My favorite chocolate! Topic

Monica4patience 02/03/17
My favorite chocolate, Lily's Dark Chocolate, got a grade A- on nutrition facts. I'm so glad because I like to have a strip of the chocolate bar after dinner. One strip is 1/3 the serving size.

Kbow28 02/03/17
Mm good idea! Dark chocolate to curb a sweat tooth!

Angeline 02/05/17
I thought dark chocolate was a good idea but it had the same calories as the equivalent milk chocolate bar. Back to milk for me

Justjennie 02/06/17 replied to Angeline
That may be but health wise dark chocolate is better for you: https://authoritynutrition.com/7-health-benefits-dark-chocolate/

Dietitian 02/06/17 replied to Angeline
Dark chocolate - Hi Angeline, if you find a high % cocoa (cacao) chocolate, then you will have 2 benefits over milk chocolate:
1. Much higher polyphenol content (antioxidant content)
2. Per serving size, a much lower added sugar load

I go for 77% cacao chocolate, and limit portion size to 15 g typically (about 1/2 oz) - about 85 kcal. If I have budgeted enough calories, I might go for a full ounce at 170 kcal.

The other thing I have noticed is that I rarely overeat extra dark chocolate whereas I am much more likely to overeat milk chocolate. For me, I think the higher sugar content of milk chocolate seems to encourage overeating.

MyNetDiary blog posts on chocolate: http://www.mynetdiary.com/blog/Chocolate-Foods-Recipes_140-137.html

Yours truly,
A dark chocolate fan for life, Katherine Isacks, MPS, RDN, CDE

Angeline 02/06/17
Thanks Katherine. It was 85% cocoa and I felt really full after it. I think a small piece might be all I need ??

U4240450 07/20/17
I like Ghirardelli's Dark Cherry Tango--has some dried cherries and almonds, not much--in it. I do best with dark chocolate. I love milk chocolate and it would not be safe for me to keep in the house, but so far am successful in using the dark chocolate and eating 1, or at most 2, squares when calorie and carb levels for the day allow. Not a trigger food for me like milk chocolate would be, but very satisfying. For now I can keep it in the house safely but if it ever becomes a problem, out it goes!

Dietician 07/20/17 replied to U4240450
Hello U4240450- I can relate. I prefer to keep dark chocolate around. If I keep milk chocolate in the house it vanishes quickly and I really watch my added sugar intake so doesn't help with that goal. I have found that 71% cacao is as high as I can go and sometimes I need a 65%. Great ideas, thanks so much to you and the others for sharing! Joanna (Dietician)

Skinnygirl1992 07/24/17
Good idea

Dietician 07/28/17 replied to Skinnygirl1992
Greetings Everyone,
A client had a great suggestion for chocolate portions. She purchased Ghiradelli dark chocolate chips and portioned them out into ice cube trays. Each cube compartment was a "portion" she allotted herself each day. She then kept the ice cube tray in the freezer to keep the temptation out of sight. Seemed like a great idea to me. Have a good weekend. Joanna (Dietician)

My favorite chocolate!