Page 4 | Is hot chocolate a treat?

Dietchocolate · 2023-11-07T15:54:37+00:00

Looking for opinions. Context a child having a hot chocolate. (Age 7) A hot chocolate is a treat - YANBU A hot chocolate isn’t a treat, just a warm drink - YABU

Poudretteite · 07/11/2023 17:44

Treat
However the kids often have chocolate milk, which doesn't have treat status

JustAMinutePleass · 07/11/2023 17:46

I think this depends on what else your dc drinks. I give DS Indian Chai (with extra milk and no sugar), spiced milk, or milky coffee as warm drinks and so hot chocolate is 100% a treat.

margotrose · 07/11/2023 17:47

A plain mug of powdered hot chocolate at home is a warm drink.

Proper thick hot chocolate with whipped cream and marshmallows is a treat.

KVick · 07/11/2023 17:53

All that fat and sugar with no nutritional value, so it's a treat.

LyndaSnellsSniff · 07/11/2023 17:54

Not a treat. I have a daily hot choc at home. I never have it with cream or marshmallows though.

Ap24 · 07/11/2023 18:01

Definitely a treat for me. I have tried to still think of many things as a treat as my income has increased over the years. It keeps me happier and more grateful in general.

maybein2022 · 07/11/2023 18:05

Having read the OP’s update, I have three things to say:

Categorising food and drinks as ‘treats’ or not isn’t actually that helpful with children.

Withholding food or drink, whether it’s a ‘treat’ or not for bad earlier behaviour is not a great idea.

As a nanny, you and the parents need to be on the same page. If the kids are having loads of sugar/junk it’s probably not helping their behaviour.

Judellie · 07/11/2023 18:06

Well, not for me because I don't like it. Bit like bacon, it smells divine but once I taste it, it's not for me. Each to their own tho, everybody's different.

LegendsBeyond · 07/11/2023 18:06

It’s a treat, not for every day.

mondaytosunday · 07/11/2023 18:07

A treat, but can be a fairly regular one! It's very sweet so think of it as a liquid chocolate bar.

Nopenopenopenopenopenope · 07/11/2023 18:09

Depends what type. I have one of the supermarket own brand low calorie ones for a hot drink at bedtime. I don't think that's a treat. But then I have Harth hot chocolate which is luxurious and thick and delicious, full of sugar, and is enough calories to constitute a snack so I do consider that a treat.

Flippityflippidy · 07/11/2023 18:10

TVaddict23 · 07/11/2023 16:08

A treat that I am always disappointed with! Never meets expectations.

I am so with you on this!

I think I fancy one, make it all nice and frothy and milky, get very excited by it all...only to take a couple of sips and feel disappointed somehow!!

ManateeFair · 07/11/2023 18:11

Dietchocolate · 07/11/2023 17:19

Context being I’m a nanny. I will often tell child they cannot have a hot choc if they have had several treat items already. or alternatively, I will tell them They cannot have their evening hot chocolate (not implemented by me) if their behaviour is not deserving of a treat.

Their parent sees a hot chocolate as a distraction from a tantrum.

By their standards, hot chocolate is always made with warm milk, cream and accompanied with biscuits.

I think you sound perfectly reasonable here. If they've had loads of other sweet things, then it's fair enough to say they can't have a hot chocolate as well, especially if it's with biscuits and cream. And a 7-year-old shouldn't be getting hot chocolate and biscuits to 'distract them from a tantrum'. It's not distracting them, it's rewarding them.

It's not even really about whether it's 'a treat'. It's about whether it's OK to just give a child everything they demand, when they've already had plenty to eat/drink. It doesn't matter really whether it's a hot chocolate or whether it's an apple; if they've already plenty of things they like to eat/drink, they don't need another thing just because they've demanded it.

However... I guess it's ultimately up to the parents what they're happy for their child to eat and drink in a day.

therealcookiemonster · 07/11/2023 18:15

its definitely a treat for me when I have it. been making it italian style recently. lots of dark chocolate melted into hot milk, then spices and heated slowly and whisked. I add a little cornflour slurry to make it really velvety. today it was with cayenne pepper, nutmeg and cinnamon and very very little sugar so its more spicy than sweet. oh so gorgeous.

Sebsaloysius · 07/11/2023 18:21

therealcookiemonster · 07/11/2023 18:15

its definitely a treat for me when I have it. been making it italian style recently. lots of dark chocolate melted into hot milk, then spices and heated slowly and whisked. I add a little cornflour slurry to make it really velvety. today it was with cayenne pepper, nutmeg and cinnamon and very very little sugar so its more spicy than sweet. oh so gorgeous.

That sounds delicious, thank you for sharing.

GonnaBeYoniThisChristmas · 07/11/2023 18:29

To us its a treat - kids have a home made one once/twice a week.

Gifgirl · 07/11/2023 18:33

Dietchocolate · 07/11/2023 17:19

Context being I’m a nanny. I will often tell child they cannot have a hot choc if they have had several treat items already. or alternatively, I will tell them They cannot have their evening hot chocolate (not implemented by me) if their behaviour is not deserving of a treat.

Their parent sees a hot chocolate as a distraction from a tantrum.

By their standards, hot chocolate is always made with warm milk, cream and accompanied with biscuits.

Nanny here.

I agree with you; it's a treat.

It's hard when it's other people's kids though, isn't it!

5128gap · 07/11/2023 18:40

I've always treated it as a treat because it's nice to be able to give children something that feels a bit special and celebratory on Xmas eve, nights on holiday etc. If it was an everyday hot drink it would lose that. I do go a bit fancy with it though. I make it myself, with bars of chocolate so its very thick, and add cream, marshmallows and flakes.

Pumpkintastic · 07/11/2023 18:41

Yes it's a treat!

Polecat07 · 07/11/2023 19:56

It's a treat

coldcallerbaiter · 07/11/2023 20:06

Treat

PurpleBugz · 07/11/2023 20:37

It's a treat in our house

KookyAndSpooky · 07/11/2023 21:08

If my 3 yr old DS had a hot chocolate at home then he wouldn't have a squash or juice that day. It depends what you consider a treat.

We generally allow x1 sweet treat (anything from a rich tea biscuit to a slice of cake) as well as a drink 'treat' such as juice, squash or hot chocolate.

For me, I would also consider hot chocolate a treat but it wouldn't stop me from having some cake or chocolate in the evening.