Don't Say No to Easter Chocolate!
Happy Passover and Easter Everyone!
Today I'm talking to those of you celebrating Easter since it's a holiday synonymous with overindulging in sugar. But don't get scared off yet because I'm not going to tell you to not eat chocolate!
When it comes to indulging your sweet tooth over Easter, it’s all about what I call "Strategic Indulgence" and choosing quality over quantity. Low quality milk (and dark) chocolate are loaded with sugar and have been so processed that they no longer retain the benefits of real cacao.
Choosing organic (chocolate is one of the most chemically treated crops) dark chocolate with 70% or higher cacao is the way to go, and there's nothing better for satisfying a sugar craving! High cacao dark chocolate tends to be a lot lower in sugar (check the labels though!) and is packed with antioxidants and monounsaturated fatty acids. It's also a great source of magnesium, iron, phosphorous and potassium.
If you’re not used to eating dark chocolate, it can seem a bit bitter at first but some are smoother and less bitter than others, and the health benefits are worth making the switch. This is the perfect way to avoid missing out on the Easter fun without a sugar overload.
Lake Champlain and Green and Blacks make organic dark chocolate Easter eggs, and you can find organic dark chocolate candies locally at PCC and Whole Foods for Easter and Halloween. The Woodstock Organic Dark Chocolate Almonds and Hu Almonds + Sea Salt Hunks are a great option, and my personal favorites for a daily cacao fix are the K'UL 80% Pure Dark Chocolate (it's unreal!) and the Equal Exchange Panama 80% Dark Chocolate.
Be sure to check the nutrition labels though — not all dark chocolate is high-quality and some can contain a lot of sugar, especially if it doesn’t contain much cacao. These higher sugar, more processed types aren’t any healthier than milk chocolate so it definitely pays to invest in the best quality you can afford to buy.
If you prefer to make your own Easter goodies, try out my recipe for Chocolate Almond Butter Eggs.
Have a beautiful holiday!
