Controlling Chocolate Intake in Children – Yes
Chocolate, in moderate amounts, can be beneficial and nutritious. The cocoa in chocolate contains antioxidants that are good for the body, and its consumption should be encouraged, just like red wine, which has beneficial qualities. It also has been proven to raise a person's mood and state of happiness, making it a useful food to keep around the house. It can be used to placate upset children, and can be used just to induce a Feel Good'sensation.
However, the uncontrolled intake of chocolate could be disastrous. Despite its health benefits, chocolates provide high amounts of energy in a small quantity due to its milk and sugar content. Overconsumption of chocolate would result in the person consuming too many calories above the daily requirement. This excess calories that is not used, would then be converted into fats.
Children, need their parents to train them with life skills, and one of the most important skills a child can learn is how to control their diets. At a young age, children do not possess this skill and it is important for their parents to teach them proper diet, which includes balanced meals, and not eating too many chocolates.
The problem with giving children unlimited access to chocolate is that they would start binging and overeat. This increases the likelihood of obesity. A child who binges consistently starts training and conditioning his body to accept binging as a norm, which in the future could result in a lifestyle of binging. This is what contributes to the great obesity problems that the world is currently facing - Bad parenting.
Parents have a responsibility to bring up their children properly, and this includes bringing them up with good eating habits. If unlimited chocolate is only allowed during Easter, the effects may not be that widespread, and it could be allowed. However, there is a risk that these parents have a tendency to extend that privilege. First it's unlimited chocolate during Easter, then it's unlimited chocolate during Christmas, followed by unlimited chocolate during holidays, then during special events, then during dinner time, and finally anytime. If parents are able to strictly ensure that unlimited chocolate is only allowed during Easter, that is fine, but Easter is just one day in 365, what parents do during the rest of the year has an impact on the child's development psychology. If a child grows up thinking unlimited chocolate is good, they could develop bad eating habits that would affect them as adults.
Lastly, despite the benefits that chocolate has, it alone is not a nutritious well-balanced diet, and the child has to consume other foods too. If the child is allowed to binge on unlimited chocolate, he is unable to get all the nutrients that he requires. Children who eat too much chocolate have no space left for proper food like meat and vegetables. As such, I suggest that during Easter, parents should allow their children to eat more chocolates than normal, since it is a special holiday. However, the amount of chocolate should still be monitored and controlled by parents, who have a responsibility to ensure their children develop good eating habits.
