Marmalade: benefits and harm for the child’s body, at what age can it be given

Parents have mixed opinions about their children's consumption of sweets. Some believe that without them, childhood will not be real. Others, on the contrary, are convinced that absolutely all sweets bring only harm to children.

It is a well-known fact that carbohydrates (including sugar) are the main source of energy for the body. Of course, this does not mean that a child should be given chocolate, sugar and candy from infancy.

There are other treats that can provide a child’s body with glucose. For example, marmalade, marshmallows and marshmallows are acceptable to consume at an early age.

Marmalade was first made in ancient Greece, then in the Middle East. Later, the delicacy spread to European countries, and it received its name from the French. They made jam so thick and hard that they cut it into candies.

Marmalade is popular all over the world. Orange marmalade is traditionally served for breakfast in England. This delicacy is popular in its various types in the CIS countries.

The literal translation of the name – “quince marshmallow” – does not correspond to the current essence of the product, which is currently prepared from many berries and fruits:

• oranges,
• lemons,
• apples,
• blueberries,
• drain,
• cranberries

In modern confectionery production, marshmallows and marmalade are different from each other.

Compound

Natural marmalade is a healthy and very tasty classic dessert.

The marmalade contains natural berries and fruits and a gelling component. The properties and effects on the body are different for each of them. Calorie content also depends on the type of marmalade. On average, in 100 g of product it is equal to 300 kcal.

The treat contains:

• vitamins PP, , , , K, group B, ;
• iron;
• magnesium;
• phosphorus;
• calcium;
• copper;
• potassium;
• sodium.

Doctors' comments

Natalya Egorova (Med) believes that marmalade is a healthy complementary food for children aged 2 years and older. It saturates the body with the necessary energy. Harmless in small quantities (20–50 g per day). And in order to give up sweets, parents should also eat it, instilling in their child a proper nutritional culture.

Dmitry Shubin (Elena Malysheva Medical Center) points out the benefits of only a natural product, preferably made from apples traditional for Russia. Such fruits contain a lot of natural pectin, which helps to quickly cleanse the body.

Dr. Roshal (NII NDKhT) argues that children should not be limited in sweets. After all, an active lifestyle requires additional sources of energy. And marmalade is also a storehouse of vitamins and minerals that strengthen bone tissue.

Children's doctor Komarovsky allows the use of marmalade as a chocolate substitute, because it contains easily digestible carbohydrates and is rich in vitamins.

Varieties of marmalade

Russian manufacturers prepare 3 types of marmalade:

• jelly: various gelling agents are used in production;
• fruit and berry: thickeners are not added to fruit and berry puree because it contains pectin;
• jelly-fruit: the technological process uses both gelling fruit and berry puree and gelling agents.

The gelling base in the delicacy can be pectin, gelatin, or agar-agar.

• Pectin is a natural high-molecular polysaccharide that can increase the thickness of solutions to a gel or jelly state. More often it is obtained from apples, citrus peels, watermelons, sugar beets, and sunflower baskets.
• Agar-agar is a gelling substance obtained from red and brown algae. Its main components are polysaccharides.
• Gelatin is a substance of animal origin. It turns the solution into jelly when it cools.

Avoid gelatin

Unfortunately, not every marshmallow meets the ideal and is a quality product that your child should eat. Therefore, do not rush to put the first package you come across into the cart, first examine it carefully. First of all, look for GOST on the label - this is a guarantee that the product is made according to the correct recipe. Then check the list of ingredients for the absence of artificial colors, thickeners and flavors - a good marshmallow should be made only from natural products: fruit or berry puree, egg white, sugar, molasses and a thickener - pectin, agar-agar or gelatin. The first is considered the most useful - it is extracted from fruits and helps reduce cholesterol, removes toxins and increases the body's resistance to infections. Pectin-based marshmallows have a delicate taste with fruity sourness. The second thickener, agar-agar, is also good for the health of babies - it is made from seaweed, so it supplies the child’s body with iodine, calcium and iron. True, the taste of such marshmallows is not so sour and the structure is denser than that of its “brother” made with pectin.

But gelatin is in last place in this series of thickeners in terms of quality and degree of usefulness. It is made from bones, tendons and cartilage of animals, so it does not contain anything valuable. In addition, your baby may not like marshmallows made with it - it has a slightly noticeable meaty taste and a slightly stretchy “rubbery” consistency.

