Not eating between meals used to be one of the 10 diet commandments. While the rule hasn't gone away, various theories have blurred the line between 'do's' and 'don'ts', and comfort levels have risen with snacking.
The more relaxed attitude towards afternoon snacks could be a result of longer working hours and the knowledge that energy dips are related to nutrient intake.
It takes about three hours to digest a meal, so if you finish lunch at 2pm and don't eat again until 9pm, that's a four-hour fast you are forcing upon your system.
If permission to snack is a lovely thought, this still does not, sadly, mean breaking out the Kit-Kat at the first sign of hunger pangs or low sugar levels.
Even if chocolate's better qualities, such as its mood-enhancing properties, are enjoying their 15 minutes of fame, there are healthier, less calorific, alternatives.
And, in true just-add-water modern mentality, the time lapse between desire and gratification in the new ranges of healthy fast foods is minimal.