When can you give chocolate to a child? Is it ok to give chocolate to children from one to three years old? How to buy quality chocolate

Dark and white, porous and with nuts, with aromas of berries and fruits... What kind of chocolate is good for children's health and can it be given to children?

Chocolate composition

Chocolate and chocolate confectionery are made from grated cocoa, cocoa butter and sugar with the addition of milk, lecithin and vanillin.

Chocolate mainly serves as a source of easily digestible carbohydrates and energy. It contains a small amount of vegetable protein and a significant amount of fat: cocoa butter, some types of milk fat, nuts.

Chocolate products are high in calories. Chocolate contains a lot of flavonoids (antioxidants and immunomodulators), minerals (potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus), vitamins (B1, B2 and PP) and some stimulants (theobromine, caffeine: 1-1.5%), tannins.

It also contains about 40 volatile compounds that determine the incomparable smell.

Term

Lecithin is a natural emulsifier widely used in the food industry, for example, it reduces the viscosity of chocolate and increases its shelf life. Lecithins include food additives E322 and E476. Lecithin is a substance necessary for the body. It consists of 50% of the liver and a third of the insulating and protective tissues of the brain and spinal cord. Lecithin is a powerful antioxidant, the deficiency of which reduces the effectiveness of the effects of drugs. Lack of lecithin can lead to serious diseases of the nervous system. At the same time, lecithin can cause allergies.

Term

Theobromine is a colorless, bitter powder similar in composition to caffeine. Like caffeine, it has a stimulating effect on the central nervous system and heart.

What is chocolate like?

Depending on the composition, chocolate is bitter, milky and white. The darker (“blacker”) the chocolate, the more cocoa solids it contains.

Chocolate with a cocoa content of 72% or more is called bitter.

Adding milk to chocolate reduces the amount of caffeine and enriches the product with calcium and milk proteins.

White chocolate contains no cocoa (only cocoa butter) and therefore has a spectacular creamy color. The fat content in such chocolate is about 40%.

Chocolate and chocolate confectionery may have aromatic additives(vanillin, coffee, cognac, etc.), food additives or stuffing (raisins, nuts, candied fruits, etc.).

With the addition of nuts and raisins, the amount of vitamins (C, E) and minerals (potassium, magnesium, etc.) increases, i.e. increases the nutritional value of chocolate.

chocolate values

The nutritional value of chocolate and confectionery of it (sweets, cookies, pastries, cakes, etc.) is lower than that of other food groups. The fact is that confectionery products are sources of easily digestible carbohydrates (sugars), but proteins, vitamins and minerals they either do not contain at all, or contain in a small amount. Therefore, all the benefits of the "chocolate" food group will be mainly in carbohydrates and energy. Given the activity of our children and the high energy expenditure associated with this activity, it cannot be said that children do not need chocolate. In addition, nutrition cannot be considered only as a process of supplying nutrients to the body. Nutrition is also a source of positive emotions, and chocolate in this regard gives a lot of pleasure to children of all ages.

We must not forget that sugar is one of the important reasons for the development of caries. The cariogenic effect of foods containing a large amount of sugar (for example, chocolate) is especially significant if children eat such foods not after taking main meals, but between meals, when tooth enamel is not protected by others. nutrients from lactic acid, formed as a result of the fermentation of sugar in the oral cavity.

An excess of carbohydrates, especially sugar, is also one of the risk factors for overweight. Uncontrolled consumption of sweets can lead to a decrease in appetite and the exclusion of foods from the diet with a high nutritional value. Therefore, chocolate, sweets, cakes and other confectionery should be present in the diet of children in limited quantities (no more than 40-50g of sugar and 20-40g of confectionery per day). True, the norms recommended by doctors differ significantly from the amount of sweets that children actually eat. You can offer your child one or two sweets or one marshmallow or two cookies a day. On some day, the norm can be doubled, and the next day you can live without sweets.

