Christmas sweets: The pediatrician explains what their correct consumption is

The house already smells of fine butter, sweet cinnamon and spicy cloves! After all, for several days now you have made sure that the plates are filled with juicy melomakaroni and aromatic kourabiedes! But what happens when the small your... dips his little hands in powdered sugar and runny honey? How should you react during the holiday season, when all the Christmas sweets are a "moving target" for children? THE pediatrician advises you and explains:

Christmas is associated with two very popular sweets, melomakaroni and kourabiedes. That is why many questions arise during the holidays, such as "since when could a child taste them?", "how many pieces is he allowed to eat?", "should we prefer honey macaroons or kourabiedes?". And these questions of the parents want their answer too!

First of all, you should keep in mind that both are sweet. This means that excessive consumption will cause health problems for the child. On the contrary, reasonable consumption can be beneficial if these sweets have been prepared with pure ingredients.

What should you watch out for?
As both confections contain nuts, they should not normally be eaten by children under the age of four due to the risk of choking. In these cases, the almond or walnut should be removed and thrown away or crushed carefully, so that it does not end up in the child's throat. They should also be avoided in children who have a nut allergy.

Children who are younger than 12 months should not eat honey macaroons, because they contain honey, which is forbidden to be consumed in the first 12 months of life. Special care is needed for honey macaroons that are filled with chocolate, as their allergic profile is increased.

As for their calories, this depends on the size of the piece and the amount of ingredients used. In general, a medium piece of melomakarono or courabier can have between 110 and 150 calories.

When can they benefit?
If we exclude the above negative elements and do not overconsume, these sweets could be part of a healthy diet, always in relation to other sweets.

Honey macaroons, of course, excel in terms of quality and caloric value. Their big advantage is the olive oil compared to the butter of the kourabiedes. Olive oil is rich in antioxidants and good monounsaturated fats. On the contrary, butter contains the "bad" saturated fats, which increase cholesterol. Nuts, and especially walnuts, contain many "good" omega-3 fatty acids, fiber, B vitamins and vitamin E. Honey has many useful trace elements, many vitamins, antioxidants and increases the body's defenses due to its antimicrobial properties. of his action. Also, if there is cinnamon in the honey macaroons, antioxidant properties are added. In addition, kourabiedes lag behind, as they contain more sugar.

Conclusion

• Both sweets could be consumed by children, but in moderation.
• Children have no sense of proportion and get carried away.
• Parents should avoid overconsumption so that their children do not imitate them.
• Make small portions of melomakaroni or kourabiedes.
• Don't decorate the house with sweets. Keep them "hidden" and serve when necessary.
• Avoid children eating sweets in front of the TV, because they lose control.
• Encourage the child to choose honey macaroons, instead of curabiedes.
• Offer to share a piece with him instead of eating the whole thing.
• Make sure he has eaten something before so that he has less appetite and hunger.
• Don't use sweets as a reward or exchange.

Source: tlife.gr