SCHOOL BARS

My daughters’ school has removed Kit Kats from the picnics they take on school trips in favour of Nutri-Grain bars. I (unlike my children) have a pathological loathing of the look/taste/smell/whole idea of a Nutri-Grain. But are they really better for the kids? We took a selection of popular ‘healthy’ after-school treats and gave them to nutritionist Sam Murgatroyd to tell us what we should be handing out at the school gates.

NAKD by Natural Balance Foods

£2.49 for a pack of 5

What are they? Mashed fruit, oats and nuts Nutrition info (30g bar) 100 cals, 12g sugar

The Low Down: Seemingly high in sugar, but it is unrefined sugar found in fruit which makes it stick with you longer. A slightly unappealing dark brown colour but that’s the price you pay for no additional preservatives. Good for: A more sophisticated child who needs a bigger snack to take them through school to club. Fill up factor: 7/10

 

FRUSLI by Jordans

£1.82 for a pack of 6

What are they? Sticky honey-coated oats and puffed rice with raisins and hazelnuts.

Taste almost homemade. Nutrition info (30g bar) 120 cals, 10.4g sugar, trace salt.

The Low Down: The addition of fruit and nuts are a bonus adding valuable vitamins and minerals. Wholegrain oats are significantly better than their refined counterparts, taking longer to digest and so sustain energy levels. Good for: Taking a child from school to an activity and maybe beyond. Fill up factor: 7/10

 

SCHOOL BARS by Fruit Bowl

£1.08 for a pack of 5

What are they? Squished up concentrated fruit purée, dried fruit and fruit juice.

Nutrition info (20g bar) 67 cals, 9g sugar, 0.04g sodium.

The Low Down: Some nice fruit ingredients, but no protein or complex carbohydrate means a short-lived energy boost. Sulphur dioxide as a preservative is a disappointment. Good for: Making the journey home with a tired and whiny 5 year old bearable. Fill up factor: 4/10

 

NUTRI-GRAIN by Kelloggs

£2.42 for a pack of 8

What are they? Fruit purée filling with a ‘baby rusk’ coating. Nutrition info (37g bar) 131 cals, 12g sugar, 0.3g salt.

The Low Down: A long list of unpronounceable ingredients, plus a few E numbers for good measure. As a rule I wouldn’t touch anything that contains so many ingredients. More likely to be found in a chemistry lab than a kitchen. High in sugar (= 4 teaspoons).

Good for: I’m struggling. Fill up factor: 5/10

 

FRUTINA REAL FRUIT SNACK

by Sun Valley 39p for 1 bar

What are they? Dried fruit in a bar – nothing more, nothing less Nutrition info: (15g bar) 51 cals, 11g sugar, trace salt. The Low Down: You could make this at home, the ingredients list is that simple – a good thing! Not much lasting energy though.

Good for: Getting you the short journey home and to counter those monosyllabic moments. Fill up factor: 3/10

 

OATY BARS by Weetabix

£1.49 for a pack of 5

What are they? Slightly bland sticky flapjack-like bar with a drizzle of chocolate on top.

Nutrition info (per 23g bar) 67 cals, 3.1g sugar, 0.05g salt.

The Low Down: A confusing and long list of ingredients, including ‘cereal’ (oats, rice

and wheat). Good for: A smaller child who has an hour or so till tea but bearing in mind the ingredients list it would not be my first choice. Fill up factor: 6/10

 

CRUNCHY GRANOLA by Nature Valley

£2.35 for a pack of 6 (2 bars per pack)

What are they? Crunchy oat, honey and maple syrup. Good for kids who don’t like raisins/nuts. Nutrition info (per 2 bar pack: 42g) 185 cals, 10.6g sugar, 0.1g sodium.

The Low Down: Oats are the main ingredient and will provide a long-lasting form of energy. However, there’s not much else apart from sugar (the equivalent of 21/2 teaspoons) and oil. Good for: The active child who is going from school to a sports club. Two bars makes it easy to ration before and after if necessary. Fill up factor: 8/10

Samantha Murgatroyd, Naturopathic Nutritionist, can be contacted on 07941 828085.

WHAT ABOUT YOUR TEETH?

We spoke to Joanna Johnson, a Consultant Paediatric dental specialist at 76 Harley Street, for some advice on what we should watch out for from a dental perspective:

• 5 a day – and no more 5 meals or snacks (breakfast, mid-morning snack, lunch, mid-afternoon snack, tea/supper) is fine but if you eat/drink (other than water) more frequently than that, your teeth will suffer. So grazing is OUT.

• Don’t hang around Eat your snack in one go, 10 minutes tops. Don’t have a third at the school gates, a third on the way home, a third when you get home – that counts as grazing.

• Try to reduce the stickiness of the snack Chewy snacks tend to get caught in your teeth and are a no no. Similarly those little packs of raisins are bad news for teeth. Preferable are more savoury, dry snacks – no added sugar peanut butter sandwiches, crispbread with cheese.

• Fruit smoothies are ok It’s best to drink them with a straw so the juice goes to the back of the mouth.

• Rinse if you can Once your kids are over the age of 6, they should rinse with an alcohol-free, floride mouthwash when they get home. Alternatively a cube of cheese after a snack will neutralise acid and bring the pH level of saliva back down.

76harleystreet.com 7631 3276

 

KIT KAT – that bad?

Cals 107, sugar 10.2g,

Sam’s low down: “Given the choice between this and a Nutri-Grain, I would plump for this though there are other alternatives to choose first.”