Why isn't there healthier choc and sweets for kids?!

[ScienceMum88]

Would love some opinions on this from the community.

Mum of 3 (DD 7, DS 5 and DD 2)

I have followed the gov guidelines to keep added sugar out of my toddlers diet as much as possible for the first couple of years but I've always found it really frustrating that once they get out of the 'Bear and fruit snacks' stage it's much easier for Cadburys and crap to creep in. I don't always have time to make better treats and I do actually love to give my kids treats from time to time too but am twinged with guilt.

I'm seriously considering developing a healthier type chocolate product for kids that's lower in sugar and better for them. Does this already exist? Is this something that other parents want and also find annoying?! Or is it just me 🤣

If you want to provide healthy snacks there are plenty of options. Fruit, small bags of nuts to name a couple.
Would I buy chocolate that had been messed about with into an artificial substance and you tried to pass it off as healthy. Firm no.

As mine have got older I have realised I can’t control everything they eat - good luck with that once they are at secondary school! I also feel creating ‘bad’ foods and forbidden things makes them highly attractive. This can lead to excessive consumption later on. I have focused on healthy balanced meals, serving lots of salad/veg, trying to cook from scratch, not eating out much and chocolate/cakes/similar are small portions only. Eg a mr Kipling size cake at 100ish calories or mini cookie bag does them no harm. Mine have something like that basically every day at some point, are slim with good dental health and they don’t keep asking for more or for treats.

yes bear type snacks have a lot of sugar in them, but at least they have other nutrients alongside, unlike pure sugary snacks.ultimately

i think portion size is really important and people often give kids adult size portions as snacks which is too much and spoils their appetite for upcoming healthier meals. Eg I saw a toddler in Costa yesterday who was bought and given a whole muffin. There could be 40-50% of their total daily energy requirements in just that one snack.

I make mini chocolate puff pastry rolls with just a sheet, the tiniest amount of butter, and chopped dark chocolate. Then I brush a bit of egg yolk on the top to give a nice colour, and in the oven at 180.
A bit like this one, but I don't add sugar and as I said, I don't put chocolate chips, but with a long knife I chop real chocolate.
https://amycaseycooks.com/mini-chocolate-puff-pastry-rolls/

You need to step away from industrial food. Buy good quality chocolate and give a piece from time to time.