Chocolate doesn’t quite have the reputation of being a healthy food, but the truth is that in small to moderate amounts, and when it’s the right type of chocolate, you can get important antioxidant flavanoids from chocolate. Here are a few ways to satisfy your chocolate cravings without compromising your health, or your weight:
1 – Dark chocolate: solid or melted
Dark chocolate is one of the healthier forms of chocolate because it is high in pure cacao and has the least amount of butter and milk fats than milk chocolate. Dark chocolates without any milk fat at all are readily available and fairly common. Throw a bar in your bag and just eat it piece by piece.
If you want something a little more gourmet, take a bowl of dark chocolate pieces and place it in a pot of water in the stove. Make sure the bowl of chocolate stays in the water but without the water getting into the bowl and chocolate. Heat the water to a low boil and stir the chocolate in the bowl to make it melt. Grab some bananas, strawberries, nuts, or anything that you want to dip in chocolate and get to it!
2 – Chocolate-flavored green super food powder
Why not get your chocolate with a side of wheatgrass, spirulina and chlorella? Better yet, don’t worry about sides. Make it an all-in-one deal. These days, healthy green super food powders don’t even necessarily taste healthy with flavors like chocolate. Of course, they’re flavored with natural organic cacao and dark chocolate so you‘re getting the real deal and not some imitation flavor.
These drinks are not only filled with more healthy antioxidant ingredients than we can count, but they come in convenient packages, such as single serving packs that you can throw in your purse, briefcase, or pocket. When you get a craving for something chocolate, satisfy it with one of these drink powders mixed with water, or try mixing it with vanilla soymilk for a creamier concoction.
3 – All-natural chocolate syrup with healthy sweetener
Natural and sugar-free chocolate syrups (sweetened with stevia or agave) can satisfy even the sweetest sweet tooth. Try pouring some syrup over oatmeal in the morning for breakfast for a sweet start to your day. Instead of using melted chocolate like in the first suggestion here, try using chocolate syrup on fruit for a less messy, more convenient alternative. Bananas and strawberries tend to taste the best. Try adding a little peanut butter to the banana before the chocolate for some added protein.
4 – Cacao nibs in smoothies with agave to sweeten
If you make green smoothies, or any kind of fruit smoothie, try throwing in some cacao nibs or dark chocolate bar pieces. These will give a nice chocolate flavor to your healthy drink without compromising the nutrients already there. If you use unsweetened cacao nibs in your smoothie, try adding a little agave to balance the earthiness of the smoothie and the cacao with a slight sweetness.
About the author: Carrie Thompson enjoys growing and cooking healthy foods, including cacao.
Credits: Photo courtesy of Jill Smith.