Norm

A child can be given no more than 40-50 g of sugar and 20-40 g of confectionery per day.

When can you give chocolate to children?

According to leading experts in the field of pediatric nutrition, it is recommended to introduce chocolate and chocolates into the diet of children no earlier than 5 years old.

It should be remembered that chocolate is a highly allergenic product, which means that it is excluded from the diet of children with food allergies, diseases of the digestive system, kidneys (dysmetabolic nephropathy), with disorders of the autonomic nervous system, and overweight.

Healthy children can be given chocolate no more than 1-2 times a week and in small quantities.

Industrial products containing cocoa powder are also available for the smallest. So, an eight-month-old healthy baby can be offered semolina with Good Night chocolate. For children older than a year, recently appeared New Product- milkshake with cocoa "Liquid Chocolate", from a year and a half - milk pudding with cocoa. Preschool children (over three years of age) can consume (according to tolerance) dairy products with cocoa (puddings, desserts) and ready-made breakfasts (for example, ready-made chocolate breakfast), and if chocolate balls pour milk, it will be not only tasty, but also healthy!

For children with diabetes, there is a special chocolate that uses sweeteners instead of sugar (for example, chocolate based on maltitol). "Diabetic" chocolate fully preserves traditionally loved by children sweet taste. The inclusion of special types of chocolate in the diet of children with diabetes helps to improve the emotional state of children who are practically devoid of "sweets".

Chocolate and other confectionery products are a source of pleasure and joy, which is very important. You can’t raise children in the same restrictions, excluding “useless goodies” from their lives. So sweets may well be present in the daily diet of children. The main thing is that everything should be in moderation!

Tatiana ABRAMOVA, Candidate of Medical Sciences, Laboratory Researcher baby food Research Institute of Nutrition RAMS

Olga GEORGIEVA, Ph.D., Senior Researcher, Baby Nutrition Laboratory, Research Institute of Nutrition, Russian Academy of Medical Sciences

Head of the Baby Nutrition Laboratory of the Research Institute of Nutrition of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences - Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor, "Honored Worker of Science of the Russian Federation" I.Ya. Horse.

Well, what kid would say no to a sweet treat for dessert? Ice cream, lollipops, crispy cookies, marmalade, marshmallows - there are so many delicious things to try! Many parents in their own way personal experience know how difficult it is sometimes to explain to a child that it is harmful to eat a lot of sweets. Sometimes it comes to a real tantrum, and, as a rule, the baby still gets his way.

There are "good" sweets that do not harm the health of the baby. These include home-made (and not store-bought!) marshmallows, marmalade, candied fruit, halva, fruit pies and other products, the quality of which can be 100% sure. In addition, during the preparation of these products, you can independently control the amount of sugar, which means protecting your child from various ailments, for example, diabetes and obesity. As you noticed, the above list does not include chocolate - the favorite treat of the children. At what age can you give chocolate to children? Why is chocolate bad? Is there a substitute for chocolate?

At what age can you give chocolate to children? Irresistible craving for sweets.

Almost all sweets that exist today are made with the addition of a large amount of sugar, often exceeding the daily allowance. Sugar is an easily digestible carbohydrate and is an excellent source of energy. That is why children are not recommended to offer sweets before the main meal, the child will “kill” his appetite and refuse to eat.

The love of sweets appears in a baby at the moment when he first tastes mother's milk. IN breast milk contained milk sugar- lactose, which gives it a sweetish aftertaste. Over time, after the introduction of the first complementary foods, the child's diet becomes more varied. Some vegetables and fruits also have a sweet taste, so there is no need to “sweeten” ready-made baby food.

Can I give chocolate to a child under one year old?

