For a recipe for a toddler, start by choosing a cream that suits the way you’ll use it: thick cream for a coating consistency, or UHT single cream if the recipe calls for a thinner texture and you value being able to store it unopened. Then check the product label and consider how it fits in with the other dairy products your child has that day. A cream’s convenience doesn’t make it suitable to serve on its own as a snack. If you’d rather cook with grated cheese, compare products in that separate category.
You’re looking for cream to mix into a dish rather than serve on its own. If the recipe needs a coating consistency, compare thick creams, then take your child’s age and the other dairy products they have that day into account.
You’d like to keep some cream on hand for occasional recipes. An UHT option may suit your need for unopened storage; check the instructions on the packaging of the product you buy.
You may be looking for a creamy texture, or for cheese to add to a dish. Decide how you’ll use it before comparing labels: crème fraîche and grated cheese are different food categories.
If you’re preparing food for a child under 3, start by deciding which meal it’s for and what type of product you need. Then compare the ingredients and directions for use of products that suit that purpose.
| What matters | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Your child’s age and diet | Check your child’s age, the ingredients and the other dairy products they have that day. Manger Bouger says that 0%, skimmed and semi-skimmed products are not suitable for children under 3. | If I’m preparing a recipe for my child, I first want to know how it fits into their diet. Around 50% of consumers put this suitability first. |
| Texture and storage | Choose thick or pourable cream to suit the recipe, then read the storage instructions for before and after opening. Elle & Vire distinguishes between its pasteurised creams and its UHT-sterilised creams. | When I cook occasionally, I’m looking for a suitable texture without making storage complicated. This convenience is the main concern for around 33% of consumers. |
| Cream or grated cheese | Decide whether you want a creamy texture or cheese to add to the dish. If you choose grated cheese, check its ingredients and salt content; Anses recommends reading the labels on salty foods. | If I want to add cheese to a dish, comparing creams won’t meet my needs. Around 17% of consumers put choosing the right product category first. |
Thick cream, UHT single cream and grated cheese don’t necessarily serve the same purpose in a recipe. An unclear search term could therefore lead you to a product category that doesn’t suit the dish you have in mind.
First decide whether you want a creamy texture or cheese to add to your dish, then compare products in the category you’ve chosen.
Manger Bouger says that 0%, skimmed and semi-skimmed products are not suitable for children under 3.
Don’t replace a full-fat product with a lighter version just because you assume it would be more suitable. For advice about your child’s individual diet, speak to a healthcare professional.
The fact that a cream is convenient for cooking doesn’t, by itself, determine whether it belongs in a toddler’s snack. Your child’s age and the other dairy products they have that day also matter.
Start with the recipe and meal you have in mind, then check the ingredients and any potential allergens before buying.
Président’s range includes a full-fat, thick Crème Fraîche Gastronomique with 30% fat, available in 20 cl and 45 cl packs.
Elle & Vire offers pasteurised and UHT creams. Its 50 cl UHT whole single cream contains 35% fat.
Manger Bouger says that 0%, skimmed and semi-skimmed products are not suitable for children under 3. If your child has specific dietary requirements, ask a healthcare professional for advice rather than replacing a product on your own initiative.
For its own products, Elle & Vire says its chilled creams are pasteurised and its UHT creams are sterilised. The brand explains that UHT cream can be stored at room temperature before opening, even if it was bought from the chilled aisle. Follow the storage instructions for the product you choose.
Not without considering the result you want: cream gives a dish a creamy texture, while grated cheese serves a different cooking purpose. If you choose cheese, compare the labels separately; Anses lists cheese among dietary sources of sodium and advises limiting the saltiest foods.