Can a child have chocolate: at what age and what kind?

Varieties

Dark

High-quality chocolate requires the presence of two components: cocoa butter and cocoa mass. Powdered sugar is also added to the product and, depending on the percentage of cocoa mass and sugar, a taste is obtained ranging from bitter to sweet.

A similar recipe is used for elite types of chocolate - dark and extra dark. Moreover, the more grated cocoa (from 60%) is contained in the bar, the higher the quality of the product and the brighter, more specific the taste.

Lactic

If dry cream or milk is added to the composition during production, milk chocolate is obtained. Its delicate taste, without a pronounced bitterness, makes it the most popular on the Russian market.

White

White chocolate does not contain cocoa mass; prepared from cocoa butter, milk powder and sugar. There is still controversy over whether the product belongs to the chocolate family. But doctors are sure that it is not of particular value for the child’s body.

How to make homemade chocolate

Making chocolate at home
Want to know how to make your favorite treat at home? Then write down the recipe!

You will need:

• butter (200 grams);
• cocoa powder (250 grams);
• sugar (150 grams);
• milk (200 ml);
• milk powder (50 grams);
• nuts, dried fruits, and fresh berries can be used as additives.

Cooking algorithm:

1. The milk needs to be boiled and stirred constantly.
2. Melt the butter in a bowl and add to the milk.
3. Combine dry milk with boiled milk, to which butter has been added.
4. Stir the mixture until the consistency of a homogeneous mass and without lumps.
5. Then, one by one, you need to add: what, granulated sugar and vanilla sugar (optional).
6. The mixture must be heated until smooth for half an hour.
7. Take a mold and place additives in the form of nuts and dried fruits on the bottom.
8. Pour the resulting mixture into the mold and place it in the freezer for 2-3 hours.

This natural dessert can be enjoyed by the whole family or offered to guests at the holiday table. Children and adults will be delighted!

Compound

Good chocolate is not only a source of energy. It contains vitamins (B1, B2, PP, provitamin A), antioxidants, microelements (calcium, fluorine, potassium, magnesium, sodium).

Essential amino acids also provide benefits to the product. Tryptophan is used by the body to produce the hormone serotonin (the hormone of happiness), protects against stress and depression. And phenylalanine is involved in complex brain activity, improving memory and attention.

But! Cocoa beans contain theobromine, which belongs to the group of alkaloids. In terms of its tonic effect on the human body, it is similar to caffeine.

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Types of chocolate

There are three main types:

• white (no cocoa powder, but cocoa butter, milk powder and sugar);
• milk (contains milk, grated cocoa, granulated sugar);
• bitter (high cocoa content predominates).

Today you can find additional types of chocolate, namely:

• diabetic (allowed for people with high blood sugar due to the presence of a sweetener in the product);
• dietary (intended for obese people, as it contains reduced fat and sugar);
• enriched with vitamins (this chocolate contains vitamins D, A, E).

Bad chocolate

Manufacturers, looking for ways to reduce costs, often replace classic ingredients in a recipe with cheaper analogues. The taste of the product will satisfy the inexperienced consumer, but the composition may be alarming.

Cocoa powder will take the place of the grated cocoa. The absence of cocoa butter will be compensated by palm, peanut, coconut with a dubious reputation, or fatty lauric acid. The budget version of the delicacy will probably also contain additives that are prohibited in baby food.

This product is a prime example of high calorie content without any benefit. Its closest analogues are chocolates and bars.

Manifestation of allergies from chocolate

If you give your child a piece of chocolate for the first time, carefully observe his subsequent condition, especially in the first half hour.

The most common symptoms of a treat allergy are skin redness, itching, rashes, vomiting and diarrhea.

Such reactions can be caused not only by the main components - cocoa mass and cocoa butter, but also by various additives used in production - antioxidants, emulsifiers and preservatives.

Important! The most dangerous manifestation of an allergy to treats is Quincke's edema (angioedema) - it is fraught with suffocation and even death. Manifests itself in the form of swelling of facial tissues.

Which one can children?

Photo: Depositphotos.com. Author: svl861.

Nutritionists advise giving your child milk chocolate. The content of cocoa products in it is lower (from 25 to 50%) makes the taste pleasant and soft. The product also has a lower fat content due to the addition of milk powder or cream.

The presence of additional components in chocolate for a child is undesirable: nuts, caramel, fruit, liqueur and cognac, wafer crumbs. The more concise the composition, the lower the risk of allergies.

Meanwhile, a delicacy whose name and appearance are associated with childhood (for example, a chocolate bar with cartoon characters on the label) may surprise you with a “non-childish” list of ingredients: sweetened condensed milk, starch syrup, almonds, cashews, ethyl alcohol, butter, apple and strawberry puree, preservatives, acidity regulators and flavorings.

Of the food additives in chocolate intended for a child, only the presence of lecithin is allowed - to reduce the viscosity of the product. This substance belongs to the group of emulsifiers and is designated as E322.

