What to eat when you need chocolate

ElphabaWeasley

My biggest hurdle when it comes to eating healthy and staying on track is everyday about 2 hours before I get off of work (we slow down and I get bored, plus tired from earlier in the day) I crave something chocolatey. I work in a pharmacy so I usually go out and grab a box of candy and easily eat 400+ extra calories. Do you all have any ideas of chocolate treats I could make each week to pack and prepare for this slump towards the end of the day? I thought about frozen grapes as a substitute (not chocolate, but still very sweet) but I cannot use the freezer at work for food. I appreciate any ideas and do not have any allergies or dietary restrictions. Thanks guys!

jenilla1

I just go ahead and have a little chocolate. A small fun sized bar, a few Hershey's kisses or a square of dark chocolate or even one of those 45 calorie fudgsicles are all lower calorie ways to enjoy chocolate without going overboard. If I set aside a little treat for a specific time of day, I have that to look forward to, so I'm not thinking about it all the time. I know it's coming. You don't have to go without. I feel it makes life easier when you don't restrict or eliminate your favorite things.

jgnatca

Nothing beats chocolate.

How about a puffed wheat square? It calls for real syrup but if you can forgive that it's 90 calories each. I add protein powder to my home made version.

Or how about a Premier Protein bar?

usmcmp

Buy something that comes with smaller wrapped pieces (like Dove chocolates) and stick one in your lunch bag.

Alatariel75

I've worked my way up to 78% cocoa dark chocolate. I need very little of it to get my chocolate hit.

TonyB0588

@ElphabaWeasley When you "need" chocolate, eat chocolate. BUT control the portion size.

Geocitiesuser

unsweetened cocoa powder is only 20 cals for 6 grams.... enough to make a cup of chocolate milk. Double that and it's enough to make a little mug cake with some protein powder apple sauce and baking powder. You could even just get a regular candy bar and eat small portions.

SueSueDio

TonyB0588 wrote: »

@ElphabaWeasley When you "need" chocolate, eat chocolate. BUT control the portion size.

This. If I feel like I need chocolate, nothing else will do... if I try to substitute something else sweet, I'll still want the chocolate and probably end up consuming more calories overall. I found that the sweeter the chocolate is, the more of it I want, so an 82% dark brand is my go-to these days! I can just have one square, maybe two, and it's easy to fit into my day.

I've never tried the Dove chocolates but a lot of people say they like them, and being individually-wrapped they have inbuilt portion control! The Swiss Delice pieces are the same kind of thing, I guess... I've had those and they're good. The Fudgsicles are also great, but if you don't have access to a freezer that's not really an option!

ardissearle

I have a chocolate pudding cup

Chef_Barbell

I still have dark chocolate mini eggs from Easter. I eat one or 2 of those to hit the spot.

FlattoPhat

Eat a little chocolate! I have chocolate most every day.

Lounmoun

I like to have dark chocolate kisses on hand. I pop one in my mouth and just let it melt instead of chewing. 1 kiss is 20 calories.
Whatever you get try to slowly savor smaller portions.

Joanna2012B

Chocolate! I was a serious chocoholic at one time. I made the switch to dark chocolate. A small piece is all I need to fulfill my craving. I don't crave milk chocolate anymore.

laur357

Individually wrapped Ghirardelli dark chocolates are good. 50-70 calories each, depending on the flavor. I like sea salt soiree, which has some crushed almonds and sea salt.

AngryViking1970

laur357 wrote: »

Individually wrapped Ghirardelli dark chocolates are good. 50-70 calories each, depending on the flavor. I like sea salt soiree, which has some crushed almonds and sea salt.

Have you tried to the Dark Cherry Tango? SO good.

deannalfisher

mini dove ice cream bars are my current obsession

Sunna_W

Depending on where you live, there are some chocolates that have high cacao content (e.g. dark chocolate) and are low in carbs / sugar and come in tins (an example would be Trader Joe's Extra Dark Chocolate Wedges are in round tins with pie shaped wedges - 2 wedges are 80 calories).

I eat one (40 calories) with a tablespoon (95 calories) of Trader Joe's Creamy Salted Peanut Butter (I like it because it has few additives and there is no sugar added).

