healthy chocolate?
>> Monday, October 11, 2010
There's no time like the present.
After a summer of way too much ice cream, pizza, potato chips, and other junk, I decided a few weeks ago that it was finally time to pay more attention to what I'm putting into my body. The changes I've made include eliminating "white" foods (potatoes, pasta, bread) from my diet, cutting back on added sugar and carbs, upping my protein intake, buying organic eggs, drastically reducing the amount of dairy I consume, drinking tea instead of coffee, and taking vitamins on a daily basis. And it's working! With a week or two I noticed that I was sleeping better, had more energy and clearer skin, and was even losing a little bit of weight. Who knew it was so easy to feel great?
That said, though, I'm smart enough to realize that giving up all junk food--and chocolate in particular--is just not an option for me. Fortunately, dark chocolate is loaded with flavonoids (a naturally occurring plant compound that has antioxidant properties and can also aid in lowering blood pressure and cholesterol). Berries are also antioxidant-rich (and offer fiber and Vitamin C) and almonds are high-protein, heart-friendly, and contain more calcium than any other nuts. I'd been eating a square of dark chocolate with a handful of nuts and berries as a sweet snack anyway, so I decided to try combining them into one delicious bite. It's the perfect dessert or late-night snack, and it's (kinda-sorta) good for you!
Ingredients:
6 ounces good-quality dark chocolate (at least 65% cacao)
3/4 c. unsalted almonds, roughly chopped
1/2 c. dried blueberries
1/2 c. dried cranberries
Directions:
1. Place chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl, stirring at 30-second intervals until fully melted.
2. Mix berries and almonds into melted chocolate and stir to combine.
3. Pour mixture onto a foil-lined baking sheet and allow to cool completely.
4. Break into bite-size pieces and stir in an airtight container.
Makes 2 1/2 - 3 dozen pieces. Read more...