The best quality chocolates are recognized as: Belgian, Swiss, French chocolate and products from large domestic factories: “Red October”, “Babaevsky”, “Rot Front”.

Nutritional value table for different brands of chocolate

What types of chocolate can be given to children?

Pediatricians and nutritionists are absolutely sure that children are allowed only milk chocolate, in which the content of cocoa beans does not exceed 30–50%. It is best to give only sweets without nuts, raisins, alcoholic beverages, caramel and other fillers. The fewer ingredients a sweet contains, the more likely it is that it will not cause an allergy.

The only food additive approved for children is E322, that is, a lecithin emulsifier. Also, the chocolate product must contain whole milk or dry cream.

The baby should not consume chocolate products that contain condensed milk, almonds and any other nuts, molasses, alcohol, preservatives, or alcohol additives.

Pediatricians do not recommend treating children with black or white chocolate. The first puts increased stress on the digestive organs, and the second contains a huge amount of sugar.

At what age should it be given?

Premature introduction to sweet foods at an early age is always fraught with consequences: allergies, excess weight, impaired carbohydrate metabolism.

Until one year of age, the baby does not need chocolate, as well as other sweets. Children over 12 months eat a lot from the common table, and by the age of 3 they no longer require the preparation of special dishes. But products that are still prohibited are preserved.

Chocolate with an abundance of fat in its composition (about 30 g per 100 g), high calorie content (550 kcal or more) and the reputation of a potential allergen will not benefit a child under 3 years of age, since the baby’s enzymatic system is still too weak and will not be able to digest it “without strain.” product. It’s another matter if acquaintance is delayed until 3, or better yet, 5-6 years, when the development of the digestive organs already allows you to try a small piece of delicacy without harm to health. After all, it is at the age of 5-6 years that the activity of pancreatic enzymes increases, the functions of the liver and food digestion improve.

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The benefits and harms of chocolate for children

Chocolate is a sweet that can provide a growing child’s body with vitamins B1, B2, PP, magnesium, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, antioxidants and carbohydrates. All this is ensured thanks to cocoa butter and grated cocoa, which are part of the treat.

Chocolate for children can:

• be a source of energy that increases mental and physical activity;
• promote the development of cognitive processes (memory, attention, thinking, perception);
• stimulate heart function, reduce cholesterol levels and improve hematopoietic processes;
• promote skeletal development and bone strengthening;
• Strengthen the immune system and simply improve your mood, stimulating the production of serotonin and endorphins.

At the same time, chocolate can also cause harm. The main health problems that a baby may have:

1. Caries. Sugar in the treat increases acidity in the oral cavity, which has a destructive effect on the thin, fragile enamel of children's teeth.
2. Overweight and obesity. If the energy that the child receives from chocolate in the form of carbohydrates is not consumed, then it is transformed into subcutaneous fat.
3. Exciting action. Theobromine (one of the components of cocoa products) in large doses in adults and children can provoke insomnia, anxiety, irritability, heart rhythm disturbances, dizziness and headaches.
4. Allergy. Chocolate is rich in fats, which put a lot of stress on the liver and the entire digestive system, which can cause allergic reactions. They manifest themselves as skin rash, itching and fever.

Dating rules

• The first introduction should follow a pattern that is valid for all new foods in a child’s diet - a small portion at the beginning of the day.
• A rash that appears on the skin will indicate an allergic reaction. In this case, you will have to forget about chocolate for a while.
• If the tasting was successful, you can occasionally diversify baby food with this type of sweet.

There are no specific age dosages for chocolate. It does not contain any ingredients that are irreplaceable and beneficial for children's health, which a balanced diet could not offer. It's just a tasty treat.

1. From 3 years old, a child needs 1-2 small pieces, which in weight equivalent corresponds to 5-10 g per day.
2. Experts recommend giving chocolate to your child no more than 2 times a week, and only after the main meal. The high-calorie product quickly eliminates the feeling of hunger, and a well-fed baby will probably refuse the breakfast or lunch offered.
3. Theobromine contained in the treat has a stimulating effect on the nervous system. Therefore, treat your sweet tooth in the morning or no later than afternoon tea.
4. For school-age children, milk chocolate can be replaced with black chocolate, but not more than 25 g per day 2-3 times a week, provided that the child leads an active lifestyle and is not overweight, allergies or diabetes.

When chocolate should not be given

Chocolate is an allergenic product that often causes various disorders. The main symptoms of intolerance to chocolate products:

• red rashes on the skin of the face or body, accompanied by itching, burning or discomfort;
• increased lacrimation, allergic runny nose;
• intestinal disorders, stool disorders;
• flaky, weeping spots in the joints;
• Quincke's edema.

Any chocolate products should not be given to children with elevated body temperature. Theobromine, contained in cocoa butter and beans, inhibits the decrease in temperature and significantly increases the duration of the disease.

Among the disadvantages of chocolate desserts is the content of oxalates, which place increased stress on the pancreas and bile ducts and often cause urolithiasis.

