A few myths to bust:
* Chocolate doesn't make you fat - too much of anything makes you fat
* Chocolate doesn't give you pimples
* Chocolate doesn't make you high - you'd need to eat a LOT of chocolate to feel the effects of the caffeine
* Dark chocolates isn't a health food - contrary to what the doctors seem to say, you cant eat dark chocoalte guilt free. If you look at any statement from a research professer, its the cocoa that really is the healthy part - the fat and sugar are just vessels. And they always say watch your portions. So eat a while block of lindt 85% isnt that much better than eating a block of normal lindt - dont fool yourself. But if you must have a small portion regularly then there is some benefit of higher cocoa over normal. Some more info
The best ways for a dieter to have chocolate is in cocoa form, or portion controlled high quality. Think the lindt mini bars that come in a pack. Nick the high cocoa ones and enjoy ONE per day. Cocoa is a very versatile product - not just for adding to muffin mixes. Here's my fav chocolate busting recipes/ideas-
Hot choconana - Yes, Boost makes one and I liked it UNTIL I MADE MY OWN. Much better, didn't even need to add sugar, very thick, and surprisingly creamy. I add about 1 tbsp of cocoa (after assing 2 tsp water to make it a paste) to 1 c warm skim milk and stir well until dissolved, whizz up about 40g of banana in a blender, add the milk, whizz whizz, pop it in the micorwave until hot and watch it froth up, and enjoy. I sometimes add a little sweetener, but unless you'er a real sweet tooth you dont need it. To lower cals, use Vitasoy soy milk lite (70 cal per cup), a little less banana, 200mL of milk. To up cals, use more of a banana, use some milo, add honey or sugar and have with a biscuit.
Chocolate syrups - there's plenty of low fat syrup recipes, like this one, or this one, but I haven't tired them yet. If you use splenda, use half sugar, and dont cook with the splenda - stir it in at the end. And to use up the syrup...
Chocolate Milkshake - here
Add cocoa to... oats! Honestly! For dessert i had cocoa oats with a few dates (and had to add sugar/splenda) Really yummy! Also try adding them to muffin recipes, instead of chocolate. You can even make dinner with it!
A little goes a long way - learn to properly taste chocolate, rather than eat it. Enjoy your mini treats with a big cup of hot water, so you stay full but still get the sweet hit.
And for those of you who hate cooking, my fav pre-made chocolate snacks -
Hunts Fat Free Chocolate pudding - I always have this micorwaved (in another bowl) and either dip in strawberries, or swirl through a tsp of reduced fat peanut butter, or half a scoop of ice0cream on top. Damn you Americans who have sugar and fat free pudding in every flavour
Wendy's chocollo - a low fat, low cal ice-cream you can get at hte shops? 90 cal per serving (approx) and made from grapes! Dont double the cals with a cone - get it in a cup. Also see Colombo's soft serves and New Zealand natural's low-fat chocolate (not zilch, unless you're a low carber) Its hard to find now, but VERY nice. Also you can try Baskin and Robbin's NAS chocolate, but higher cals.Slim Secrets bar - Choc nut caramel decadence (tastes like plain chocolate), Mint, Cofee - 135 cal or so for a 40g bar. Check them out here!!! A great site too. A bit like a rice bubble bar smothered in chocolate. High protein and satisfying. See also Pria bars in cookie and mint flavour - 119 cal and 200mg of calcium! Yummy healthy chocolate bar switch!! A little expesive. There's also a white chocolate and raspberries one. I dont like mint but the caramel nut isnt very caramel and nutty.
For some people chocolate can trigger sugar cravings. Hence why I stick to cocoa when I can! I seem to have a bottomless put for chocolate, and always regret it later!
What are your fav pre-made chocolate snacks? What do you do when a craving hits?
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