Moms who claim that a child can have a little of everything are far from uncommon. Unfortunately, even such a highly allergenic product as chocolate falls into the list of conditionally allowed products. The baby was allowed to lick, bite or chew a piece of chocolate - it doesn’t matter, the main thing is that the first contact with the cocoa product has already occurred. Those parents who believe that in this way they “harden” the body of the crumbs from the onset of allergies in the future are very mistaken. The first meeting with a chocolate bar, of course, will pass without the manifestation of diathesis, but the next time it may not be so lucky. As a rule, such a harmless, at first glance, act of mom and dad can cause severe allergies in the future, which will significantly limit diet child. Do babies need chocolate? Definitely not.

Is it ok to give chocolate to children from one to three years old?

In the absence of developmental and health problems, one year old baby can eat the same food as adults, with the exception of spicy, salty, smoked, canned and other foods that may be harmful to health. It may seem to parents that their baby is already quite big, which means it's time to lift all the bans on sweets and chocolate. Breaking off a piece of chocolate, an adult may feel guilty in front of a child who is carefully watching his every movement. “Can I give him a tiny piece of chocolate?” - the grandmother is interested. “And what makes you think that children at this age cannot have chocolate?” - the girlfriend is surprised. As a result, the baby still gets sweetness, and the parents are firmly convinced that in this way they express their love.

To answer the question of whether children under three years old can have chocolate, it is enough to recall its composition. In addition to cocoa, chocolate contains a large amount of fat, which puts a huge burden on digestive system child, in particular, on the pancreas.

You can give a child aged 1 to 3 years to try a piece of chocolate or chocolate candy, but at your own peril and risk. Firstly, after such a tasting at the sight of chocolate product the baby will persistently demand his due share, loudly indignant and throwing a tantrum, and his parents will be to blame for this. Secondly, indulgence in sweets with a high sugar content can disrupt the baby's diet, for which usual soup or porridge will seem tasteless.

IMPORTANT! For children aged 1 to 3 years daily rate sugar should not exceed 40 grams.

At what age can you give chocolate to children? According to pediatricians...

When asked at what age children can be given chocolate, any self-respecting pediatrician will answer: the later, the better. Ideally, the first chocolate bar the child should try after 5 years, when the risk of an allergic reaction is not so great. Eating chocolate confectionery ahead of time can cause itching, nausea, abdominal pain, skin rashes, and stool disorders. Long-term consumption of chocolate and other sweets in large quantities can lead to obesity, and in the future - the development of diabetes. In addition, it was found that tooth decay most often occurs in those children who began to get involved in sweets at an early age.

Everyone decides at what age you can give chocolate to children. However, do not forget about the consequences that entails the use this product a young child. If you want to please your baby with something delicious, let it be fruits that not only do no harm, but also help to enrich children's body vitamins and microelements.

When a small hand reaches for a candy in a beautiful wrapper, one mother will simply remain silent, the other will say a categorical “no” to this. Which of them is right? Can children eat chocolate or not? At what age can you start to please the child with delicious sweets?

Give can't be taken

Where in this sentence to put a punctuation mark, many mothers do not know. So, why can't children have chocolate until they are 3 years old?

Excitatory action

Many parents know about chocolate only that this product is high in calories and very nutritious. The composition of this sweetness includes cocoa beans, cocoa butter, as well as a substance such as theobromine. This element has similar properties to caffeine. Getting into a child's or adult body, it has an exciting effect on the nervous and cardiovascular system. When a child consumes a lot of chocolate, it has an extremely negative effect on his general condition.

The increased content of theobromine in the body of a child causes:

insomnia;

Excitation;

Irritability;

Anxiety;

Headaches and dizziness;

Violation of the heartbeat, arrhythmia, tachycardia.

allergic reactions

One of the reasons why chocolate is not allowed for children is the high likelihood of allergies. Big use such sweets can lead to itching, skin rashes and even fever.

If the child has already had allergic reactions to the use of certain foods, it is worth giving him chocolate with extreme caution. It is better to completely abandon this venture until an older age.

