Cocoa Powder vs Dark Chocolate
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Cocoa is in ingredient. chocolate is a food. So I eat chocolate. I haved tried and enjoyed lower sugar dark chocolates though. I prefer darker chocolates anyway (personal preference).
I also use cocoa nibs in my steel cut oats but don't eat them just like that out of hte bag.
i do not eat anything i don't like unless i'm a guest and it's provided by a host or made a bad choice in ordering and am too hungry to just not eat. I have too few calories in a day to waste on food i don't like otherwise.
I can still get a balanced diet and meet all my nutritional and weight loss goals while not eating foods i don't like.6 -
Well if you are not going to be serious I will assume that you are taking food "medicine" for no good reason. You have likely been on too many websites that talk about super foods and what this food can do for you. It is causing you to overthink eating.13
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Well if you are not going to be serious I will assume that you are taking food "medicine" for no good reason. You have likely been on too many websites that talk about super foods and what this food can do for you. It is causing you to overthink eating.
Too many websites... Maybe but probably way less then the average bear. Super foods...negative on that. I can show you my diary from the last month to prove that one. Plain chicken is probably my only super food and whey protein. But I am engineer and I for sure over think somethings...very guilty on that one. If there is a readily available cheap food that I can try, I am all onboard. As far as asking a simple question and getting woo-ed I love it! Wished woo-ing had more protein. BTW...never liked chocolate a day in my life. But if I can throw cocoa powder in my protein shake and down it real quick I will try it. Haven't done it yet but there is always tomorrow. Oh I do have a herb garden and I love cooking. So I am a little geeky there. Don't forget to woo me.....pleaseeeeeeee!3 -
I'll eat 4lbs of fruit and veggies every day before I'll choke down something that would gag me. Varied enough I'd get the same or better nutrition from it too. To each their own.9
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Sorry....I love me my nestle Quick!1
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WinoGelato wrote: »
It is all about your goals. I eat somethings I like and somethings I don't. Food can be like medicine...you take it even when you don't like it. Plus I start liking some of the things I use to not like.
I think trying things multiple times is a good idea, and if you are struggling to have sufficient nutrients because you are really picky working on your palate (and your cooking, perhaps!) is a good idea, but for most people who have a reasonable range of foods they like, I don't think it's necessary to tell yourself that you can only achieve goals by eating foods or meals that aren't tasty to you.
For example, I like most fruits and almost all vegetables, but I don't like grapefruit. I've tried it off and on over the years, don't mind it as an ingredient in some things, but that I don't like it is no biggie, there are plenty of other foods I enjoy that have similar nutrients.
I absolutely hate canned tuna and don't like tilapia or catfish, but I like pretty much every other fish I've tried, so no reason to force myself to eat foods I don't care for.
So on.
I suppose one could have a different approach if one feels like they just don't like enough things, but I also sometimes feel like there's this idea that there are certain magical foods that must be consumed, and that's not so. Like flaxseed or chia are healthy (and I like them fine although question whether they are always worth the cals for me), but most people don't need to add them to their diets unless they enjoy them. But because they are trendy people sometimes feel like they should. Similarly, I don't like green tea, so don't drink it. Sure, it's supposed to be healthy, but I doubt drinking herbal will doom me or prevent me from reaching any goals.
Like I said, I do think trying foods is a good idea, though.
On cocoa powder vs. dark chocolate, I eat both on occasion (I like dark better than light and currently my favorite easily available dark chocolate is Chocolove 88%). I also quite like these unsweetened chocolate brewing powders (you make them basically like coffee -- I have used my french press) and they are a nice evening alternative to tea.3 -
BTW...never liked chocolate a day in my life. But if I can throw cocoa powder in my protein shake and down it real quick I will try it. Haven't done it yet but there is always tomorrow.
Why would you do this? It seems like a waste of calories vs. adding something to the protein shake you will enjoy (assuming you don't like it when you do try it). What amazing effect do you think cocoa powder will have?
(For the record, I use it in cooking from time to time but not in smoothies other than one time when it happened to go with my ingredients. I usually choose ingredients that would not go well with chocolate in my smoothies, IMO, and I want tasty (in addition to healthy) smoothies. Obviously YMMV, but I'm just trying to understand what you believe you are accomplishing.)4 -
If dark chocolate is high in antioxidants then cocoa will be too. Cocoa has less fat in it.
Try dusting your coffee with cocoa and cinnamon. You’ll be imitating the Aztecs.3 -
BTW...never liked chocolate a day in my life. But if I can throw cocoa powder in my protein shake and down it real quick I will try it. Haven't done it yet but there is always tomorrow.
Why would you do this? It seems like a waste of calories vs. adding something to the protein shake you will enjoy (assuming you don't like it when you do try it). What amazing effect do you think cocoa powder will have?
(For the record, I use it in cooking from time to time but not in smoothies other than one time when it happened to go with my ingredients. I usually choose ingredients that would not go well with chocolate in my smoothies, IMO, and I want tasty (in addition to healthy) smoothies. Obviously YMMV, but I'm just trying to understand what you believe you are accomplishing.)
