We have been a little spoilt this week by the team at Weetabix who sent me a fabulous goody bag full of Hamley's toys and leisure vouchers which are paying for a family meal tonight, and several more planned for the summer holidays.
In among the goodies, along with the Weetabix bowl, branded bag and chocolate spoon was a packet of Chocolate Weetabix which will be launched on to the market on 12th July. Our job? Simply to taste-test it and say, honestly, what we thought of it.
It has to be said that I am not a fan of kids having products with chocolate in for breakfast. It is something I have battled with my daughter for several years. My concern is that chocolate breakfast cereals could send out the message that chocolate is healthy and that eating chocolate for breakfast is okay.
That said, there is an argument that many children go to school each day on an empty stomach and that is not something I am comfortable with either. It is a dilemma for many parents and I would rather my child ate something at the start of her day rather than nothing.
Chocolate Weetabix is being marketed as a product that will help mums and kids enjoy a healthier and delicious breakfast together without any of the potential morning conflicts over unhealthy alternatives. It is high in fibre and low in salt fortified with vitamins and iron and free from artificial colours. It also contains half the sugar of the average chocolate flavoured breakfast cereal -- 15.9g of sugar per 100g compared to 31.8g average of other chocolate flavoured cereals.
We loved the product. It tastes great and kids will love it. Despite containing small piece of chocolate, the product does not taste sickly sweet. I have found it particularly nice as a late night snack. I couldn't eat a chocolate-based cereal for breakfast but the product is not aimed at me. I would expect it to be hugely popular with kids.
I would be happy for my daughter to eat it as the alternative could be her going to school on an empty stomach and I like its nutritional value despite the chocolate. However, I would explain to her that this is a breakfast cereal -- it doesn't mean she can start asking for for chocolate bars instead.
Chocolate Weetabix will be available in Sainsbury's from 12th July, and in all other major retailers from August. The suggested price is £2.59 for a pack of 24.
I know what you mean about kids having chocolate based cereal for breakfast but I also agree that it's better than them going to school on empty stomachs.
During the recent SATS at my daughters school they all got given breakfast to help them concentrate more and because so many kids were being sent to school without.
We're getting some of these to review too so I cant wait...
Posted by: Magic Mummy | July 11, 2010 at 08:12 AM
Yeah i had to come to a similar kind of comprimise. My eldest was down to eating just toast for breakfast, so i started buying mini choc weetabix, thinking that an averagely healthy cereal was better than none.
Posted by: Henrietta Pretty | July 11, 2010 at 09:14 AM
That isn't too bad - a bowl of Shreddies and milk has 12.1g of sugars in it.
But, I won't be buying it. Like you I'm a bit uneasy about chocolatey cereals for breakfast and as breakfast is one of the few meals in the household where we don't have a huge battle, I probably won't be introducing a potential one. The boys will love it though - Grandma will undoubtedly give it to them as a treat next time we are there.
Posted by: Pants With Names | July 11, 2010 at 09:56 AM
Funny, I had never thought of it before, but I am completely ok with pain au chocolat or nutella on toast. Chocolate cereal however is a complete nono for me.
Posted by: Metropolitan Mum | July 11, 2010 at 06:14 PM
I would probably try it to see what it's like... but the Chocolate Weetabix looks suspiciously turd-like (or is that just me?)!!!
Emma
Posted by: PlayPennies | July 13, 2010 at 12:40 AM
I don't mind about chocolate cereals for breakfast, I even give my children chocolate muffins for breakfast (home made wheat muffins with lots of other "good" stuff in too!) but I don't like this one as it is plain chocolate! Tops does like it though so we might buy it once every few months...
Posted by: PippaD | July 14, 2010 at 01:14 PM
Has a bitter after taste to me but the kids won't touch it.
Posted by: SuperDad | September 23, 2010 at 04:12 PM