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Low-Cal (to No-Cal) Ways to Satisfy Your Chocolate Cravings

FitSugar — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 00:03:41 PST

It's the time of year when chocolate is everywhere. They say you are what you ~~wear~~ eat, so I must be bittersweet. While I believe a little dark chocolate here and there is good for the soul and your health (here are some surprising health benefits of the chocolate), some chocolate cravings run deep. Here are seven ways to scratch your chocolate itch without piling on the calories and literally wearing your chocolate.

5 Strange Ways Chocolate Keeps You Healthy

Prevention — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 04:02:26 PST

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Prevention here on FitSugar!

This sweet treat may also boost brainpower, help you relax, and more!
By Mara Betsch, Prevention

Show your heart some love this Valentine’s Day by nibbling a few chocolates - and making them a regular treat throughout the year. A recent study found that those consuming the highest levels of chocolate had a 37 percent reduction in cardiovascular disease and a 29 percent reduction in stroke compared to those with lower chocolate intakes.

Though experts are quick to clarify that we should stick to moderate consumption of high-calorie chocolates, it’s hard to deny the cold, hard facts that chocolate can be a healthy addition to our diets.

Seven Surprising Ways to Sharpen Your Mind

Hundreds of studies have shown that dark chocolate is packed with antioxidants that promote heart health and may prevent many cardiovascular-related conditions, but we’ve dug up five more surprising health benefits. Read on for five new ways to justify your chocolate craving.

1. Chocolate May Help You With Math
Flavonols, compounds in chocolate with antioxidantlike properties, are thought to improve circulation, including blood flow to the brain. A 2009 study asked participants to count backward in groups of three from a number between 800 and 999. After drinking hot cocoa filled with flavonols, the participants were able to do calculations more quickly and accurately and were less likely to feel tired or mentally drained.

Learn a four more things chocolate can do for you after the break.

What 100 Calories Really Looks Like: Valentine's Day Treats

Jenny Sugar — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 17:58:01 PST

The day of love is almost here, and besides exchanging Valentine's Day cards and romantic glances, this is a huge day of sweets. We're talking boxes of chocolate, heart-shaped sugar cookies, and other decadent treasures. You should definitely enjoy some bites of your favorite desserts, but before you do, find out how many calories those little bites will run you.

A Basic Primer on Chocolate Types

Katie Sweeney — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 11:15:19 PST

Although chocolate may seem like a basic ingredient, in reality, it's somewhat complex. From milk content to sweetness to cacao percentage, there's a lot that can vary.

The first thing to understand is the ratio of cacao to sugar. A chocolate that's 60 percent cacao contains 40 percent sugar. The more cacao a chocolate contains, the less sugar it has and the darker it is.

To get a breakdown of the different types of chocolate and how much sugar, cacao, and milk they have, keep reading.

Show True Love: Make Chocolate-Covered Chicharrones

Susannah Chen — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 07:42:37 PST

Of all the crazy chocolates I've seen - among them, wasabi pea chocolate and soy-sauce-flavored Kit Kat - the most intriguing I tried was Xocolatl de David's Chicharrón Chocolate Bar. I loved the concept of crunchy mixed into smooth, savory blended with sweet, and yet I found myself wishing for more pork rind.

That's when I dreamt up my perfect chocolate snack: Chicharrónes, or deep-fried pig skins, halfway hand-dipped into semisweet chocolate. The result is simple perfection. Smoky, porky, cheese puff-like awesomeness commingled with just the right amount of smooth chocolate. Any omnivorous man (or woman) would be crazy not to love this. Get the recipe now.

20 Surprisingly Healthy Chocolate Recipes

Leta Shy — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:14:29 PST

Chocolate doesn't have to be a guilty pleasure. In fact, it can be downright good for you! This Valentine's Day, give the gift of decadence without guilt; check out these recipes that will satisfy chocolate cravings without the added calories.

Name That Chocolate's Filling!

Susannah Chen — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 09:15:24 PST

When it comes to a box of chocolates, you probably want to know what you're going to get - regardless of whether or not it's a parable for life. After all, there's nothing worse than expecting a caramel-filled bon bon, only to find it's stuffed with something called "tutti frutti." Well, practice makes perfect. To nail your favorite chocolates and their fillings, I'm putting you on the spot with a pop quiz! I've opened a box of Valentine's Day truffles from See's Candies. Can you guess what's inside of each of these chocolates? There's only one way to find out.

Question 1 of 10

The filling is:

Say "I Love You" With Nutella Pound Cake

Lauren Hendrickson — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 05:20:43 PST

Valentine's Day is the perfect time to make sweet treats for the ones we love, and since my love is a chocoholic, I get to try out a couple of new chocolate recipes every February. This month: a decadent Nutella pound cake that will make your sweetheart swoon.

Traditionally a pound cake is exactly that: one pound each of the essential ingredients - flour, sugar, eggs, and of course, butter. The cake is pretty easy to make even for a beginner baker, and the key is to never overmix the pound cake batter. You can either layer the Nutella and cake batter to create a swirled, marbled effect or fold the chocolate hazelnut spread into the cake batter entirely.

This is a dense cake, so use the toothpick trick to see if it is baked completely. Resist the urge to cut into the cake right away and be sure to let it cool for at least 20 minutes, otherwise the cake might start break apart as it cools. To serve, sprinkle with cocoa powder and pour a tall glass of cold milk. If you have a chocoholic or Nutella fiend in your life, keep reading for the recipe.

Chocolate-Covered Strawberries in No Time at All

Camilla Salem — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 15:11:42 PST

If there's one thing I could eat every day, it's chocolate and fruit. Chocolate-covered strawberries are one of those decadent desserts that people save for special, romantic occasions, but I don't really understand that. This technique for dipping your strawberries in melted chocolate is so simple, it can and should be enjoyed regularly. While many recipes tell you to melt chocolate and butter together, I find that the chocolate chips melt perfectly on their own and I like to keep things as simple as possible. I use semisweet chocolate chips, but feel free to use whatever your taste buds prefer. Click through to follow along.

M&M's Unveils a Brand-New Brown

Camilla Salem — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 11:49:11 PST

Time to share the spotlight, Green M&M - there's a new candy in town: Ms. Brown.

The new gal on the block (and sixth M&M color) was unveiled at two events on Monday - one at M&M's World in New York and another at The Grove in LA, with none other than Neil Patrick Harris on hand to unveil the latest M&M's character.

With her trendy thick-rimmed glasses and witty smirk, Ms. Brown joins the Green M&M to form a kick-butt girl power duo amongst a band of male characters (red, yellow, blue, and orange). She's set to make her speaking debut on Super Bowl Sunday. If Ms. Brown's anything like how NPH described her - "kind of feminine," "smart," and "savvy" - then we can't wait to welcome her to the (24-count candy) pack.

What do you think of the new hue? Are you excited for a new M&M's color?