Thanks lemurcat and jgnatca....Finally an honest to goodness informative dialogue. I am going to try adding cocoa powder to my coffee. I realized that I shouldn't be asking questions on MFP. I am a powerlifter trying to lose weight for competition. I have to make every macro calorie count while being in a calorie deficit. Most of MFP have different goals than I, which is awesome! But don't be a smart a$? about it. I will use MFP for tracking calories and macros...and try to stay away from chats. Just want to see how many more woo's I can get then leaving this community. Again thank you!1 -
For what it's worth, cocoa powder is a decent source of non-heme iron (1.8 g per 5 g of product) & it adds fiber (1 g per 5 g of product).0
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Well if you are not going to be serious I will assume that you are taking food "medicine" for no good reason. You have likely been on too many websites that talk about super foods and what this food can do for you. It is causing you to overthink eating.
Too many websites... Maybe but probably way less then the average bear. Super foods...negative on that. I can show you my diary from the last month to prove that one. Plain chicken is probably my only super food and whey protein. But I am engineer and I for sure over think somethings...very guilty on that one. If there is a readily available cheap food that I can try, I am all onboard. As far as asking a simple question and getting woo-ed I love it! Wished woo-ing had more protein. BTW...never liked chocolate a day in my life. But if I can throw cocoa powder in my protein shake and down it real quick I will try it. Haven't done it yet but there is always tomorrow. Oh I do have a herb garden and I love cooking. So I am a little geeky there. Don't forget to woo me.....pleaseeeeeeee!
I don't woo people.
You still didn't answer the question. What illness are you trying to cure with this cocoa powder you are adding to your shake? If none, get the nutrients you would get there somewhere more enjoyable.3 -
So you don't believe in superfoods, but you think it's worthwhile to put a nutritionally negligible amount of cocoa, which you dislike, in your coffee or shake.
OK. Thrive on.
Here's a woo-collection tip, since that seems to be what you crave, for some reason. Tick off some evangelist for some particular strongly-held point of view, and make sure it's someone persistent but neurotically, obsessively passive-aggressive. Pathetically, they'll find it a good use of their time to seek out and woo every single post you make, no matter how innocuous.
Good luck in your comp, sincerely.14 -
Here's the difference nutritionally:
Cocoa powder has had the cocoa butter removed. As a result, the fat that remains is negligible.
100% pure chocolate has both cocoa butter & solids. It has substantially more fat than cocoa powder.
You want a bar made for eating, not baking. Montezuma's Absolute Black is a 100% chocolate bar, made with only cocoa solids, butter, and nibs (broken up bits of cocoa bean). Trader Joe's carries them and they're amazing.
If you appreciate really dark chocolate and black coffee, you might like it. Sugar and milk tends to mask the various flavors in chocolate (as well as in coffee). With low quality beans, you need that. Good beans need little to no embellishment.
I've found that when I crave chocolate, it takes only a square or two of good 90-100% chocolate to satisfy the craving, whereas with milk chocolate or even regular dark chocolate (~60% range) I have to eat a LOT more before the craving stops.3 -
anthocyanina wrote: »Here's the difference nutritionally:
Cocoa powder has had the cocoa butter removed. As a result, the fat that remains is negligible.
100% pure chocolate has both cocoa butter & solids. It has substantially more fat than cocoa powder.
You want a bar made for eating, not baking. Montezuma's Absolute Black is a 100% chocolate bar, made with only cocoa solids, butter, and nibs (broken up bits of cocoa bean). Trader Joe's carries them and they're amazing.
If you appreciate really dark chocolate and black coffee, you might like it. Sugar and milk tends to mask the various flavors in chocolate (as well as in coffee). With low quality beans, you need that. Good beans need little to no embellishment.
I've found that when I crave chocolate, it takes only a square or two of good 90-100% chocolate to satisfy the craving, whereas with milk chocolate or even regular dark chocolate (~60% range) I have to eat a LOT more before the craving stops.
So am I white trash for liking Hershey's?8 -
anthocyanina wrote: »Here's the difference nutritionally:
Cocoa powder has had the cocoa butter removed. As a result, the fat that remains is negligible.
100% pure chocolate has both cocoa butter & solids. It has substantially more fat than cocoa powder.
You want a bar made for eating, not baking. Montezuma's Absolute Black is a 100% chocolate bar, made with only cocoa solids, butter, and nibs (broken up bits of cocoa bean). Trader Joe's carries them and they're amazing.
If you appreciate really dark chocolate and black coffee, you might like it. Sugar and milk tends to mask the various flavors in chocolate (as well as in coffee). With low quality beans, you need that. Good beans need little to no embellishment.
I've found that when I crave chocolate, it takes only a square or two of good 90-100% chocolate to satisfy the craving, whereas with milk chocolate or even regular dark chocolate (~60% range) I have to eat a LOT more before the craving stops.
So am I white trash for liking Hershey's?
You and me, @NovusDies. But imagine all the money we're saving, eating that nasty cheap chocolate.
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So am I white trash for liking Hershey's?
Heavens no! That's not what I meant at all. Hershey's makes candy, they're good at what they do. It is what it is, no judgement.
