A bite of chocolate (or two)? Don’t mind if we do, especially if we’re celebrating National Chocolate Day on July 7! But will those cravings for something rich and sweet come back to bite us?
Not necessarily. Here are 15 sure-to-impress ways to get your chocolate fix — and some of the widely touted health benefits of dark chocolate — without undoing your diet or time in the gym.
- Choco-Protein: Refuel with a basic chocolate protein shake after a grueling workout. It’s easy (just mix chocolate protein powder with water and shake) and it gives a dose of chocolatey goodness without the sugar-based calories.
- Cacao Nibs: These tasty little guys are essentially just broken up roasted cacao beans (what chocolate is made of). The small, chocolate chip lookalikes can be used in place of their supersweet counterparts in baked goods or snacks like trail mix. And the good news? Cacao is where chocolate gets its health benefits, so the more unadulterated the chocolatey goodness, the better.
- Classic Mocha: Turn a classic cup-o’-Joe into a sweet treat by stirring in a spoonful of cocoa powder and a little milk. And for the record, cocoa powder contains the most antioxidant-packed pure cacao of all the chocolate choices in the baking aisle.
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