Load on the digestive system

In addition to the dangerous theobromine, chocolate also contains a high amount of fat, which makes it so nutritious food. This, in turn, puts a serious burden on the children's digestive system, in particular, on the liver and pancreas. The strongest negative impact renders on digestive tract chocolate, which contains a large amount of Palm oil. Today there are a lot of tiles and just chocolates contain this ingredient.

Caries

This item is not in vain worth the very last. Chocolate can cause dental caries in a child only if eaten in very large quantities. Moderate use of this product is not capable of harming the teeth, which cannot be said about other types of sweets. Chocolate contains an aseptic substance that suppresses the action of harmful bacteria in the oral cavity.

If given, how much, how and what?

Sweet-toothed parents will certainly agree that chocolate is one of the most delicious treats of all sweets. It is especially difficult for them to forbid a child to eat sweets. In addition, a baby who has tried chocolate once will ask for more in 95% of cases.

The daily norm of this product for a child should not exceed 40-50 grams. If you use chocolate more, it will definitely not bring any benefit to the body. Is your baby active or overweight? Reduce daily allowance at least 2 times.

Do not scold the child if you did not follow, and he ate more chocolate than expected. Be sure to include foods containing iodine in your baby's diet. The ideal solution is to add iodized salt to your food. This substance will help protect both the thyroid gland and children's teeth at the same time.

Since up to 3 years the child has not yet fully formed the liver and pancreas, his nutrition should be sparing. It is better to replace chocolate with marshmallows, marmalade or marshmallow. Any of these products must be prepared without the use of dyes. The baby is allowed to eat no more than 10 grams of sweets per day.

Children over 3 years old can already try chocolate. It is necessary to give it to a child in an amount of not more than 25 g per day. This will help to avoid overexcitation of the nervous system, allergic reactions and constipation. It is very important that the chocolate is of high quality and does not contain palm oil and other harmful components. But even quality product can't eat on an empty stomach!

Parents who do not want to deprive their baby of a happy childhood and with early age they begin to feed him sweets and chocolate, often they do not understand that by their actions they are depriving the child of a happy, and most importantly, healthy, future. After all, the health of our children is in our hands. delicious chocolate the kid will definitely try, you just need to remember that everything has its time!

Chocolate is a treat that your child is sure to come across and most likely enjoy. But do not go on about grandparents and feed the baby with sweets. Moreover, not all parents know exactly how old chocolate can be for children, and how much to give it.

For many, chocolate is strongly associated with a happy childhood, and it is no coincidence that cheerful children are depicted on the wrappers of chocolate bars (for example, the popular Alenka). But do not rush to give chocolate to a baby in a year, he sweet dessert will do nothing but harm. At what age can you give chocolate to a child? How much should it be, and how to choose the best sweet for the baby?

Optimal age

Very young children should not eat chocolate. Regarding the age at which a child can benefit from this treat, pediatricians argue, however, many doctors agree that it is better to include this product in the diet no earlier than three years. This is due to the unpreparedness of the children's liver and pancreas.

A one-year-old baby who tries a treat for the first time may not get negative consequences for the body, but now the second test can provoke an allergy or problems with gastrointestinal tract. So it's better not to risk it.

Of course, it is not worth completely banning everything that is sweet - young children can be offered other goodies that are gentle on the body - marshmallow, or jelly marmalade(preferably homemade, not factory-made).

What types of chocolate can be given to children?

Many adults themselves like to eat a brown candy bar or bar. But not everything that a mother loves is good for her child. Choosing delicious gift baby, prefer milk chocolate, for example, with raisins - he has pleasant taste and minimum harmful additives. Will not special harm and from the white variety of the product. Make sure that the product does not contain palm oil. Chocolate for children should be natural, i.e. made from and cocoa butter, with milk and minimum content food additives. White coating on the surface is a bad sign, it means that soy has been added to the product. The tile should melt in your hands, since the melting point of cocoa butter is 32-35 degrees Celsius.

Black bitter chocolate of exquisite varieties (for example, mint) is definitely not suitable for a child. The ban should be especially strict for sweets with the addition of alcohol (cognac, rum or liquor) - many confectionery manufacturers “sin” with this component unsuitable for children.

