Craving chocolate? If so, you’re not alone!  Sure, we are registered dietitians, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have a sweet tooth for chocolate too! 

Some days, after the kids have gone to sleep, it’s nice to indulge in a small chocolate treat.  Although remembering that moderation is key, indulging in small portions is wonderful, as it helps to prevent us from feeling deprived and it prevents us from wanting to dive into an entire chocolate cake!

And the great news is there are even some benefits of chocolate!

Dark chocolate offers the most benefits. Look for dark chocolate that has at least 70% cacao listed in the ingredients, this is the healthier stuff –thanks to its powerful antioxidants which can help to protect the heart. In fact, dark chocolate actually offers UV protection from the sun thanks to its flavonoid antioxidants.

Another fun fact: Eating chocolate can make you feel happier and less stressed! But if you’re like us, you’ve most likely witnessed this yourself and don’t need research to tell you that a little bit of chocolate can make you feel happier :).

Get your chocolate fix with this easy, healthy chocolate shake recipe!

Ingredients

• 1 cup non-fat milk or soy milk
• 1 very ripe banana
• 1 tbsp. cocoa powder
• 1 tbsp. almond butter
• 1 tsp. honey (optional)
• 1.5 cups ice

Directions

Add all ingredients in blender Blend until desired thickness. Enjoy!

Makes 2 servings and each shake has only 150 calories!

What are ways you’ve eaten dark chocolate ?