A study on the snack-eating habits of children and students has been in progress since 1997 in the Chiang Mai urban area, Fang country town, and Samoeng rural area of North Thailand. As part of this study, the effects of information and economic development on the selection of four major snacks were surveyed by a mass questionnaire and interview in 1998. “Fast-foods” and “chocolate” were strongly influenced by the available local information. “Thai snacks” and “instant noodles, ” and also “fast-foods” and “chocolate” were affected by the degree of local economic development : the former two items were easy to obtain anywhere, while the latter two were hard to get in local areas. The reasons quoted why chocolate and instant noodles are not eaten in Chiang Mai were “anxious about putting on weight” and “bad for health.” These answers indicate the relatively new trend that has been observed in advanced countries. On the other hand, in Fang and Samoeng, a yearning for new snacks, e.g. fast-foods and chocolate, was recognized. However, it was difficult for the children and students in these two areas to obtain them, and the consciousness for maintaining traditions is still alive.