After my post about brownies, I thought I should share my favorite ways to work chocolate into my healthy living plan.
I like to have a chocolate protein shake before I workout with weights:
This is the best protein powder I’ve tried. There is no icky aftertaste and one scoop has only 110 calories. Dump a scoop in a blender with a scant cup of water and a bit of crushed ice and the result is yummy chocolatey goodness.
Depending on how hungry I am in the afternoon, I may have a 140 calorie Chocolate Brownie Cliff Z-Bar:
(look how I tore into that box!)
or a 190 calorie Chocolate Peppermint Stick Luna Bar:
These taste like a big, satisfying Thin Mint. Yum!
On weekends or for an evening snack, I often have a Double Chocolate VitaMuffin:
(I prefer the full-sized muffins to the muffin tops, and don’t like the brownies at all.)
The VitaMuffins are frozen, and 15 seconds in the microwave defrosts and warms them–I love how the chocolate chips on top get all melty and gooey (all for only 100 calories).
Now, these are all good chocolatey treats, but when I need a dose of the real thing, I don’t mess around:
90% cocoa may be too much for most people, but I really like it. It certainly is something to savor slowly, and I never really even want more than one square. I have to be careful about enjoying this at night, though, because I swear it can keep me awake!
Have you tried any of these chocolate concoctions?
What is your favorite way to enjoy chocolate?
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I love those Cliff Z Bars! My 9 year old used to be really in to them, too. I keep them around for a chocolate fix or a snack to throw in my purse.
I love really dark chocolate too. Maybe not 90%, don't know if I've tried it actually. And, I've never had the Vita Muffin, only the tops. Now, you've got me craving chocolate – you evil woman. Good choices though.
I'm not sure I'd call it "favorite," but I eat sugar free jello pudding cups for my chocolate fix. Actually, I've been into sf cocoa lately too. But just recently I've started craving good, dark chocolate, which isn't something I ever eat. Hmmm.
I love sf cocoa, but make it by heating skim milk in microwave, adding good cocoa powder and some splenda. You can do the proportions to your taste and much better than mixes. Cocoa powder is very low fat/calories – avg 15 cals/tablespoon. I often use Ghiradelli cocoa powder, which is NOT treated with alkali ("dutch process") and thus has more healthy antioxidants. [Dutch processing destroys some of the antioxidants]
I love my chocolate Muscle Provider (and I've been using Shakeology, too) and I love my good dark chocolate. I'm not a fan of stuff like the bars or the muffins though.
I don't bother with the chocolate energy bars. Just go for the artisan dark chocolate or handmade truffles.
(Or M&Ms in the office next to mine. Arg.)
All of the above! yumm! Well actually I have not had that brand of protein shake exactly but I would be interested in seeing how many grams of protein are in it
I love the lindt chili pepper dark chocolate. Only a small piece is very satisfying!
Yes!!
Love Clif-Z bars and Luna Choc/peppermint bars. Favorite dark chocs now are Valrhona, Dagoba "concodo" and Pralus "Cuba" ~70-75% dark bars. Need to try the Vita-muffins. As you know, I love my low fat, sf hot cocoa.
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