Important! You can also pour a mug of hot chocolate for the baby - make sure that it is not too hot (if the baby spills the drink, washing clothes can be difficult).

How much chocolate to give the baby

"Candy soul" - this is what they usually say about children, not those who know the measures in sweets. The younger the age, the more restrained one must be in the matter of eating desserts. A three-year-old baby can be given two or three squares from chocolate bar(up to 25 grams). In Week allowable dose- 100 g. At the same time, immediately before bedtime, children better sweets do not feed, so as not to excite their nervous system.

The benefits and harms of chocolate

The sweet product contains substances that have a good effect on the condition of the child:

Tryptophan - improves mood due to the stimulation of the production of serotonin and endorphin, contributes to the manifestation of the natural curiosity of the child.
Theobromine - enhances concentration and attention.
Magnesium is good for the brain.
Antioxidants prevent the development of a number of diseases.

However, the benefits of the components that the child receives in chocolate are balanced by the harm. Overeating sweets, the baby will be too excited and will not be able to sleep. The high content of fat (cocoa butter) makes the digestion of this delicacy a serious burden on the pancreas and biliary tract. And a variety of surrogates, which are used by manufacturers of sweets and tiles, can completely negate the positive effects.

When You Shouldn't Give Chocolate to Your Baby

If the baby is, chocolate is contraindicated for him. It is one of the most allergenic foods.

This delicacy is not suitable for small diabetics either (however, there are varieties in which sugar is replaced by fructose).

If in the first year of life you are faced with lactase deficiency in a baby, it is harmful to him.

Other diseases in which children are contraindicated in the use of brown treats:

hyperactivity;
problems with the pancreas;
heart disease;
pathology of the liver and gallbladder;
overweight;
dysmetabolic nephropathy.

Allergy to chocolate

If you give your child a piece of chocolate for the first time, carefully observe his subsequent state, 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 a delicacy is Quincke's edema (angioneurotic edema) - it is fraught with suffocation and even death. It manifests itself in the form of swelling of the facial tissues.

Recipes for cooking at home

Milk chocolate, which children love so much, is easy to make at home. At the same time, you will definitely know that all the components of the delicacy are natural and of high quality.

Chocolate from cocoa beans

100 g cocoa beans (use ground cocoa beans - you can buy them already ground or grind them yourself - a blender or coffee grinder is suitable for this);
cocoa butter (50 g);
condensed milk;
powdered milk.

First, mix the oil and beans in a separate bowl - these ingredients should be held in a bowl for a couple of minutes. microwave oven before the formation of a liquid mass. After that, add 2 tablespoons of condensed milk and 1.5 teaspoons of powdered milk. Beat the ingredients with a blender until the resulting mass thickens to the consistency of the dough. Pour it into molds and let it dry. If in this recipe limited to milk powder, then honey, molasses or maple syrup is suitable as a sweetener.

Chocolate based on cocoa powder

Cocoa powder is more readily available and cheaper than whole cocoa beans.

Use:

2 cups cocoa powder;
160 g butter;
1 glass of milk;
30 g flour;
0.5 cups of powdered sugar.

Beat cocoa powder with butter until dense paste. Place the resulting mass on water bath heat up and mix thoroughly. After adding powder with flour and milk, mix again so that the composition is homogeneous. Pour into molds, wait until it hardens.

Chocolate may be your child's favorite treat, but don't give it to very young children as they may develop health problems. From the age of three, sweetness made from natural ingredients, you can give, but in limited quantities.

Any child will not give up sweets. Chocolate, marshmallows, marmalade, cookies are a favorite treat for the baby. Sweets in small doses are even useful. But many parents are concerned about the age at which they can give their child chocolate.

Chocolate is useful in vitamins and healing substances that favorably affect the functioning of the brain and nervous system. It's about 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:

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

Finally, chocolate itself is a source of endorphin - the "hormone of joy." A similar hormone is produced after sports. This is why advice is often heard to eat sweets in stressful situations.

