Chocolate Substitutes

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Local_Atlantis
Local_Atlantis Posts: 262 Member
in Food and Nutrition
Hello All,
It's been a while since I have posted in the forum..

I was just wondering whether anyone knew of a non-disgusting alternative to chocolate. My sister has been diagnosed with chronic migraines and her doctor has advised her to avoid chocolate forever!! I feel so bad for her (we are both chocoholics).. I have been doing some research and found carob... Has anyone tried it? I was thinking of getting the carob powder and I could make chocolate cake with it - but how about a bar of chocolate? How does it taste? Does anyone have any other suggestions?

Thanks :smile:

Replies

  • Need2Exerc1se
    Need2Exerc1se Posts: 13,576 Member
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    It doesn't taste like chocolate. It probably wouldn't be bad in a cake, but I doubt it would be great in a bar. But there are so many other delicious flavors out there. Breaking the choloholic habit isn't really the worst thing that could happen to a person.
  • Laurend224
    Laurend224 Posts: 1,748 Member
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    I'm not a fan of carob.
  • Local_Atlantis
    Local_Atlantis Posts: 262 Member
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    Thanks. Anyone else?
  • Alatariel75
    Alatariel75 Posts: 17,959 Member
    edited April 2015
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    I was horridly intolerant to chocolate through my childhood and teens (also had chronic migraines), so my mum would buy me carob. It was atrocious. It doesn't even deserve the label of chocolate substitute, it made me so sad. It was the sole cause of the cancellation of Easter in the family home, basically.

    Did he say what aspect of chocolate may be causing the issue? Lactose, caffeine, etc? You can get different specialty chocolates which omit certain things.
  • MonsoonStorm
    MonsoonStorm Posts: 371 Member
    edited April 2015
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    "stop eating chocolate/coffee" is the default go-to for doctors when it comes to migraines.

    Experiment and figure out what your own triggers are. Everyone is different. Pointless depriving yourself of something if it's not the cause. Chocolate/coffee/wine have zero effect on my migraines. Of all things... wheat is what gets me it seems, no idea how or why, but that's my 'trigger'. Just got to try eliminating different things until you figure it out.

  • Tialuna18
    Tialuna18 Posts: 9,592 Member
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    Carob is quite tasty in baked goods in my experience :) love it in cookies~
  • norie92
    norie92 Posts: 115 Member
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    The weight of Nesquik chocolate flavored powder is less than 2% Cocoa, would that be acceptable?
  • esjones12
    esjones12 Posts: 1,363 Member
    edited April 2015
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    Carob and cacaoa both are alternatives but have distinct tastes that are not like milk chocolate. Personally I like them. I actually make my own raw chocolate:

    1 cup cocaoa, 1 cup cocunut oil, 1/2 cup honey, 1 tbsp vanialla and a dash of salt. Melt the honey and and coconut oil on the stove then add all ingredients into a food processor. Pour into a container and stick it in the freeze for 20min. Break/cut into pieces. Makes aprox 1lb. with around 170 calories per ounce.

    I find it delicious. Not as addiciting as normal milk chocolate. Though I could totaly eat the whole bag :(
  • LovelyIvy466
    LovelyIvy466 Posts: 387 Member
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    Cacao nibs are actually tasty in a chocolate-y way. Carob is just evil- when I was younger, my Doctor thought I might have a chocolate allergy for a hot second and I was forced to eat carob, which I found revolting (the texture is just wrong). But cacao nibs are actually pretty tasty, and a little bit can soothe a sweet tooth.
  • tcunbeliever
    tcunbeliever Posts: 8,219 Member
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    I have made carob brownies using the carob powder and carob chips - they were really good.
  • jgnatca
    jgnatca Posts: 14,464 Member
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    http://www.shopdecafchocolate.com/

    Here's my son's migraine forbidden foods list:
    migravent.com/blog/migraine-triggers-2/top-35-foods-and-preservatives-that-trigger-migraines/

    Your sister may want to start by eliminating a whole bunch of foods and then slowly add them back in one at a time so she has a personal list of triggers. It might turn out she's fine with chocolate.
    http://www.webmd.com/migraines-headaches/features/identifying-food-triggers-for-migraines

    My son no longer maintains a forbidden foods list, and he treats migraines by over-hydrating. It works for him. YMMV.
  • Local_Atlantis
    Local_Atlantis Posts: 262 Member
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    Thank you all so much for your help :smile:

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