Monday, January 25, 2016

Extra-thick hot chocolate kids can spoon up


This is Max's favorite hot chocolate. It's thickened, so it's good for kids with swallowing challenges or sensory issues. Oh, and it's yummy!

Ingredients

2 tbsp. sugar
2 tbsp. unsweetened cocoa
Dash salt
1 cup milk
1/4 tsp. vanilla extract
5 .16 oz packets of Hormel Thick & Easy Instant Food & Beverage Thickener (nectar consistency, taste-free), or about 4 & 1/2  teaspoons Thick-It Instant Food and Beverage Thickener Unflavored

How to

Mix sugar, cocoa, salt and thickener in a large mug. Nuke milk in microwave for about 1 & 1/2 minutes, until hot, or heat in saucepan. Slowly add milk to cocoa mixture, and stir a lot. Enjoy watching your child enjoy!


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13 comments:

  1. Mary LouJanuary 25, 2016 at 10:25 AM

    Ellen....
    Alright, so I woke up this morning--on my 32nd birthday!!--and craved some hot chocolate. I told it "no". "I'll have vanilla cake today," I reasoned with myself, "I don't need hot chocolate, too!!" "But it's your birthday," the cravings said. Now? NOW? I read this Blog post and guess what? I want that hot chocolate even more!! Enabler!! Hee, hee, hee.... ;-D
    Love you later, Raelyn
    PS. No hard feelings, Friend!! ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. UnknownJanuary 25, 2016 at 10:53 AM

      The Solution: Chocolate cake!

      Delete
    2. Mary LouJanuary 25, 2016 at 3:12 PM

      FlutistPride....
      "The Solution: Chocolate cake!" Call me weird.... Because I know that I am!! But this chocolate addict actually prefers fluffy, vanilla, white cake over chocolate!! And I just indulged myself in one huge piece!! Because, why not?! It was absolutely delicious!! And besides.... It is my birthday!! I'll work it off when I hip sway/dance/cut loose to Bruce Springsteen, later.... Right? ;)
      Love you later, Raelyn

      Delete
    3. Ellen SeidmanJanuary 25, 2016 at 8:45 PM

      Happpy Birthday, girlfriend! I sure hope you celebrated with hot chocolate.

      Delete
    4. Mary LouJanuary 26, 2016 at 12:07 AM

      Ellen....
      Thank-you, Friend!! I celebrated with three pieces of store-bought white cake!! Yikes!! ;-}
      Love you later, Raelyn

      Delete
  2. UnknownJanuary 25, 2016 at 10:52 AM

    How do you prevent yourself from stealing some? It looks amazing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ellen SeidmanJanuary 25, 2016 at 8:45 PM

      Oh, that's easy, Anna: I make myself some too. :)

      Delete
  3. AnonymousJanuary 25, 2016 at 3:22 PM

    What?! How did I not know that instant food thickener was a thing! I need this for my little man who has difficulty with eating/swallowing too. THANK YOU!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ellen SeidmanJanuary 25, 2016 at 8:46 PM

      Anon, try to get a consult with a feeding specialist if you can or find a local speech therapist who has experience with feeding issues. I've gotten helpful tips for Max that way over the years.

      Delete
  4. Thick-ItJanuary 25, 2016 at 3:44 PM

    Thank you for writing this article and educating people about how food and beverage thickeners can help people with swallowing difficulties. If anyone wants to speak to our customer care team about Thick-It, please call 800-333-0003. You can also visit us at http://thickit.com/.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Max .SJanuary 25, 2016 at 8:26 PM

    This looks delicious.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Paige FlammJanuary 26, 2016 at 1:57 PM

    My daughter struggles with thinner liquids, but loves chocolate! I'll have to make this for her... She'll go nuts!

    Paige
    http://thehappyflammily.com

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for sharing!