Chocolate

allyssasmommy8

I just started my journey to being healthy and I’m a huge chocoholic especially after a hysterectomy. What are some good alternatives that aren’t carb heavy and good for a low cholesterol diet. I haven’t tried to touch it because I don’t want to loose control of the control I have now

Maxxitt

I satisfy my chocolate craving by adding unsweetened cocoa powder to yogurt, mashed bananas, whey-based smoothies. 15g is 3 TBSP and 30 calories.

JayneNoor

Cacao nibs are great. Nice chocolate hit and they take a lot of chewing.

seska422

I have a 50-calorie square of dark chocolate to finish breakfast every day. I know it's coming so I don't feel deprived.

CarvedTones

I think the key is learning to savor it in small amounts. I love raisinets, especially dark (which helps a little). I weight them out - 10 grams is 40 calories (actually this is from the chocolate covered raisins I am eating now, which aren't actually raisinets) and about 10 pieces. I eat them one at a time. i have fun size candy bars in my desk at work and I have one, maybe two a day (I am in maintenance now, so I have a little more wiggle room), but not every day. I put 6 soft Chips Ahoy cookies in a sandwich bag a few weeks ago because the kids made the rest disappear in a day. I still have 3 left.

JeromeBarry1

I'm curious why you want a low cholesterol diet. Your own body makes all the cholesterol you need, and dietary cholesterol has been proven to have no more than a very slight effect on your serum cholesterol.

Other than that, the Ghirardelli 86% cocoa squares I often have are 60 calories each. A Snickers fun size is 80 calories each. Snickers mini is even less.

When you dare, chocolate coated coffee beans, YES!

fitoverfortymom

A cup of hot chocolate

seltzermint555

I don't know about low carb/healthier alternatives but I find that buying single servings of chocolate is helpful for me. Today I picked up a chocolate covered Peep (110 cal) and it satisfied my sweets craving very well. I like to stop, sit down & brew a cup of tea to enjoy with anything like that to make it seem like more of an "event" and it helps me eat it more slowly. In the past I would have just had like four of those as I drove down the street and it wouldn't have been as satisfying (and 440 cal).

Pastaprincess1978

I agree with the comment: I know it's coming so I don't feel deprived. If you add in maybe a square or two of dark chocolate after dinner it might help? Also love the idea of adding cocoa powder to low fat yoghurt.

kpsyche

I have two squares of Lindt 90% cocoa supreme dark chocolate most nights (116 calories and 2.5g in the two squares). It's quite bitter but has a nice feel in the mouth. As for the bitterness, well I've become accustomed to it and now milk chocolate tastes sickly sweet to me

kpsyche

The forum won't let me edit (403 Forbidden). 2.5g should be 2.5g of carbs (1.3g of which are sugars)

MushroomLadyJR

I just satisfied my chocolate craving with 2 chocolate rice cakes, 81 calories. Otherwise I just have a hot chocolate (options 40 Cal if at home or from the machine at work, 60 Cal's).

kommodevaran

A healthy diet isn't everything, healthy eating is having a healthy mindset too. I suspect you feel out of control because you demonize good chocolate and call yourself a chocoholic. Subs won't do much for cravings, you'll still want the real deal, and then you'll overeat both sub and real deal, to reward yourself for picking a "better" choice, and to soothe yourself after feeling deprived.

Eating chocolate every day has become the norm, but I don't think it's "normal", it's how we became overweight. What if you schedule a reasonable portion once a week?

yirara

Buy artisan chocolate. Not something like Lindt, but really expensive chocolate, and only eat one piece a day because it's so expensive.

Keto_Vampire

100% baker's chocolate is very low carb; it's not for everyone though taste wise - can be very strong and a tad bitter
Various cacao powders are also similar (just always read the label) as others have mentioned

workinonit1956

I love chocolate. Most afternoons I enjoy a cup of Stash Chocolate Mint tea. I add a couple shakes of cocoa powder and a splash of half and half. 40 calories and delicious. I also have a square or 2 of Endangered Species 88% dark chocolate per day. 28 calories each.

apullum

One square of Ghirardelli chocolate is about 50-80 calories depending on which flavor you buy. They’re individually wrapped, so it’s easier to get one out and put the rest away.

emcclure013

I buy my absolute favorite chocolates and work 1 into my day every single day. I make a point to really stop and enjoy it - not just eat it while doing other things. As someone pointed out before, make it into an event and you're more likely to be satisfied by it. I'm also helped by "out of sight out of mind." My treats are in a drawer I rarely use, and if I'm not looking at them I have an easier time resisting them.

quebot

I'm not a chocolate fanatic. But I do love treats. I'll find spending extra on something "nice" helps me savor it. I also miderate my groceries. I'm celiac and three things I miss are donuts, buscuits with gravy, and muffins. I grocery shop weekly and give myself a weekly budget of calories for treats and will buy myself something nice every week. I'll find some gluten free donuts (that actually taste good) or muffins or something. Just like money, I don't want to ruin my calorie budget all in one day, so I'm pretty good at stretching it out over the week. I treat myself at the end of the day when I have calories left to fill. And I don't scarf it down. I take my time and enjoy every bite. I hate the gluten free diet, so it's nice to enjoy food occasionally.

I'm not super fit or a mfp expert, but this plan is working. I still enjoy my treats, and I stay in my calorie budget. I'm still losing weight, so it's working!

ladyhusker39

Pudding or Fudgecicles

rugratz2015

I also love chocolate, so I make room in my allowance for an options low cal hot choc, made with milk, so I don’t feel like I’m depriving myself.