The added fat (I am a low carb & sugar / high fat kind of girl) generally hits all the right notes and stops my craving right there. That said, even if you ate a whole serving of each that's 270 calories - still a huge savings on what you have been eating. The peanut butter has to be refrigerated or it will go rancid and you have to stir the oil into it. I like it and prefer it over the what the stores usually carry.

If you are having an afternoon slump, I would suggest looking at your lunches / breakfasts and see if by lowering your carbs / sugar (and compensate by adding fat and protein) if that helps.

Here is a website that turns American Dietary Guidelines on its head:
https://www.westonaprice.org/health-topics/abcs-of-nutrition/dietary-guidelines/

ritzvin

ElphabaWeasley wrote: »

My biggest hurdle when it comes to eating healthy and staying on track is everyday about 2 hours before I get off of work (we slow down and I get bored, plus tired from earlier in the day) I crave something chocolatey. I work in a pharmacy so I usually go out and grab a box of candy and easily eat 400+ extra calories. Do you all have any ideas of chocolate treats I could make each week to pack and prepare for this slump towards the end of the day? I thought about frozen grapes as a substitute (not chocolate, but still very sweet) but I cannot use the freezer at work for food. I appreciate any ideas and do not have any allergies or dietary restrictions. Thanks guys!

Don't buy the whole box.

ritzvin

Or if you are only tempted while at work, then do buy the whole box, and pack just 1-2 pieces.

laurenebargar

I either do: a small pudding cup (110 calories) this is typically my dessert. Or I do a greek yogurt like Chobani, my favorite is the smores one. Its 180 calories, 12G protein, has chocolate chips in it, to satisfy the chocolate craving and keeps me full during for a few hours.

hesn92

Fudgecicle, chocolate pudding... I eat 2 pieces of individually wrapped dark chocolate pieces (85 cals) every night

Rob_in_MI

Hershey dark chocolate bars. The little ones. No dipping in peanut butter though.

sllm1

I like chocolate that takes a long time to chew - milk duds work great; it takes awhile to eat a little box and it's 55 calories.

Or Riesen.

Or tootsie rolls.

For me, regular chocolate goes down a little to easy and leaves me reaching for more. The chewing helps me feel satisfied.

sllm1

And with the milk duds - you can just put one little box in your lunch.

AngryViking1970

sllm1 wrote: »

I like chocolate that takes a long time to chew - milk duds work great; it takes awhile to eat a little box and it's 55 calories.

Or Riesen.

Or tootsie rolls.

For me, regular chocolate goes down a little to easy and leaves me reaching for more. The chewing helps me feel satisfied.

I forgot all about the Riesens. Yummy. Those chocolate parfait Nips are really good, too.

Spliner1969

I eat low calorie chocolate ice cream. Blue Bunny Sweet Freedom. 100 cals per 1/2 cup and it's chocked full of fiber. I can always squeeze at least a 1/2 cup serving in if I want.

pinuplove

cwolfman13

I have a small piece or two of dark chocolate several times per week.

goredguar

Dark chocolate! Hits the craving, but the flavour is intense so that you can't eat more than 1 or 2 pieces. Go for higher cocoa contents.

ElphabaWeasley

thank you all so much! I was hoping for some recipes but all of your ideas a so good. Thanks again!

peaceout_aly

ElphabaWeasley wrote: »

My biggest hurdle when it comes to eating healthy and staying on track is everyday about 2 hours before I get off of work (we slow down and I get bored, plus tired from earlier in the day) I crave something chocolatey. I work in a pharmacy so I usually go out and grab a box of candy and easily eat 400+ extra calories. Do you all have any ideas of chocolate treats I could make each week to pack and prepare for this slump towards the end of the day? I thought about frozen grapes as a substitute (not chocolate, but still very sweet) but I cannot use the freezer at work for food. I appreciate any ideas and do not have any allergies or dietary restrictions. Thanks guys!

My personal favorite chocolate substitute is a Quest Bar...Oh Yeah has some good ones too. And Grenade Carb Killa White Chocolate Cookie literally tastes like a Cookies and Cream Hershey bar. They all kill your craving while being nutritious, helping get that extra bump of protein in and keeping you full