Chocolate often gets a bad reputation, with nutritionists warning that it’s fattening and should only be consumed in moderation. They often refer to it merely as a treat. Walk down any grocery aisle, and you’ll see brands like Nestle, Hershey’s, Mars, or Ghirardelli use an array of ingredients, some familiar and others that sound like they’re from a chemistry lab. Common additives include cane sugar, artificial flavors, nonfat milk products, synthetic dyes, and hydrogenated oils.
If you’re like me, you might be tired of what the food industry is doing to our food. It’s not just about reducing our health and energy; it’s also making us feel tired, depressed, and stuck in a cycle of cravings. These big manufacturers aim to get us addicted to their cheap products.
Their chocolate products are everywhere, from vending machines to gas stations and office break rooms. They’re marketed as quick snacks to get you through a tough day. However, they often leave you feeling anxious and jittery, making it hard to focus as the effects wear off, and you count down the hours until your day ends.
This constant bombardment of processed junk food contributes to feeling stressed and foggy-headed. From sodas to sugary coffee, these products are part of everyday consumption in America.
So, what can we do to change this? Consumers can demand healthier products, free from cheap, unhealthy sweeteners. Switching from sugar to honey may not be the solution since they’re all biochemically similar. Instead, cutting out these sugars altogether or making healthier alternatives at home could make a difference.
Dr. Robert Lustig and other researchers have shown that reducing dietary fructose can improve metabolic health. You don’t have to deprive yourself of sweets entirely; instead, opting for healthier alternatives from health food stores or even making your own can be just as satisfying and better for your health.
Making your own chocolate at home allows you to control the ingredients and avoid those addictive sugars. It can be a fun activity for the whole family and a great way to teach kids about healthy choices. Creating chocolate at home means using natural sweeteners and healthy fats while keeping the calories low.
When your child craves sweets, you can use nourishing superfoods to make chocolate, cake, pies, or ice cream. This way, you’ll avoid reaching for that Snickers bar and have a healthy alternative ready.
Here are ten simple ingredients to make “fat-burning” chocolate:
1. **High-quality raw cacao powder**: Opt for a good quality powder like Bulletproof to avoid unnecessary processing.
– Quantity: 2 tablespoons
2. **High-quality cacao butter**: Melt ¾ cup of cacao butter and use it in a higher ratio to cacao powder for a creamier texture.
– Quantity: 3/4 cup
3. **MCT oil**: This can be replaced with coconut oil. MCT oil helps with fat-burning and provides energy.
– Quantity: 1 teaspoon
4. **Bulletproof CollaGelatin**: Adds collagen protein to your chocolate, giving it a creamy texture.
– Quantity: 2 teaspoons
5. **Colostrum**: Provides immune-boosting benefits and is excellent for muscle growth.
– Quantity: 2 teaspoons
6. **Himalayan salt**: Choose this over regular table salt for its natural minerals.
– Quantity: A pinch
7. **Vanilla bean powder**: Superior to vanilla extract and enhances the flavor.
– Quantity: 1 teaspoon
8. **Low glycemic sweetener**: Use alternatives like kabocha extract to sweeten without adding calories.
– Quantity: 2 tablespoons
9. **Extra goodies**: Customize your chocolate with almonds, coconut, super berries, or other favorite add-ins.
– Quantity: Your preference
10. **Lots of Love**: Put care into making your chocolate for the best results.
To make your chocolate, melt ¾ cup of cacao butter using a double boiler, sift 2 tablespoons of cacao powder, and mix in the remaining ingredients, stirring thoroughly. Pour into molds, add extra goodies like almonds or coconut shreds, and chill in the freezer for 1-2 hours or refrigerate for a few hours. Enjoy your healthy chocolate creation with friends and family!