For toddlers, neither mini portions nor fruit recipes make ice lollies an everyday snack: Santé publique France recommends introducing sugary foods as late as possible and limiting how much children have. For an occasional treat, choose a portion that’s right for your child, then check the ingredients, allergens and texture of the specific variety you plan to serve.
You don’t want ice cream to replace your under-three’s usual snack. Santé publique France recommends introducing sugary foods as late as possible and limiting how much children have. The French health insurance website ameli also advises limiting sugar and fatty foods in the diets of children aged 8 months to 3 years.
You’re planning an occasional treat for several people and want to compare the number of ice lollies, the pack weight and the size of each one. The formats offered by Carrefour and E.Leclerc show why it’s worth checking all these details together.
You need to identify the exact recipe before serving an ice lolly, especially if your child has a known allergy or needs extra care when chewing. An Auchan multipack includes a variety with almond pieces; check the label to see which ingredients are in each recipe.
First decide how often ice lollies will feature in your child’s snacks. Then compare portion sizes, followed by the recipe and texture of the variety you’re considering.
| What matters | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| How often to offer sugary foods | How often you plan to serve ice lollies, and the sugar per 100 g and per portion, where this information is shown on the pack. | If I’m looking for an everyday snack for my toddler, I’d rather not make ice lollies part of the routine. Around 45% of consumers would put this consideration first. |
| Portion size | The number of ice lollies, the net weight of the pack and the amount in each one. | For a family treat, I want to know how much is in one ice lolly rather than judging by the size of the box alone; around 33% of consumers would make this their priority. |
| Ingredients and texture | Any allergens listed for the variety you’ll serve, and whether it contains pieces or a coating. | If my child has a known allergy or needs extra care when chewing, I need to check the exact recipe before offering them an ice lolly. Around 22% of consumers would put this check first. |
A smaller ice lolly can help you serve a smaller portion, but its size doesn’t change how often you should offer sugary foods. Santé publique France recommends introducing them as late as possible and limiting how much children have.
Decide when you’ll serve an ice lolly before choosing the pack size. Treat “mini” as a guide to portion size, not as enough information to judge its nutritional value.
Recipes can vary within the same pack. An Auchan mini ice lolly multipack includes a variety with toasted almond pieces.
Read the ingredients and allergen information on the pack, then identify the variety you plan to serve your child.
These products show why pack sizes and recipes need to be checked individually. A supermarket’s name alone won’t tell you the portion size or what’s in an ice lolly.
Carrefour’s SIMPL box contains 8 mini chocolate and vanilla ice lollies, with a net weight of 284 g.
E.Leclerc offers Eco+ mini vanilla and chocolate ice lollies in a box of 12, weighing 405,6 g. Smicy includes other products aimed at children.
Auchan offers an assortment of 8 mini ice lollies weighing 258 g, as well as mango and passion fruit ice lollies in a box of 4, weighing 240 g.
ALDI offers a box of 12 Mucci mini ice lollies, weighing 429 g.
Magnum’s Mini Classic x6 is vanilla ice cream coated in milk chocolate.
Lidl shows offers based on the supermarket you select.
This selection includes two mini sorbet recipes and a strawberry and vanilla ice lolly in individual portions. For a toddler, compare the portion shown and check the ingredients and texture of the exact product before serving it.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for mini sorbet ice lollies for an occasional treat. Before serving one to a toddler, check the pack for the amount in each lolly, the ingredients, allergens and texture.
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Worth considering if you’d prefer a lemon and blood orange sorbet in a pack of eight mini ice lollies. The pack weighs 280 g. Before serving one to a toddler, check the portion, ingredients, allergens and texture of the exact recipe.
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Worth considering if you want to know the volume of each ice lolly: the pack contains six 60 ml portions. A product aimed at children isn’t necessarily the right size or texture for a toddler. Check the ingredients and allergens on the packaging too.
That’s not the best approach: Santé publique France recommends introducing sugary foods as late as possible and limiting how much children have. For children aged 8 months to 3 years, ameli also advises limiting sugar and fatty foods. It’s better to save ice lollies for occasional treats rather than offering them as an everyday snack.
No. A mini size makes it easier to identify a smaller portion, but it doesn’t tell you whether the ingredients or texture are suitable for your child. Check the specific variety and consider your child’s ability to chew before serving it.
Check the ingredients and allergens for the variety you’ve chosen, not just the name of the multipack. The DGCCRF says that allergenic ingredients must be highlighted on food labels. An Auchan assortment, for example, includes a variety with almond pieces.
No. The presence of fruit doesn’t tell you everything about the ingredients, sugar per portion or allergens. Read the nutrition information and ingredients list for the ice lolly you’re considering, then think about the portion size and how often ice lollies will feature in your child’s snacks.