Chocolate: perfect for when you’re sad, happy, tired, have low blood sugars, or simply desire a taste of something sweet. And some exciting news: some chocolate is actually good for you!
Don’t believe us? Take a look at some studies. Published in 2015 by the journal Heart, people who ate more dark chocolate each day than those who refrained from having any had a lower risk of heart disease and stroke. And in another study presented at the 2018 Experimental Biology meeting, it was reported that eating 70-percent-cacao, organic chocolate each day had positive effects on memory and mood.
So, how can you squeeze more chocolate into your daily life for those health benefits? Try these out!
1. Mix It into Smoothies and Coffee
Add that daily dose of chocolate into a smoothie to sweeten it up. Pair it with commonly chocolate-decorated foods, such as berries and bananas, to give it that sweet-yet-fresh flavor. You can even throw some veggies in there to really up the health factor—we promise it won’t taste weird!
With coffee, you’re already pouring creamer, sugar, and milk in. Replace these ingredients with chocolate for a sweet wake-up. Or add it to the other ingredients—we won’t judge.
2. Make it Savory
Use either chopped up pieces of chocolate or a drizzle to spread that goodness onto savory foods, like popcorn or pretzels. You can also make your hearty meals taste sweeter—add some melted chocolate to mole or oatmeal, for example, or bake chocolate chips into your muffins.
3. Add it to Snacks
If you’re looking for a quick blood-sugar boost, add chocolate into your everyday snacks. Eating protein balls with nut butter? Dip them in chocolate and let them harden, then take it on the go. Mix chips into your yogurt for a hint of sweetness, or cover almonds and/or walnuts in chocolate, then pack the sweets in your bag. They are a nice pick-me-up during the day.
There are plenty of ways to add chocolate to your day—don’t be afraid to get creative. And check out our Dr. Midnight cookies, made up of delicious semi-sweet chocolate. It’ll hit the spot!