by Sun Meilan

Created on: February 02, 2010

Marmite is a delicious and nutritious spread for toast and bread - and much loved by mainly the British public. It can also be used in cooking - spread on the outside of chicken before roasting makes the final product taste divine. Unfortunately, many people hate Marmite and children in particular can be disinclined to eat it, no matter how thinly it is spread. Yet there are many ways to introduce Marmite into children's diets without them really noticing. 

Marmite is made from used brewer's yeast - and not beef extract, as many people believe. Before the beginning of the twentieth century, it would have been thrown away, but thankfully, a scientist worked out a way of turning it into a nutritious food item. It contains a number of B vitamins, including thiamin, riboflavin, folic acid, niacin and Vitamin B12. These are important for skin and hair, as well as metabolism and the promotion of cell division. It also contains a small amount of potassium. The high salt levels do make it inappropriate for children younger than one year old, but otherwise, provided it is used sparingly, it is an excellent way of ensuring children get their B vitamins. 

The problem comes when children don't like the taste of marmite - as the adverts claim, it really does seem to be a love it or hate it taste. It is worth trying them with the variety of non-spread products that Unilever now produce, including cashew nuts, bread sticks, rice cakes and cheddar bites. Many children believe they dislike something, but when it is given to them in a different format, they are quite happy to eat it. Howefver, you should always check the nutritional guidelines to these products to ensure that they are suitable - although the calories in marmite are very low, the extra calories from the cheese in the cheese bites may not be welcome, for example. 

There are numerous ways of disguising marmite in food if your children really won't eat it. One of the most common ways is to spread it on a sandwich before adding cheese. The stronger the type of cheese, the better, because it hides the taste of the marmite. Some people adore marmite layered under peanut butter on bread. Other suggestions include spreading marmite on fruit and vegetables, including slices of apple, avocado, roast potatoes and parsnips. In the case of the roast vegetables, you can add the marmite before roasting to disguise the colour - once it has been roasted, it will blend in with the natural roasted colour. 

You can also cook with Marmite. There are numerous recipes to be found on the Internet and there is even a Marmite Cookbook available to buy. Easy ways to include Marmite in your cooking include adding it to gravies, stews, casseroles, sauces and anything else you can think of. Try it and see what suits you and your family best. You may, however, want to cut down on the salt you use - there is probably more than enough in the Marmite itself to add flavouring to your meals. 

If your child still refuses to eat Marmite, and sneaking it into their diet in other ways isn't working very well, then try leaving it for a while. Children's tastes do change over time and there is a possiblity that what they don't like one moment, they will love the next. And if the worst comes to the worst, you could always try them with Marmite's Antipodean cousin - Vegemite! Also made from used brewer's yeast, the taste is less strong and may well be more palatable to them. 

http://www.unilever.co.uk/brands/foodbrands/marmite. aspx

http://www.marmiteshop.co.uk

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