The benefits of marmalade

Plast marmalade is the most useful because it consists of a minimum of simple ingredients.
This is a classic type of marmalade. The beneficial properties of marmalade depend entirely on the base used:

1. Plast marmalade is prepared in the simplest classical way: sugar is poured into fruit puree and boiled until a thick, sweet mass is obtained.

Sometimes pectin is added to it, but, as a rule, the gelling function is performed by the pectin contained in the fruit itself. The ancient Greeks prepared this delicacy using this recipe.

Of course, in the absence of harmful additives, this marmalade is most useful, although it does not look as tempting and beautiful as modern delicacies.

1. More often, the natural product pectin is used to make marmalade. 100 g of this marmalade contains 0.4 g of protein, almost 77 g of carbohydrates, and no fat. Its calorie content is 293 kcal.

It has a beneficial effect on the body:

• normalizes carbohydrate and fat metabolism;
• reduces blood cholesterol levels;
• helps cope with bacterial intestinal infections;
• accelerates reparative processes, healing of wounds and burn surfaces;
• improves peripheral blood circulation;
• Promotes, being a natural sorbent, the removal of radionuclides and toxins, pesticides and other harmful substances;
• improves pancreas and liver function.

It will be especially useful for children living in an environmentally disadvantaged region.

1. Marmalade prepared with agar-agar has a beautiful red color and a more delicate structure. This type of marmalade contains about 80 g of carbohydrates per 100 g, but has neither proteins nor fats.

Agar-agar contains agaropectin, polysaccharides, a significant amount of minerals and vitamins. Agar is not digested or absorbed in the intestines, but it feeds the intestinal microflora that is beneficial to the body.

Agar marmalade may also contain:

• fruit essence;
• flavorings;
• dyes (natural or synthetic);
• lemon acid.

Calorie content depends on the composition and ranges from 275-355 kcal per 100 g of product.

Effect on the body:

• reduces appetite (due to the ability of agar-agar to swell, it causes a feeling of fullness in the stomach);
• activates peristalsis (movement of contents through the intestines);
• has a mild laxative effect;
• replenishes iodine deficiency, which normalizes thyroid function;
• improves digestion;
• reduces the acidity of gastric contents;
• promotes the removal of toxic substances and waste from the body;
• restores strength after significant stress (mental or physical);
• reduces cholesterol and triglycerides;
• normalizes blood glucose levels.

1. If marmalade is made with gelatin, its main ingredient is collagen protein. The supplier of gelatin is cattle: this thickener is obtained by processing bones, cartilage and tendons.

Effect of gelatin on the body:

• has an enveloping effect on the gastrointestinal mucosa, protecting it from the irritating effects of chemical components;
• improves digestion;
• is a source of collagen, which ensures the normal condition of skin, nails and hair;
• strengthens joints and cartilage tissue;
• Providing a fixing effect, it increases the tendency to constipation;
• increases blood cholesterol levels and coagulability.

This marmalade is contraindicated for children with increased blood clotting and renal failure.

The most useful type is jelly-fruit, which combines the beneficial properties of fruit pectin and agar.

The shape of the delicacy (plastic, molded, carved) does not matter; it does not affect the nutritional value of the marmalade.

1. Chewing marmalade appeared in Russia relatively recently, in the early 90s of the last century, but quickly became popular among both adults and children. Children are attracted to sweet figures of animals - chewing marmalade is usually produced in this form.

Excellent taste, elastic, “long-lasting” consistency distinguish it from ordinary marmalade. In addition, it does not stick to your hands, is stored longer and does not melt.

The elasticity of the delicacy is provided by gelatin, pectin and beeswax. In addition to them, molasses, sugar, and vegetable fats are used to make the product. The composition includes vitamin C, citric acid, amino acids.

100 g of product contains about 80 g of carbohydrates, about 4 g of proteins, and only 0.1 g of fat. The calorie content is 340 kcal. Manufacturers also add flavors and dyes.

A mixture of vegetable fat (90%) and wax (10%) prevents marmalade figures from sticking and drying out and provides them with shine. In addition, chewing beeswax cleanses the teeth and oral cavity.

