent confidence range of 0.12 to 0.33.
Teens in the 2011 to 2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were less likely to eat dairy with snacks eaten outside the home, with odds of 0.69 for boys and 0.70 for girls.
The Quick Take
- What they studied: The researchers wanted to know what makes teen snacks more or less healthy, including where the snack came from, who the teen was with, and what was around them when they ate.
- Who participated: The study used national survey data from 3,631 American teens aged 12 to 19, including 1,835 boys and 1,796 girls. The sample was designed to represent teens across the United States.
- Key finding: Snacks bought at convenience stores, from vending machines, or from other people were more energy-dense than snacks from grocery stores. Teens were also much less likely to eat fruit with snacks bought at convenience stores, with boys showing odds of about 0.20 compared with the comparison group.
- What it means for you: Where teens get their snacks appears to influence how many calories they eat and whether they pair snacks with fruit. Parents, schools, and communities may be able to improve snack choices by stocking healthier options where teens shop. This study alone cannot prove that changing store options will change eating habits.
The Research Details
This study used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, often called NHANES, which is a large national health survey run in the United States. It covered the years 2011 to 2018. Participants answered detailed questions about everything they ate and drank in the 24 hours before their interview. This method is called a 24-hour dietary recall. Researchers then focused only on the snacks teens reported.
The team looked at a range of possible influences on snacking. These included personal factors such as age and body measurements, social factors such as who the teen was with, and physical environment factors such as where the snack was obtained or eaten. They measured how energy-dense each snack was, meaning how many calories it contained for its weight. They also tracked which food groups, such as fruit or dairy, appeared in each snack.
To handle the data, the researchers used a statistical method called a multilevel two-part model. This approach first checks whether a snack was eaten at all and then examines the details of snacks that were eaten. The analysis was run separately for boys and girls, since eating patterns can differ between sexes.
Because the survey reflects a national sample, the results can give a realistic picture of everyday teen snacking rather than the habits of a single school or town. The two-part model is useful because many teens do not eat snacks every day, and this approach accounts for that. Separating boys and girls also helps reveal differences that might otherwise be hidden in the averages.
The study uses a large, nationally representative survey, which is a strength. Data came from a well-established government health survey with standardized methods. However, the findings rely on teens remembering and reporting what they ate over a single day, which can be imperfect. The study is also cross-sectional, meaning it captures a snapshot in time and cannot show that one factor causes another. Results are reported with confidence intervals, which give a sense of how precise each estimate is.
What the Results Show
The clearest finding was that the source of a snack was closely tied to its energy density. Snacks obtained from convenience stores, vending machines, and social sources, meaning from someone else, were more energy-dense than snacks bought at grocery stores. In practical terms, this means a teen who grabs a snack at a convenience store or vending machine may be taking in more calories for the same amount of food.
The study also found that where a snack came from affected what was in it. Teens had much lower odds of eating fruit with snacks from convenience stores. For boys, the odds were 0.20, with a 95 percent confidence range of 0.12 to 0.33. For girls, the odds were 0.31, with a range of 0.16 to 0.61. Girls also showed lower odds of fruit in snacks from vending machines, at 0.07, with a range of 0.01 to 0.56. Odds below 1 mean the outcome was less likely, so these numbers suggest fruit was rarely part of snacks from these sources.
Dairy foods, such as milk, yogurt, or cheese, were also less likely to show up in snacks eaten outside the home. For boys, the odds were 0.69, with a range of 0.55 to 0.88. For girls, the odds were 0.70, with a range of 0.53 to 0.92. These results suggest that snacks eaten away from home tend to include fewer of these foods.
Few links were found between snack energy density or food groups and personal or social factors. This suggests that who a teen is, or who they are eating with, may matter less for snack quality than the setting where the snack is bought. This is useful for planning because it points attention toward the food environment. It also means that simply telling teens to make better choices may not be enough if the options around them are mostly high in calories and low in fruit.
