FAUX CHOCOHOLICS
Okay, so I love good chocolate. The emphasis is on GOOD. However, I am not one to consume it everyday. Kids, on the other hand, can and will consume it everyday - with delight. Now, I am not keen on providing it to my kids on a daily basis, so I am always on the look out for alternatives. If your kids are young (and I mean they haven't had their taste buds exploited/tainted by standard chocolate) then you may have a chance at getting them onto carob. I started my kids on carob BEFORE chocolate, so for them it's considered chocolate. They love it. I love it. Banjo Bear carob is gorgeous. Dairy free, sugar free and really tasty. About the same size as a Freddo Frog they will surely fill that sweet void. I ALWAYS keep half a dozen in my pantry. Now, I have given them to other kids (on playdates etc) and unfortunately it didn't go down well. Oh well....
My other favourite (and soon to be yours) is LuvJu by Loving Earth. OH MY GOSH! Heavenly. So creamy, sweet and decadent.
So many flavours but I adore adore adore the coconut mylk one. Sweetened with coconut nectar, it is divine. They are not cheap, but well worth the price if you, like me, enjoy chocolate on the odd occasion.
My other favourite (and soon to be yours) is LuvJu by Loving Earth. OH MY GOSH! Heavenly. So creamy, sweet and decadent.
So many flavours but I adore adore adore the coconut mylk one. Sweetened with coconut nectar, it is divine. They are not cheap, but well worth the price if you, like me, enjoy chocolate on the odd occasion.
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muesli Bars
Kids are obsessed with muesli bars. I think this frenzy for mushed up oats, nuts and fruit drizzled with ‘yogurt’ or chocolate dates back to the 1980’s. I would go gaga for an Uncle Toby’s choc chip muesli bar in my lunch box back in the day…nothing’s changed in 2015. My kids go nuts for the crinkly wrapper that will reveal a sticky delight stuck together with syrup. Not one to completely ostracise my child, I give in every now and then, allowing her to indulge in a bar. But with so many new options coming into the market, I am always super eager to try new things.
There was the new Freedom Foods range which are nut free and taste free. Not even my youngest curry loving child wanted a second bite. That was out. Next was Be Natural Trail Bars. According to my eldest, “they are too healthy and boring” which equates to zero compliance and have it returned in her lunch box. Then I tried Kez’s sticky date bars. Which I really enjoyed, but my kids were not crazy for it.
I decided to try one last bar before opting to make my own. But the convenience of a bar that I can grab and put in my bag or their lunch box is so appealing. Finally I stumbled across Whole Kids certified organic products. I love their range of products from bars, to biscuits and frooshies. They really have captured the market well and provide a nutritious alternative to a sugary corrupt industry. Simple organic ingredients that have no added sugar and that are simple in taste. I buy mine from Leo's or Toscano's. Roughly $6 a box of 5.
There was the new Freedom Foods range which are nut free and taste free. Not even my youngest curry loving child wanted a second bite. That was out. Next was Be Natural Trail Bars. According to my eldest, “they are too healthy and boring” which equates to zero compliance and have it returned in her lunch box. Then I tried Kez’s sticky date bars. Which I really enjoyed, but my kids were not crazy for it.
I decided to try one last bar before opting to make my own. But the convenience of a bar that I can grab and put in my bag or their lunch box is so appealing. Finally I stumbled across Whole Kids certified organic products. I love their range of products from bars, to biscuits and frooshies. They really have captured the market well and provide a nutritious alternative to a sugary corrupt industry. Simple organic ingredients that have no added sugar and that are simple in taste. I buy mine from Leo's or Toscano's. Roughly $6 a box of 5.
Jax coco
Since my daughter has started school, all I hear is "Mummy, I need money for the canteen. I want a frozen Big M". Oh my goodness, my health nightmare has started. Serious anxiety has hit as I read the nutrition label. Let me show you what 300ml of chocolate Big M has (source The Calorie King*). Just to give you an idea, these percentages are for ADULTS, not children. Secondly, 210 calories for a child is quite a lot of empty calories for a 'side' meal, most of which is sugar. 30g of sugar is so high! One teaspoon of sugar = 4gms; so this 300ml carton of milk contains 8 teaspoons of sugar. Granted some of that will be in the form of lactose, the naturally occurring sugar found in milk. So let's assume that half of that is in the form of lactose, that's still 4 teaspoons of added sugar in a carton. There's no way I would put 4 teaspoons of sugar in my coffee or tea or any beverage. Not a chance I'd be feeding that to my child.
Now let's look at an alternative I've found that tastes just as yummy, fewer calories, far more nutrients in the form of potassium and magnesium. Firstly, it's only 110ml which is a much more sensible size for a 5 year old; 50 calories (231kJ); 7.7gm of added sugar, that's under 2 teaspoons (and it's coconut sugar so it's low GI); about half the amount of sodium; but yes, it's lower in calcium as I would expect as it's not a milk drink, though it does taste like one. And if I start my dairy rant it can get ugly. So, I will leave you with this last bit of information. My kids loved this drink. I froze it and gave to them as a dessert like a 'sunny boy'. Try it out. I found it at Leo's Kew supermarket in a pack of 6 for $8.
Now let's look at an alternative I've found that tastes just as yummy, fewer calories, far more nutrients in the form of potassium and magnesium. Firstly, it's only 110ml which is a much more sensible size for a 5 year old; 50 calories (231kJ); 7.7gm of added sugar, that's under 2 teaspoons (and it's coconut sugar so it's low GI); about half the amount of sodium; but yes, it's lower in calcium as I would expect as it's not a milk drink, though it does taste like one. And if I start my dairy rant it can get ugly. So, I will leave you with this last bit of information. My kids loved this drink. I froze it and gave to them as a dessert like a 'sunny boy'. Try it out. I found it at Leo's Kew supermarket in a pack of 6 for $8.
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Big M Chocolate flavour Milk
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Jax Coco Kidz Chocolate flavour
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Fruitwise fruit straps
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My kids are slightly obsessed with fruit straps. I think it has something to do with the tart and sweet flavour combination. When I was younger, mum would feed us fruit straps that she made herself. To be honest, I don't have that much time - however if I did, I would make them just like FruitWise has. Okay, maybe I would use organic fruit, but at least all the ingredients are Australian and these don't contain any sulphur! Gosh, the amoutn of sulphites in fruit products is ridiculous. So these are great for those kids that possibly suffer from allergies and asthma as it has no sulphites that may trigger an attack.
These are 100% fruit AIR DRIED, no chemicals, presevatives, nasty numbers used and they're really yummy. Each box has 5 sachets and each sachet has two straps. Absolutely perfect for lunch boxes. I usually have these in the pram or car for when my kids get peckish.
Woolworths stock these and are found in the health aisle. My kids love the cherry flavour. So so so good. Great for when I'm on my 5:2 diet and need 'dessert'.
These are 100% fruit AIR DRIED, no chemicals, presevatives, nasty numbers used and they're really yummy. Each box has 5 sachets and each sachet has two straps. Absolutely perfect for lunch boxes. I usually have these in the pram or car for when my kids get peckish.
Woolworths stock these and are found in the health aisle. My kids love the cherry flavour. So so so good. Great for when I'm on my 5:2 diet and need 'dessert'.