High-quality chewing marmalade is healthier than chewing gum:

• it has a calming effect on the nervous system;
• reduces the risk of developing neuroses;
• helps relieve the feeling of chronic fatigue;
• increases immunity;
• strengthens cartilage and ligaments;
• whitens teeth;
• disinfects the oral cavity;
• activates mental performance.

Parents should also be aware that chewing marmalade suppresses hunger in children, and therefore worsens appetite.

1. Puffed marmalade is a type of chewing marmalade: they have the same composition, but different manufacturing technology. The mixture of ingredients for the airy marmalade is whipped using a high-speed mixer.

The resulting product is lighter and airier. It tastes and looks somewhat like marshmallows.

Are marshmallows and marshmallows the same thing?

Despite the fact that we call them little marshmallows, these desserts have nothing in common. They are similar only in color, but the composition is not the same at all. Real marshmallows are whipped egg whites and applesauce.

Marshmallow is very airy, due to the fact that during production the mass is whipped at high speed, which is why it is so light. But it contains a fair amount of sugar, so don’t overdo it with this delicacy. For a small child, 5 pieces a day will be enough.

Marmalade medicine

Children really like vitamins in the form of gummy bears.
In recent years, manufacturers have begun to produce chewing marmalade for children with added medications.

Popular:

• vitamin marmalade containing complexes of minerals with vitamins (Vitrum Kids Gummi, Vitamishki, etc.);
• soothing soft marmalade Hare, containing herbal extracts (chamomile, mint, fennel, oregano, thyme).

Medicines in this form are more attractive to children; they have no other advantages. They are allowed to be used after 3 years.

Such marmalade must be stored out of the reach of children in order to prevent excessive increases in the dose of medication, which is dangerous to health.

Sterile production and packaging conditions increase the shelf life of such medicinal gummies to 2-3 years.

Harm from marmalade

In the old days, citric acid obtained from lemons was used in the production of lemon gumdrops.

Unfortunately, modern manufacturers prefer to add chemical dyes and flavors with the smell of pineapple, apples, and raspberries instead of natural ones. This gives the product brightness and attractiveness, extends shelf life, but is harmful to health.

Because of these additives, marmalade has moved from being a healthy and tasty natural classic dessert to the category of cheap, affordable sweets. Real marmalade is not a cheap product.

• In England they prepare natural orange marmalade.
• In Spain it is made from quince.
• In Russia, apple marmalade is prepared without sugar or harmful additives.

High-quality marmalade may contain natural additives that are not dangerous, for example, turmeric. And the fruits themselves give the product a slight coloring.

Cheap marmalade color enhancers can cause not only indigestion and allergic reactions, but also other negative consequences.

The most common causes of chemical additives are:

• allergies;
• bloating;
• nausea;
• heartburn;
• vomiting

Eating treats in large quantities can contribute to the development of tooth decay.

Children suffering from diabetes are allowed to consume marmalade prepared only with fructose or sorbitol.

At what age should it be given?

Sugar is strictly prohibited for children under one year old. The diet of a one-year-old baby begins to include standard sugar, sweetened water and compotes. Natural marmalade, jam and preserves are allowed to be given after two years. Chewable and medicinal vitamin gummies - after three.

Sweets can be given after meals and in limited quantities. They are prohibited in case of individual intolerance, and are not recommended for digestive problems and diabetes. In the latter case, you can eat marmalade made with sorbitol or fructose.

For the first time, try a small piece of the treat and watch the children. If symptoms of a food allergy appear, eliminate the product from your diet and consult a doctor. If the child feels well, you can continue to give the baby treats.

How to choose a treat

First, you should carefully read the information on the label:

• compound;
• gelling agent;
• presence of additives and dyes;
• best before date.

The presence of natural agar-agar in the composition is indicated by code E406. High-quality marmalade contains only fruit puree and sugar. Its cost is more expensive.

Plast marmalade is not always available for sale. Although it does not look entirely attractive (its brown and dull color with a honey tint is more reminiscent of thick jam), it will only benefit the child’s body, since it usually does not contain chemical additives.

You should not buy your child a treat that contains:

• Strong smell;
• sweeteners;
• stabilizers;
• emulsifiers;
• preservatives and other substances, although it will be indicated that they are identical to natural ones.

