Chocolate is such a delicious food that can be used in so many different recipes. It's a food that fills us with joy with every bite. But one question remains: Can babies eat chocolate? We'll explain everything!
Chocolate and its composition
Everyone knows that chocolate is far from being a healthy food . Even though it's a truly delicious , it's advisable to eat chocolate in moderation , whether it's a piece from a bar or in homemade preparations.
Chocolate contains two nutrients that should be avoided in a baby's diet :
- sugar
- nerve stimulants
Added sugar , found in chocolate, is strongly discouraged in a baby's diet until the age of 3. It has the same addictive potential as alcohol! And it can also cause cavities and increase the risk of weight gain.
The two nerve stimulants in chocolate are caffeine and theobromine. These two stimulants affect a baby's sleep or irritability. But that's not all; caffeine and sugar together can cause anxiety, sleep disturbances, or even headaches.
Chocolate is therefore not good for babies ! That's why it's advisable to wait before offering chocolate to your little one.
Photo: © Lune et l'autre
Introducing baby to chocolate
There is currently no official recommendation regarding the ideal age to introduce chocolate into a baby's diet.
However, given its composition, chocolate should only be offered occasionally . The delicious flavor of chocolate can be discovered sparingly through delightful homemade snack recipes .
Around 8 months to 1 year , it will be possible to enhance recipes adapted to the baby's development with unsweetened cocoa . This will add a subtle chocolatey touch to homemade preparations.
As for chocolate bars , just like added sugars, it's strongly recommended to wait until 2 or even 3 years old . After that, you can offer them a square of chocolate or use it to enhance delicious homemade recipes!
It's important to choose the right type of chocolate before offering it to your baby. Ideally, use 70% dark chocolate , which is less sweet than other types. Furthermore, dark chocolate is rich in cocoa and is a good source of magnesium and iron . But that's not all; dark chocolate also has a high antioxidant capacity .
Milk chocolate and white chocolate are much sweeter than dark chocolate. When your baby is older, you can introduce them to these other chocolate flavors.
Our recipes to be enjoyed sparingly
A question may now come to mind: how do I introduce chocolate into my baby's diet? Several delicious recipes will help you introduce cocoa and then chocolate to your baby.
The delightful combination of banana and cocoa in a recipe for the whole family. These cocoa and banana cookies will make everyone want to eat them!
Orange and cocoa bollys are perfect little finger foods for the whole family's afternoon snack! A flavorful treat that will delight baby's taste buds!
A comforting treat for rainy days: apple and chocolate cakes ! An ultra-moist and above all delicious recipe to share with the family.
Peanut butter and chocolate muffins are delicious with this great flavor combination. Baby and other family members alike will enjoy this recipe as a snack!
There are a multitude of foods with different flavors to introduce to your baby before chocolate. And as the grown-ups say, "To each their own pleasures!"
