So yeah, Easter is just right upon us! The Easter long weekend is a truly special time of the year that many of us spend with family & friends, and of course, indulging in some delicious, chocolatey goodness ??
While I am SO passionate about healthy eating & nourishing our bodies with the right food, I am also a strong believer in BALANCE & not depriving ourselves (especially during the holiday periods!).
By depriving ourselves & not allowing small treats here and there, this only fuels the cycle of binging and over eating – which is the opposite of what we want to achieve!
That is why I’ve put together some of my favourite healthy chocolate varieties, so you can have a guilt-free indulgence this Easter!
So here we go!
MY TOP PICKS FOR A HEALTHIER EASTER:
Typically I would go for anything high in cocoa, which is also dairy & refined-sugar free.
When looking at regular chocolate varieties, they are quite low in cocoa content! (I would steer away from these varieties…)
Here are some examples:
- Kit Kat – 13% cocoa
- Cadbury Milk Chocolate – 26% cocoa
- Lindt Golden Bunny Chocolate – 30% cocoa
THE BEST STORE-BOUGHT VARIETIES YOU SHOULD TRY:
Pana chocolates are a great option because they use raw cacao, are vegan, and are free from gluten, dairy, soy, refined-sugar & preservatives!
Cacao is the purest form of chocolate you can consume, meaning it is raw & much less processed than cocoa (found in the ever-so-popular Lindt & Cadbury varieties) & is pretty much ‘IT’ in terms of the best option out there for you.
I looooove Pana chocolate, they have such a delicious taste & are a much healthier option than milk chocolate (which is super low in it’s percentage of cocoa).
The great news is that Pana chocolates aren’t available in just health food stores, but also in Coles & Woolworths too! While it is a little pricey, I’d say it’s definitely worth it – for both quality, taste & a guilt-free indulgence!
Plus – you’ll be stuck for choice as they have so many great flavours to choose from (hint – the coconut & goji sounds delish!)
2. LINDT CHOCOLATE – EXCELLENCE ABOVE 70% COCOA RANGE
While other varieties of Lindt may not be the best choice (Lindt golden bunny & assorted bags – we’re looking at you!), the excellence range with options of 70%, 78%, 85%, 90% and 99% cocoa, certainly won’t leave you short on choice!
(Please note – if you go below 70% cocoa, these varieties contain dairy!)
This range is also particularly great for all those dark chocolate lovers out there – the high cocoa % makes these bars particularly tasty ?
A handy tip for you – if you aren’t the biggest fan of a super bitter tasting chocolate (i.e. the 99% cocoa chocolate is VERY bitter), then I suggest cutting up some small portions of dates or nuts to eat with it! It adds a lovely hint of sweetness which balances out the bitterness of the dark chocolate.
Nutrition label from 70% Cocoa Lindt Chocolate
COCOA VS. CACAO?
While I’ve mentioned some cocoa varieties which are much healthier alternatives, cacao is also a super tasty, & HEALTHY option you can add in to your diet!
Cacao is one of the highest sources of antioxidants & magnesium (This is why many people use this as an excuse to have chocolate, however chocolate made from cocoa powder is heated, so has much less antioxidants than cacao!)
Cacao powder also contains more fiber and calories than cocoa powder, as more of the nutrients from the bean are still intact.
Cacao also has an excellent source of nutrients, including – mono-saturated fats, cholesterol-free saturated fats, vitamins, minerals, protein & natural carbohydrates!
I’m a big believer in leading a BALANCED lifestyle, one where we can indulge & treat ourselves the right way! I hope this email has helped you to eat better quality chocolates & to have a less naughty Easter!
By the way, if you are interested in even more ways to get into healthier eating habits & feeling amazing by nourishing your body with Japanese superfoods, or simply just want to cleanse your body off after the Easter period, check out my book “Japanese superfoods“ or my healthy Cooking Classes range!
I hope you all have a lovely Easter long weekend!
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