The results of research by American scientists indicate that children's consumption of various dyes (especially red) leads to child hyperactivity and problems with learning educational material.

You need to buy marmalade in transparent packaging so that you can visually assess its quality:

• It must have the correct shape with clear contours, no deformations, and a glassy structure.
• When you lightly squeeze the chewing marmalade with your fingers, it should quickly return to its original shape.
• Its surface should be dry, non-sticky, with unmelted topping.
• Only plastic marmalade can have a slight moistening of the surface.

The hard, dense consistency of marmalade indicates a significant content of fruit puree, and the low-elastic, sugary consistency indicates a large amount of sugar.

Other healthy sweets

Children's diets should include only natural sweets. Unlike store-bought marmalade, they have some advantages.

• Marshmallow. No thickeners, flavors or dyes are used in its production.
• Pastila does not require chemical additives.
• Milk chocolate with nuts contains a lot of protein and calcium.
• Meringue is the most natural option.
• Dried fruits do not irritate the mucous membranes of the stomach and intestines.
• Homemade candied fruits are used in a comprehensive healthy diet.
• Halva restores digestion and normalizes stool.
• Bee honey stimulates the functioning of all body systems.

Unlike Russians, Americans consume marmalade all the time. It has become a favorite sweet of different generations. The industry in the USA is constantly developing due to such giants as Jelly Belly, Toxic Waste, Haribo, WarHeads.

Can a child eat corn sticks?

When and how to give marmalade to children

According to the unanimous opinion of doctors, eating any sweet foods, including tea, is contraindicated for babies under one year of age. After a year, a child’s introduction to sweets should begin with natural products - fruits and berries.

If, after all, the parents decide to give the baby treats, then after a year they can be:

• marmalade;
• marshmallows;
• marshmallows in small quantities and provided that these “sweets” are of good quality.

The best option is homemade marmalade prepared by the mother herself. Chewing marmalade can be given to children after the age of three.

Marmalade can be offered to your child in addition to breakfast with pastries. They decorate cakes and soufflés. It is also suitable for afternoon tea drinking.

You just shouldn’t give children marmalade before meals, as this will reduce their appetite.

How does a child get to know sweets?

The child begins to get acquainted with the variety of food products with those products that contain sugar. The first sweet dish in a baby’s diet is mother’s milk, which contains lactose. But even if the child is bottle-fed, the same lactose is always added to infant formula. In addition to it, another product containing milk sugar is added to baby food - maltose.

During the first year of life, the baby is usually introduced to other sweet foods. When a child begins to be fed, he is usually given juices and berry purees containing natural sugar. Here, by the way, parental mistakes are possible.

Some mothers add sugar to cereals and pureed vegetables. This should not be done under any circumstances, otherwise the child’s sense of taste may be distorted and he will begin to refuse unsweetened foods, which in the future will almost certainly lead to excess weight and various diseases.

Another parental mistake is adding sugar to the water that the child is given to drink. Or - in tea. It is not advisable to do this. It is better to give your baby unsweetened water or tea so that he does not develop an excessive habit of sweet foods.

A child from one to three years old: what kind of sweets can he have?

When the baby turns one year old, you can give him more sweets. For example, you can add a little sugar to dishes where appropriate.

It is useful to give your baby compotes and decoctions of dried fruits without adding sugar to them. It is useful to start feeding your child berry or fruit mousses.

In addition, marmalade, marshmallows and marshmallows are gradually introduced into the diet. If you want to give your baby marshmallows, it is better if they are creamy or vanilla. It is not advisable to give fruit marshmallows to children. They contain many dyes and other additives. For the same reason, it is better to refrain from hard varieties of marmalade: children are not able to chew them and swallow them whole.

After the child turns 2 years old, you can begin to gradually feed him jams and preserves. They contain dietary fiber, iron and potassium, which are much healthier than sugar. You should not give pure jam or jam to your baby; it is better to add these products little by little to porridge or as an addition to tea. As for sweet carbonated drinks, they are strictly contraindicated for children.