Medical opinion

Children's doctor Evgeniy Komarovsky, who has earned popular love, is of the opinion that chocolate is, first of all, a pleasure that a child should not be deprived of. The main thing here is to get the maximum benefit from the product.

The treat will not harm active and energetic fidgets who quickly spend calories on physical activity. Chocolate will be useful for children who scale sports heights and advanced school programs.

Reasonable consumption in compliance with age standards will have a beneficial effect on metabolic processes, immune status and mood.

A similar position is occupied by the head of the children's nutrition department of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, Academician, Doctor of Medical Sciences. Igor Kon. He believes that restless children need carbohydrates more than adults. Part is spent on energy needs, and part is necessary for the construction of proteins and hormones in the growing body.

The benefits of chocolate

Chocolate contains vitamins and healing substances that have a beneficial effect on the functioning of the brain and nervous system. We are talking about natural dark chocolate. A dairy product with additives will not bring such benefits.

The composition of the “correct” chocolate is represented by the following components:

• B vitamins;
• provitamin A;
• magnesium, sodium, calcium, copper, other trace elements;
• carbohydrates;
• amino acid tryptophan. Stimulates brain activity and is also a source of serotonin;
• the amino acid phenylalanine, which affects thought processes, brain activity, and perception;
• antioxidants that improve the body's metabolism.

Finally, chocolate itself is a source of endorphin - the “hormone of joy”. A similar hormone is also produced after exercise. This is why advice is so often given to eat sweets in stressful situations.

More about the harm

Chocolate can cause harm if age recommendations are violated, if it is consumed excessively, or if there are contraindications. Moreover, the younger the child’s age, the higher the risks.

• Allergic reaction. The reason lies in the insufficient maturity of the digestive system and high permeability of the intestinal wall. As a result, poorly digested proteins easily enter the bloodstream, causing allergies (rash, abdominal pain, vomiting, upset stool).
• Behavioral disorder. Theobromine excites the fragile nervous system, which responds with insomnia, increased irritability, and a state of hyperactivity.
• Excessive strain on the digestive tract. The high content of fat and fast carbohydrates in chocolate forces the liver and pancreas to perform tasks that are beyond their age.
• Like other sweets, chocolate can cause tooth decay.

It is necessary to refuse the product from the children's menu if there are cases of chocolate allergy in the family, if there is a carbohydrate metabolism disorder, diabetes mellitus or lactase deficiency in the baby. It is unacceptable for children with a tendency to be overweight and have a sedentary lifestyle to become addicted to chocolate.

What harm can chocolate do to a child?

Excessive consumption of chocolate can negatively affect a child's health. Behavioral disorders and tooth decay are the most minor troubles that can occur. Much worse are allergies, diathesis, headaches, insomnia. Due to an excessive love for chocolate, more serious diseases can develop: metabolic disorders, diabetes. The liver and pancreas may malfunction. Gastritis develops. These diseases cannot be cured overnight; sometimes they accompany a person throughout his life. And the reason is eating chocolate without restrictions during childhood. So, maybe we should listen to the voice of reason and not give chocolate to children thoughtlessly?

What to eat with gastritis

Special types

The food industry has not ignored chocolate fans who, due to certain diseases or circumstances, are prohibited from eating the product. Special types are produced for them.

• Diabetic. This variety owes its pleasant sweet taste to sugar substitutes: sorbitol, xylitol, fructose, etc. It is produced for patients suffering from diabetes.
• Dietary. Differs in the absence of sugar or its low content. It can be produced without fats, the volume of which in the product is replaced by water or air. In small doses it is recommended during a diet.
• With vitamins. A relatively new product, enriched with vitamins A, D, E. It has low calorie content (up to 80 kcal per 100 g) due to sugar substitutes (such as isomalt) and additives: pieces of orange peel or cereal balls (products of the Rot Front factory) .

Parents need to realize that a product low in carbohydrates and fat, and even more so containing additional components, is a wrong choice for a child. Special chocolate is designed for a specific “target audience”, which does not include children. And the more additional ingredients in the composition, the further it is from the ideals of good chocolate.

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Contraindications

Knowing when you can eat chocolate, you need to remember in what cases a confectionery product is strictly prohibited from being included in a child’s diet:

• pancreatic dysfunction;
• excess body weight;
• cardiovascular diseases;
• metabolic disorders associated with heredity;
• neurotic disorders;
• lactose intolerance;
• chronic diseases of the excretory system, gall bladder;
• allergy;
• metabolic nephropathy.

At high temperatures and in the acute phase of viral diseases, chocolate should not be given to children, as it prevents the body temperature from decreasing and increases the time of treatment of the disease. Nowadays, the confectionery industry is developing day by day and does not ignore people for whom ordinary chocolate remains prohibited. For this purpose, special types are being developed:

• diabetic, for people with high blood glucose levels. The calorie content of the products is low, since simple granulated sugar is replaced with sorbitol or fructose;
• dietary – no fats or sugar. The last ingredient can be in small quantities.