Chocolate spread everywhere

Chocolate chocoloate everywhere. But do we really need it everywhere? Recently, Nutella has risen in popularity and it seems many other chocolate spreads are following. There are commercials showing busy mothers offering to their children for breakfast (yuck) and stories of people putting it on everything from fruit to ice cream. This is not a healthy idea.

First of all, chocolate spreads do not constitute a wholesome breakfast. The commercials showing the seemingly caring mother spreading it on toast for her children are misleading. That mother is feeding her children dessert for breakfast. Why not instead chomp on a chocolate bar? Just because it is a spread does not make it truly peanut butter like. Peanut butter has its ups and downs nutrition-wise, but it is a great source of protein and healthy fats. The chocolate spread provides sugar and more sugar.

I was introduced to nutella in high school in French club. We had crêpe parties and we would put it on our desserts along with bananas or strawberries. This was an after school snack on a special occasion. Chocolate spreads should not be eaten frequently, other than by those wishing for diabetes and other health ailments.

America needs to get over its affection for this type of product. Misinformation and misunderstandings about foods are just a couple reasons we have an obesity issue. We’re allowed to believe certain products are not bad for us. Many may call that ignorance, but maybe naive is a better nomer. We trust others to have our best interest in heart, when the bottom line is actually more important. Marketers are out to sell a product and make money for big industry. Selling units is the goal.

There are other options if you are looking for other high sugar, low nutritional value breakfast alternatives. I can suggest a few. There are many unhealthy peanut butter and jelly mixtures that are high in preservatives. There are even spreads with marshmellow fluff so you can have a campfire favorite whenever you choose. You can also venture down the cereal aisle and find many items made with bleached flour and high fructose corn syrup.  

Bottom line, understand what you are eating. Know what you are bringing into your home and feeding your family. If you purchase unhealthy sweets for them because you care show your love even more by feeding them healthy options. Chocolate is not bad, but one does not need to have it on everything at all times. Dessert has its time and place. Moderation is key.