Are children allowed to eat mushrooms and chocolate?

The first spoonful of cauliflower is eaten, the first grams of porridge, cottage cheese, meat, and finally bread… And so the baby reaches for his mother's hand with an appetizing chocolate bar and asks to treat him to mushroom soup from his father's plate. What should I do? Is it possible or impossible? And if possible, when?

The chocolate is based on cocoa butter, cocoa beans and sugar, with the addition of milk, lecithin and vanillin. Chocolate is a high-calorie product (≈ 550 kcal/100 grams), contains fats, proteins, easily digestible carbohydrates, minerals, flavonoids, vitamins (B1, B2 and PP), as well as phenylalanine and tryptophan, which stimulates the production of serotonin. Serotonin activates the cerebral cortex, improves cognitive abilities and mood. Phenylalanine is an essential amino acid (i.e. it is not synthesized in the human body, it must be supplied with food in sufficient quantities), improves memory and attention. The tonic effect of chocolate is associated with the presence of caffeine and theobromine in it.

The benefits of chocolate are undeniable. However, experts' opinions on the age at which chocolate can be introduced into the diet vary from 1.5 to 5 years. The daily intake of chocolate by children should not exceed 25 grams. Since chocolate contains caffeine and theobromine, which excite the nervous system, it is recommended to eat it in the morning, and a high sugar content can cause tooth decay and excess weight. In addition, cocoa is a strong allergen and is contraindicated in children with digestive and kidney diseases. Chocolate is harmful to children with lactase deficiency and problems with the absorption of lecithin. 

According to nutritionists, mushrooms contain proteins, B vitamins (B1, B2, PP, C) and minerals. As in the case of chocolate, the opinions of experts on the beginning of mushroom consumption by children do not differ in unity: from 1.5 to 7 and even up to 10 years, until the formation of the digestive system is completed. Mushrooms can be in a child's diet no more than twice a week due to the content of poorly digested dietary fiber (fiber) in mushrooms, which makes it difficult to absorb other nutrients. In addition, the body of young children is very sensitive to toxins that may be contained in mushrooms collected near the road or other environmentally unfavorable places. It is known that among all children poisoned by mushrooms, about half are preschoolers. This does not apply to artificially grown champignons and oyster mushrooms, they are given to children in small quantities as part of vegetable or cereal dishes from the age of 1.5. Salted and pickled mushrooms are not useful for children because of their high content of vinegar and salt.

However, food is not only the delivery of nutrients to the body, but also a source of joy. The main thing is that everything is in moderation!