This study adds to a growing body of research showing that the food environment shapes what young people eat. Earlier work has often linked convenience stores, fast food outlets, and vending machines with less healthy diets among teens. The current findings fit that pattern by showing that snacks from these places tend to be more calorie-dense and less likely to include fruit. However, research in this area is still developing, and the specific odds reported here should be viewed as part of an evolving picture rather than a final answer.
The study cannot prove that buying snacks at convenience stores causes teens to eat more calories. Other factors, such as income, neighborhood, or family habits, may explain some of the differences. The data come from a single day of reported eating for each teen, so it may not capture usual habits. Memory and honest reporting can also affect the results. Some estimates had wide confidence ranges, especially for vending machine snacks among girls, which means those numbers should be interpreted with caution. Finally, the study did not directly measure how the snacks affected health outcomes such as weight or blood sugar.
The Bottom Line
Research shows that snacks from convenience stores, vending machines, and other people tend to be more energy-dense than snacks from grocery stores. Based on this evidence, offering fruit and dairy options in places where teens buy snacks may be a reasonable step. Confidence in this recommendation is moderate, since the study shows patterns rather than proof that changing options will change eating habits. Families can start by keeping fruit and lower-calorie snacks at home for teens to grab.
Parents, school staff, youth program leaders, and community planners who influence what snacks are available to teens should find these results useful. Public health workers who design food environment programs may also benefit. Teens and families who want to make snack choices more nutritious can apply the general idea of choosing fruit or dairy when possible. People outside this age group or those with specific medical needs should talk with a healthcare provider before making changes based on this research.
Changes in snack habits can take weeks to months to show up, depending on how much the food environment changes and how readily teens adopt new options. Measurable shifts in diet quality may take several months of consistent effort. Health outcomes such as weight changes would likely take longer to appear and would depend on many other factors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are snacks from convenience stores less healthy than snacks from grocery stores for teens?
Research shows that snacks from convenience stores, vending machines, and social sources were more energy-dense than snacks from grocery stores among U.S. teens. Teens were also much less likely to eat fruit with convenience store snacks, based on national survey data from 3,631 adolescents.
Does where teens buy snacks affect how many calories they eat?
The study found that the source of a snack was closely linked to its energy density, meaning how many calories it packs per gram. Snacks from convenience stores and vending machines tended to be higher in energy density than those from grocery stores, though the study cannot prove direct cause and effect.
How can parents help teens choose healthier snacks?
Parents can keep fruit and dairy options like yogurt or cheese at home for teens to grab. Research reviewed by Gram suggests that food environment matters, so stocking healthier snacks where teens shop may encourage better choices, especially since fruit was rarely part of convenience store snacks.
Do personal or social factors affect what snacks teens eat?
The national study of U.S. adolescents found few links between snack quality and personal or social factors. The place a snack came from showed stronger connections to energy density and food groups, suggesting the surrounding food environment may matter more than who a teen is with.
Want to Apply This Research?
- Log each snack, noting where it was bought (grocery store, convenience store, vending machine, or from a friend), its approximate calorie count, and whether it included fruit or a dairy food. Track these details for at least two weeks to see personal patterns.
- Choose one source that often supplies snacks, such as a convenience store or vending machine, and set a goal to pair one snack per day with fruit or a dairy item. Use the app to check progress each day and celebrate weeks when the goal is met.
- Review snack logs monthly to look for trends in calorie density, source, and food group balance. Adjust goals based on what the data shows, and revisit the plan every few months to keep habits fresh and realistic.
This article summarizes a single cross-sectional study that shows associations between where teens get snacks and what they contain. It does not prove that any specific change will improve health. Teens with medical conditions, special dietary needs, or concerns about weight or eating should speak with a doctor, pediatrician, or registered dietitian before making changes to their diet.
This research translation is published by Gram Research, the science division of Gram, an AI-powered nutrition tracking app.