The chocolate season is nearly upon us. Is it just me or is grocery shopping 10 times harder at Easter time? Everywhere you look there’s chocolate! Easter eggs, chocolate bunnies, Easter-themed chocolate boxes. Chocolate, chocolate, and more chocolate!
You might be conscious of the chocolate cravings this subtle advertising can induce, or maybe you can’t figure out why you’re experiencing a strong appetite for the stuff late at night. Either way, constantly telling yourself you can’t have chocolate at Easter time probably won’t be that effective – and it’s definitely not much fun.
Health benefits of chocolate
Chocolate is often mistaken as a “bad” food. Unfortunately, for many people this misunderstanding often extends to everything chocolate related. But just because commercial milk chocolate is full of sugar and other additives that should be eaten in moderation, doesn’t mean everything with chocolate in the title should be considered unhealthy.
Finding ways to incorporate healthy forms of chocolate is a much more powerful (and delicious) way to fight these cravings. Not only does cocoa powder add a low-calorie burst of flavour, but it offers a range of health benefits that may include:
- high antioxidant content
- the ability to enhance mood and cognition
- reduce inflammation
- increase insulin sensitivity
The strategic use of cacao derivatives such as cacao powder, cacao nibs and cocoa powder can be a fantastic way to add vitamins, minerals and antioxidants to your diet. If you’re a chocolate lover, it can also help you feel like you’re not depriving yourself of something you love.
This heavenly (and healthy) chocolate chia pudding is a great way to beat cravings this easter. It’s also the perfect way to add some delicious chocolate flavour to your meal prep.
- 1 Tbsp chia seeds (15g)
- 1 tspn cocoa powder (4g)
- 3 Tbsp milk of your choice (60mL)
- 10 drops of liquid stevia or 1 tspn honey (more if you like sweet)
- Optional toppings: cacao nibs, berries, coconut flakes
- Add all ingredients to a small jar or container.
- Use a fork to whisk thoroughly until all chia seeds are immersed in liquid.
- Taste test to ensure the mixture is sweet enough for your liking. Adjust accordingly.
- Place in the fridge to set for at least 12 hours - overnight is best.*
- If meal prepping, multiply ingredients by how many servings you would like.
- *It helps to give the jar a shake or stir every few hours to stop the seeds from clumping together.
Comments are closed.