Effect of Morning Snack on Cognitive Performance in Adults

On 4 separate mornings, 7 days apart, 12 hours after an overnight fast, and 3 hours after a standardized breakfast of a cereal bar, orange juice and fruit cup, participants will consume isocaloric snacks of white chocolate, 2 types of dark chocolate or control (water), followed by an ad libitum pizza lunch 90 minutes later. Upon arrival, at baseline (0 minutes), participants will be asked to complete the motivation‐to‐eat, global vigor and subjective emotion visual analogue scales (VAS), a battery of cognitive performance tasks and have blood samples taken, as reported and validated in our previous studies. Over the 90 minute testing period, blood samples will be taken,the VAS questions will be completed and cognitive tasks will be completed. Cognitive performance assessments will include learning and memory, spatial memory, attention and processing speed, and executive functions. VAS measuring physical comfort is completed pre‐ and post‐meal. Ad libitum food intake from a test meal will be measured.