It is important to know how much sugar your baby can consume per day. Children's nutritionists say that the daily sugar intake for a child aged 1-3 years should not be more than 40 grams. It is clear that such a norm is to a certain extent conditional and is determined, as they say, “by eye,” but parents must constantly keep it in mind. Chocolate and cocoa are very harmful to children. Chocolate candies, marshmallows with added chocolate, and other delicacies that contain this product will also be harmful. Due to the high fat content in chocolate, the normal functioning of the stomach and pancreas may be disrupted in a child.

Sweets after 3 years of age

Starting from the age of 3, the child is gradually introduced to other sweets, keeping in mind that consuming more sugar per day is harmful for the baby. Little by little, you can introduce gingerbread cookies, cookies, jam, and honey into your diet. If your baby's stomach is fine, you can treat him to chocolate. It is better to start with white and milk varieties, and after 5 years, give other varieties.

Many children's nutritionists and parents are convinced that dried fruits are much healthier than the same sweets. And they are right: dried fruits contain a lot of vitamins, dietary fiber, microelements, and protein. All this is very useful for a growing child’s body. Therefore, it will be great if parents manage to dissuade their child from sweets by completely replacing them with dried fruits.

As for flour sweets, parents should treat them with caution. The production of cookies, gingerbreads, waffles, pastries, and cakes uses high-grade flour with the addition of large amounts of fat and sugar. Accordingly, such products have an increased calorie content, but, on the contrary, there are very few useful vitamins, proteins, minerals and other useful substances. Cream pies and cakes are especially harmful to children's bodies: they contribute to the development of microbes in the child's body, and therefore the baby can get sick or be poisoned.

Special mention should be made about honey. Its healing properties are well known. However, a lot of honey in the diet of preschool children can be harmful due to the fact that it can cause allergies in the child. Until the baby is 3 years old, it is not recommended to give him honey at all. Upon reaching the age of three, honey is added to some children's dishes, but not more than one teaspoon per day.

Homemade marmalade recipes

Making marmalade at home is not difficult: just take the fruit in the form of puree (mashed through a sieve), add sugar, water and cook until thick.

Proportions of fruit, water and sugar:

• for apple marmalade: 1 kg apples steamed until soft, 2.5 cups sugar, ¼ cup water;
• for blueberry delicacy you need to take: 1 kg of blueberries and sugar, 1 tbsp. l. gelatin soaked in a glass of water;
• for 1 serving of lemon marmalade you need: 1 lemon, cut into slices with seeds removed, 1 glass of sugar, 500 ml of water; pour the lemon and seeds in a gauze bag with water and leave for a day, then cook with stirring over low heat until thickened.

The readiness of homemade marmalade is confirmed by a non-spreading drop on a cold plate. The finished product is placed in molds and placed in the refrigerator. After complete hardening, the marmalade can be removed and sprinkled with powdered sugar if desired.

Homemade marmalade is much healthier than store-bought marmalade. This delicacy for children is preferable to candies with dyes or chocolates.

Blackcurrant marshmallow

Ingredients:

• 125 g baked apple puree
• 125 g currant puree (boiled)
• 1 egg white
• 150 g water
• 500 g sugar
• 8 g agar-agar

Preparation:

1. To prepare the puree, cut the apples in half, remove the center and bake in the oven until soft (about 30 minutes). No need to peel. After the apples are baked, scoop out the pulp with a spoon and grind it into a puree.
2. Chop the currants, pass through a sieve and boil over low heat without adding water until the volume is reduced by about 2 times. Frozen currants must first be thawed and removed from excess moisture. In this case, it will take more time to boil the puree.
3. Cool the puree.
4. In a mixer, mix both types of puree and egg white. Set to beat at high speed.
5. Dissolve agar-agar in water and put on fire. When it almost boils, add sugar and cook everything together, remembering to stir, for 3-4 minutes after boiling.
6. Gently pour the hot syrup into the whipping mixture in a thin stream and beat for about 5-7 minutes. The mass should begin to thicken. Please note: agar-agar begins to harden at a temperature of 40 degrees, so do not overbeat the mixture, otherwise the marshmallows will harden right in the mixer bowl.
7. Shape the marshmallows with a spoon or a piping bag. Place on parchment.
8. Leave the marshmallows to dry at room temperature for about a day.
9. After drying, you can sprinkle the marshmallows with powdered sugar to prevent them from sticking to your hands.

Source: Fotolia

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