Is Healthy Chocolate Really A Nutritious Food For Children?
For years we have been told that chocolate is bad for our children! It rots their teeth, disrupts the levels of sugar in their bodies and makes them hyper, and generally does them no good at all! In fact many schools ban it from lunch boxes and dinning halls!
And yet, chocolate was once considered to be the "Food of the Gods"! In its healthy form it can be one of the best natural foods that you can give your child. This article explores why chocolate has received such a bad press and what we, as parents, can do about it.
When I am talking "Chocolate" I am not talking about 99% of the chocolate sweets, candy bars, desserts, and other junk that our children are encouraged to eat. Not all chocolate is created equal and part of the purpose of this article is to educate on the difference between healthy chocolate and bad chocolate!
To understand a little of this we need briefly to look at the history of chocolate.
Chocolate was used as a wonder food in South America for centuries. It was highly regarded by both the Mayan and Aztec cultures for its medical and restorative properties. Cocoa beans were even used as a form of currency - in a similar way that we used precious metals such as gold and silver in the west.
It was often consumed as a drink. The Spanish conquistador, Hernan Cortes, wrote this about it in 1519:
"The divine drink builds up resistance and fights fatigue. A cup of this precious drink permits a man to walk for a whole day without food"
It was only when it arrived in Europe that the taste was changed to make it more "palatable" to the taste buds of the "civilized world". Unfortunately, this processing was the beginning of the end for the natural goodness of chocolate. The chocolate that we have come to know in our confectionery products is definitely NOT the same as the original healthy dark chocolate of the Aztecs.
So, why is chocolate so good for children?
We all know that children need their fresh fruit and vegetables. The science behind this is very strong and most parents are aware that fruit and vegetables contain a whole range of nutrients that are vital to children's health.
If your children are anything like mine you might have at least occasional issue getting them to eat their five helpings every day! We know their importance, but facing the daily battle to get them into our children can be a real struggle!
If it is a choice is between a plateful of fruit or vegetables and a small square of healthy chocolate, which one do you think might win? Opting for these squares certainly saves the battles at meal time, and ensures that the children are getting top quality nourishment in an easily digestible and enjoyable way!
It may seem remarkable, or surprising, or even unlikely, but three squares of healthy chocolate a day is all it takes to ensure that your children are getting all the natural goodness of their fruit and vegetables! Like any other caring parent, I want the very best nourishment for my children to ensure they grow as healthily as they can. If it comes from eating a special chocolate, which they thoroughly enjoy, then that is fine by me.
You don't have to take my word for it either. There is plenty of independent research available on the Internet that supports these claims. Just Google "Healthy Chocolate Science" and see what comes up.
If you are worried that eating chocolate may contribute to a rise in child obesity then don't be. Healthy chocolate actually acts to cut down on cravings for sweets and snacks and balances sugar levels within the body for several hours. Our own children have cut out their snacking almost completely since being on healthy chocolate.
It seems very strange to think that simple chocolate should be considered a "Superfood" for our children - but both the hearsay and scientific evidence is increasingly strong. If you are struggling to get high quality nutrition into your children then it is certainly worth considering!
Chocolate is a natural food and one that kids thoroughly enjoy eating. It has made a massive difference to our own children's health in a very short period of time, and I would definitely recommend it to all parents.
Questions and Answers
Quaker Granola Bars come in a selection of flavors and different protein content. Folks with sweet tooth and liking for chocolates have several choices of bars with chocolates. Even if you have kids these are excellent bars for your kids carry as breakfast choices and would provide your kids with the proper amount of proteins and vitamins. Despite of the excellent flavor and nutritious ingredients...
Taste matters a lot both in the case of children's and adults. But it is generally observed that foods that taste good are not beneficial for health and regular consumption of them leads to obesity, lethargy, tiredness etc. But that doesn't mean one should stop consuming food according to their liking.
it shows you the detrimental information about nutrition
Discover the reasons why so many nutrition diets fail. New insight as to why people start a program and work hard but fall short of their goals. Follow these simple techniques to maximize your exercise and nutrition program.
Mostly children are addicted to viewing TV their average of viewing is more then 60% that means they are watching TV more then five hours per day, they are heavy viewers. After/during watching TV’s ads most of the children demanding drinks i.e. coca-cola, des, Pepsi these drinks develops unhealthy habits of children. Some children ages of 10-12 are trying to imitate the same action which they seen during that ads, which are dangerous for their lives.
When children make their body they required more nutrients so that body gets proper nutrition. In the age of 10 and after huge changes in body structure their body wants more healthy nutrients. But at this time you give
Who doesn't love chocolate? Yes there are a few of you out there, I even know a couple myself. But even those who aren't chocolate crazies like some of us, still like it once in awhile. Whichever catagory you fit into, here are some recipes you really need to try!
What do you usually gift your mom in the auspicious occasion of Mother's Day? Is it a mushy card, a teddy bear, a little pink balloon heart on the end of a plastic stick.
Callebaut Milk Chocolates are the non-Belgian callets which contain cocoa beans harvested extensively from North America and not cocoa rich producing country like other Belgian Callet chocolates in the Callebaut line.
Ghana comes second in terms of cocoa-growing in the world after its neighbour, Cфte d'Ivoire. As according to a survey and research, Ghana exported almost its entire crop till date.
Liquor chocolates are a great combination of cocoa solids and cocoa butter which is obtained when cacao beans are strategically and skilfully processed to make delicious chocolate products.
This article speaks out against the lies of most online "business opportunities" and promotes the path of Tolls, Training, and Teamwork offered by Academy Team Solutions.
Academy Team Solutions is an Internet marketing program built for Internet Marketers by Internet Marketers. It offers the most comprehensive range of tools and training available anywhere on the Internet.
This article offers a surprisingly simple solution to maintaining our health and vitality. It encourages people to exercise regularly and eat healthy chocolate! Is the real secret of The Fountain Of Youth?
This article takes an old business adage and reworks it for the modern era. It shows that the secret to online success may be to "Find A Niche And Fill It"! It looks at the relatively untapped niche of Family Personal Safety and recommends the brand new Save Your Daughters program as an ideal way to stake your claim within this exploding market.
This article states that the real key to network marketing success is down the quality of the relationships we build with people. If we start from this perspective, rather than thinking only of the money, our success is guaranteed.
Discuss this Article
