Five Healthy Ways to Eat Chocolate

Last Updated on August 9, 2021 by Ellen Christian

Are there healthy ways to eat chocolate? With Valentine’s Day only a few weeks away, many of us will find ourselves faced with boxes of heart-shaped chocolate candies in every store we enter.

The temptation is real, and I’ll be honest with you. I’ve found myself saying “just one piece” far too many times when faced with a box of candy. Now, if I had the willpower to actually eat just one piece, there would be no problem. Unfortunately, I find myself eating more like 10 of them. 

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Five Healthy Ways to Eat Chocolate

I’m not going to give up chocolate entirely. I still want to be able to enjoy a decadent treat, but I don’t want to find myself blowing all my diet goals. Chocolate is just one of those things that you seriously have to have some days. Here are some healthy ways to eat chocolate without going crazy.

Buy Extra Dark Chocolate

Most chocolates you find in the grocery store are milk chocolate or are a very low percentage of dark chocolate. When that happens, the chocolate usually contains milk, soy, and sugar. This makes the chocolate higher in fat, higher in calories, and higher in sugar. Instead, look for extra dark chocolate bars that are at least 85% dark chocolate. This generally means that there is no milk, soy or sugar in the chocolate bar but check to be sure.  A few of my husband’s favorite brands are Green & Blacks and Alter Eco.

Fruit Dipped in Chocolate

I recommend making this yourself so you know exactly what’s in it. You can dip strawberries, bananas, oranges or apples in melted dark chocolate for a decadent treat. Sprinkle them with unsweetened coconut or roll them in healthy chopped almonds for an even healthier way to enjoy your treat.  Again, make sure that you’re dipping in at least 85% dark chocolate for the healthiest option and choose organic fruit when you can find it.

Make a Mocha

Adding chocolate to coffee is one of my favorite ways to enjoy it.  Now you can just stir in a bit of shaved chocolate or you can go all out and add coconut milk, stevia, and coconut cream to make a true mocha experience. To keep this on the healthy side, I opt for coconut milk or cream instead of dairy cream. You can always use unsweetened almond milk or rice milk if you prefer.

Add it to Oatmeal

I don’t often eat a lot of grains but I really enjoy a good hot bowl of steel cut oats in the Instant Pot. To make this a little bit decadent, add fresh sliced strawberries and grated dark chocolate to the top of your oats. Enjoy it for breakfast or as a treat any time of the day.

Stir it Into Yogurt

I love Greek yogurt for breakfast or as a dessert and when I make it, I add fresh fruit and chopped dark chocolate for a splurge. If it’s summertime, you can freeze the Greek yogurt for a frozen treat instead of ice cream. Have you tried making your own homemade yogurt?

What other healthy ways to eat chocolate do you know of?