A 100% chocolate bar is most definitely not candy, as any kid who's ever taken a bite of baking chocolate can attest.
A little like comparing a frappuccino to black coffee or coffee with a splash of cream. They're both made with coffee, but are wildly different products.1 -
anthocyanina wrote: »Here's the difference nutritionally:
Cocoa powder has had the cocoa butter removed. As a result, the fat that remains is negligible.
100% pure chocolate has both cocoa butter & solids. It has substantially more fat than cocoa powder.
You want a bar made for eating, not baking. Montezuma's Absolute Black is a 100% chocolate bar, made with only cocoa solids, butter, and nibs (broken up bits of cocoa bean). Trader Joe's carries them and they're amazing.
If you appreciate really dark chocolate and black coffee, you might like it. Sugar and milk tends to mask the various flavors in chocolate (as well as in coffee). With low quality beans, you need that. Good beans need little to no embellishment.
I've found that when I crave chocolate, it takes only a square or two of good 90-100% chocolate to satisfy the craving, whereas with milk chocolate or even regular dark chocolate (~60% range) I have to eat a LOT more before the craving stops.
So am I white trash for liking Hershey's?
anthocyanina not the one who made it a class thing. Just sayin'.
signed, former trailer park resident3 -
quiksylver296 wrote: »anthocyanina wrote: »Here's the difference nutritionally:
Cocoa powder has had the cocoa butter removed. As a result, the fat that remains is negligible.
100% pure chocolate has both cocoa butter & solids. It has substantially more fat than cocoa powder.
You want a bar made for eating, not baking. Montezuma's Absolute Black is a 100% chocolate bar, made with only cocoa solids, butter, and nibs (broken up bits of cocoa bean). Trader Joe's carries them and they're amazing.
If you appreciate really dark chocolate and black coffee, you might like it. Sugar and milk tends to mask the various flavors in chocolate (as well as in coffee). With low quality beans, you need that. Good beans need little to no embellishment.
I've found that when I crave chocolate, it takes only a square or two of good 90-100% chocolate to satisfy the craving, whereas with milk chocolate or even regular dark chocolate (~60% range) I have to eat a LOT more before the craving stops.
So am I white trash for liking Hershey's?
You and me, @NovusDies. But imagine all the money we're saving, eating that nasty cheap chocolate.
I find the best way to enjoy a square of Hershey's is to smell it first and take in the subtle floral notes of the Hershey factory. Then place it gently on my tongue and let it melt slightly in my mouth before chewing it.
I like to have a few squares with my coffee on the weekends. I am not a big sweets eater and I like a classic.
With that said I do like the Lindt DC Sea Salt too. I have no idea what percentage it is because none of that means anything to me. I just care about taste.3 -
anthocyanina wrote: »So am I white trash for liking Hershey's?
Heavens no! That's not what I meant at all. Hershey's makes candy, they're good at what they do. It is what it is, no judgement.
A 100% chocolate bar is most definitely not candy, as any kid who's ever taken a bite of baking chocolate can attest.
A little like comparing a frappuccino to black coffee or coffee with a splash of cream. They're both made with coffee, but are wildly different products.
I was just giving you a hard time and trying to be slightly funny at the same time. It is kind of what I do.4 -
anthocyanina wrote: »Here's the difference nutritionally:
Cocoa powder has had the cocoa butter removed. As a result, the fat that remains is negligible.
100% pure chocolate has both cocoa butter & solids. It has substantially more fat than cocoa powder.
You want a bar made for eating, not baking. Montezuma's Absolute Black is a 100% chocolate bar, made with only cocoa solids, butter, and nibs (broken up bits of cocoa bean). Trader Joe's carries them and they're amazing.
If you appreciate really dark chocolate and black coffee, you might like it. Sugar and milk tends to mask the various flavors in chocolate (as well as in coffee). With low quality beans, you need that. Good beans need little to no embellishment.
I've found that when I crave chocolate, it takes only a square or two of good 90-100% chocolate to satisfy the craving, whereas with milk chocolate or even regular dark chocolate (~60% range) I have to eat a LOT more before the craving stops.
I have tried the 90%+ eating chocolates, and man, I just can't do it. But then I don't like even really fresh, good quality coffee black (needs some cream!) so I guess it's just a flavor profile I'm not into
The 60-70% dark chocolate though does for me what the more serious stuff does for you - one or two squares with a cup of tea and I'm good. And then I have the M&Ms for when I need sweeter!
OP, the problem with chasing individual foods for their "benefits" is that nutritional studies are tough to pin down causality. You can't lock people in a lab for 5 years controlling every aspect of their diet so that you know the only real difference between group A and Group B is cocoa powder, or chia seeds, or blueberries. All it can tell you is that people who tend to have more of this food in their diet (assuming those people are accurately reporting their diet which is a big assumption) tend to have a lower risk of this or that. So your best bet is to enjoy a varied diet with lots of nutritious foods and don't sweat the small stuff.
And I think you might have misjudged the amount of powerlifters and bodybuilders around here present company excluded though - I'm neither. 6
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