| For years we have been told that chocolate is bad for | | | | children's health. |
| our children! It rots their teeth, disrupts the levels of | | | | If your children are anything like mine you might have |
| sugar in their bodies and makes them hyper, and | | | | at least occasional issue getting them to eat their five |
| generally does them no good at all! In fact many | | | | helpings every day! We know their importance, but |
| schools ban it from lunch boxes and dinning halls! | | | | facing the daily battle to get them into our children can |
| And yet, chocolate was once considered to be the | | | | be a real struggle! |
| "Food of the Gods"! In its healthy form it can be one of | | | | If it is a choice is between a plateful of fruit or |
| the best natural foods that you can give your child. | | | | vegetables and a small square of healthy chocolate, |
| This article explores why chocolate has received such | | | | which one do you think might win? Opting for these |
| a bad press and what we, as parents, can do about it. | | | | squares certainly saves the battles at meal time, and |
| When I am talking "Chocolate" I am not talking about | | | | ensures that the children are getting top quality |
| 99% of the chocolate sweets, candy bars, desserts, | | | | nourishment in an easily digestible and enjoyable way! |
| and other junk that our children are encouraged to eat. | | | | It may seem remarkable, or surprising, or even unlikely, |
| Not all chocolate is created equal and part of the | | | | but three squares of healthy chocolate a day is all it |
| purpose of this article is to educate on the difference | | | | takes to ensure that your children are getting all the |
| between healthy chocolate and bad chocolate! | | | | natural goodness of their fruit and vegetables! Like any |
| To understand a little of this we need briefly to look at | | | | other caring parent, I want the very best nourishment |
| the history of chocolate. | | | | for my children to ensure they grow as healthily as |
| Chocolate was used as a wonder food in South | | | | they can. If it comes from eating a special chocolate, |
| America for centuries. It was highly regarded by both | | | | which they thoroughly enjoy, then that is fine by me. |
| the Mayan and Aztec cultures for its medical and | | | | You don't have to take my word for it either. There is |
| restorative properties. Cocoa beans were even used | | | | plenty of independent research available on the |
| as a form of currency - in a similar way that we used | | | | Internet that supports these claims. Just Google |
| precious metals such as gold and silver in the west. | | | | "Healthy Chocolate Science" and see what comes up. |
| It was often consumed as a drink. The Spanish | | | | If you are worried that eating chocolate may |
| conquistador, Hernan Cortes, wrote this about it in 1519: | | | | contribute to a rise in child obesity then don't be. |
| "The divine drink builds up resistance and fights fatigue. | | | | Healthy chocolate actually acts to cut down on |
| A cup of this precious drink permits a man to walk for | | | | cravings for sweets and snacks and balances sugar |
| a whole day without food" | | | | levels within the body for several hours. Our own |
| It was only when it arrived in Europe that the taste | | | | children have cut out their snacking almost completely |
| was changed to make it more "palatable" to the taste | | | | since being on healthy chocolate. |
| buds of the "civilized world". Unfortunately, this | | | | It seems very strange to think that simple chocolate |
| processing was the beginning of the end for the | | | | should be considered a "Superfood" for our children - |
| natural goodness of chocolate. The chocolate that we | | | | but both the hearsay and scientific evidence is |
| have come to know in our confectionery products is | | | | increasingly strong. If you are struggling to get high |
| definitely NOT the same as the original healthy dark | | | | quality nutrition into your children then it is certainly |
| chocolate of the Aztecs. | | | | worth considering! |
| So, why is chocolate so good for children? | | | | Chocolate is a natural food and one that kids |
| We all know that children need their fresh fruit and | | | | thoroughly enjoy eating. It has made a massive |
| vegetables. The science behind this is very strong and | | | | difference to our own children's health in a very short |
| most parents are aware that fruit and vegetables | | | | period of time, and I would definitely recommend it to all |
| contain a whole range of nutrients that are vital to | | | | parents. |