Product harm

The treat has negative sides. Consider why children shouldn't have chocolate. Firstly, babies under three years of age have a fragile body, the pancreas and liver are not fully formed, so the body will not perceive the fats contained in chocolate easily.

Secondly, chocolate allergy in children is widespread. It usually occurs in those under the age of three. Thirdly, chocolate has a strong effect on the nervous system: the baby can get overexcited and then not fall asleep. Fourthly, the product is high in calories due to the content of fats and carbohydrates, so the baby can gain excess weight.

Small children do not require mental stimulation, there is no need to consume large amounts of chocolate. It is better to do without it at all, since the risk of allergies is high.

The product is contraindicated in hyperactive children: chocolate will excite such a child even more, it will not be easy to calm the baby. For the same reason, hot chocolate should also be excluded from the diet.

When and how to use

Consider what age is acceptable so that the baby can be given chocolate, can children eat it at all, how many grams per day are supposed to be. Many doctors agree that such a product should not be offered to children under three years of age. There is a risk of accustoming a child to sweets, which in the future can lead to dependence on such delicacies. It's easier to start giving chocolate to preschoolers.

it is important to observe the dose: no more than 3-4 slices a day, or 25 g;
It is better not to give chocolate to children on an empty stomach, because fast carbohydrates immediately enter the bloodstream, causing first a feeling of satiety, and then a sharp hunger. They also contribute to a sharp production of insulin, which negatively affects the health of young children;

it is better to give the product in the morning so that it has time to assimilate;
hygiene must be observed: rinse your mouth after eating chocolate.
product must be the minimum amount additional ingredients.

Which chocolate is better

Not all chocolate is suitable for children. It is better to take natural, but not too bitter, because high content cocoa will not benefit the baby. You can give milk, but not white. The latter has too much sugar and oil, as well as artificial additives and dyes. It will not benefit an adult, and even more so a child.

The ideal option is milk product with the addition of dried apricots, raisins, nuts. Suitable cocoa content: 25 or 50%. In this case, the composition should exclude any fats: palm oil, cocoa butter. Thickeners, emulsifiers and other additives for taste and smell should alert.

The normal composition is:

powdered sugar;
lecithin;
grated cocoa;
cocoa butter.

Not all manufacturers comply with the rules for the preparation of such a product. Define quality chocolate simple: it melts in the hands and crunches when broken. Color also matters: it should be dark, saturated.

First meeting

Not all parents are aware that such a delicacy should be introduced into the diet gradually. It is better to give the baby sweet fruits first, of course, also in certain doses.

Then the baby can be introduced to cocoa powder. It is diluted with milk or water, a little sugar is added and given to the baby. If there are no negative reactions, you can move on to chocolate, but, again, be careful.

Rash, spots, redness, fever - clear signs allergies. In this case, it is better not to treat the child with chocolate. Perhaps in a year or two, the baby's body will become more receptive to this delicacy.

Many young mothers seek to immediately introduce their child to other delicacies: biscuits, shortbread, chocolate pies. But it's better not to similar products child at least five years old. The fact is that all these “sweets” contain aromatic additives, and there are practically no natural components in them. The baby will not benefit from this, but the risk of gaining excess weight increases.

Children's favorite treats are sweets and Kinder Surprises. It is not easy to protect a child from such sweets, since they are always in children's gifts, and relatives like to make a pleasant baby. In this case, it is important not to accustom the child to a large number sweets. They are safe for children only in small doses.

For any mother, the health of her child is more important than her own. So that the baby does not get poisoned, you should choose a product with an up-to-date expiration date in a reliable and high-quality package. A strong smell should alert you, this means that too many flavors have been added to the product.

Many children like chocolate very much, but it should not be given indiscriminately. It is better not to introduce the child to sweets too early at all, but to wait until he grows up.

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