It’s only fair that after learning how to make homemade dark chocolate, the next stop should be knowing the best time to eat dark chocolate for weight loss. If you are like me who normally likes to plan ahead of time when I am following a healthy eating plan, you need to know when you should enjoy your sweet treat without feeling guilty.
To consistently eat clean, I have to plan my breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks a week in advance, so that I don’t end up snacking mindlessly.
When 2020 got out of hand, it meant that I was at home all the time, and eating more than usual (actually ALL the time if I’m being honest). In the beginning, I managed to stock up on the foods that I often eat, but as weeks passed, it became harder to get my hands on most foods, because stores ran out of a lot of basic things.
I knew then that it was time to get creative in the kitchen. I started making my own snacks with the limited ingredients in my pantry. Now, I have so many easy-to-prepare, healthy snacks, and can’t wait to share them all with you.
If you are on a weight loss journey, you are allowed to indulge once in a while. I prefer making my own snacks that are without additives and other chemicals that I can’t even pronounce properly.
How many squares of dark chocolate per day?
While dark chocolate is known to help lower blood pressure and is a great source of antioxidants, you should, as with all good things, eat it in moderation. The recommended amount of dark chocolate that you can have per day is between 2-3 ounces (56g to 85g). If you are eating dark chocolate for health benefits then 1-2 squares are the recommended amount of dark chocolate a day.
Homemade dark chocolate should be stored in the fridge because coconut oil melts at a temperature above below 75 °F (24 °C).
Dark chocolate benefits and what you can add to your homemade chocolate
While I appreciate 100% dark chocolate recipes, I do like a bit of fruit and nut to my homemade dark chocolate.
I made two variations, in one batch I added dried cranberries, while in the other I used pecan nuts and cranberries.
Cranberries
There are a few superfoods that I always have in my home and besides chia seeds, I never run out of dried cranberries. I toss cranberries in overnight oats, my healthy banana split breakfast, salads, and just about anything. Cranberries have lots of health benefits, including anti-inflammatory and rich in antioxidants.
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Pecan nuts
Pecan nuts are good for your health. They help with improving digestion, lowering cholesterol, are high in nutrients, and not to mention that they contain good unsaturated fats which are great for your heart.
You can also substitute cranberries and pecans with orange zest, almonds, or a healthy trail mix for your dark chocolate, as long as you stick to the correct measurements.
Best time to eat dark chocolate for weight loss
Dark chocolate is a good snack to enjoy while still eating healthy. The best time to eat dark chocolate for weight loss should be in the afternoon after you have had a filling meal while waiting for that long stretch before dinner. Time-wise, 4 pm is an ideal time to indulge in your favorite dark chocolate.
How to make chocolate with cocoa powder
Can you believe it? It doesn’t take a lot of ingredients to make homemade dark chocolate. The basic ingredients are unsweetened cocoa powder, coconut milk, and coconut oil.
Both recipes turned out perfectly fine. I would like you to note that I didn’t use any fancy kitchen gadgets.
I used a baking tray for one batch and simple ice trays for the other. I wanted my recipe to be relatable and show you that you can make your own healthy dark chocolate without any unique kitchen tools.
Ideally, you should use maple syrup instead of honey if you want to add a sweetener. I found that honey tends to sink to the bottom of the tray while maple syrup mixes pretty well.
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Ingredients
½ cup cocoa powder
½ cup coconut oil
1/3 cup maple syrup
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
1/3 cup coconut milk
3 tablespoons cranberries or pecans
Method
Roughly chop the pecan or almond nuts.
Melt coconut oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir occasionally to be sure the oil is melting evenly.
Once completely melted slowly stir in the cocoa powder with either a silicon or wooden spoon and stir until smooth.
Slowly beat the milk into the mixture and once mixed add vanilla and maple syrup and mix well.
Remove from stove and add pecans or cranberries to the mixture and stir until evenly coated.
Spoon the mixture into the ice tray to mold or pour on the baking sheet and smooth evenly.
Refrigerate for 1 hour and serve when ready to eat.
Best time to eat dark chocolate for weight loss
This homemade dark chocolate mixes well with maple syrup instead of honey. Honey tends to sink to the bottom of the tray while maple syrup doesn't. You can also substitute cranberries and pecans with orange zest, almonds, or a healthy trail
mix to your dark chocolate, as long as you stick to the correct measurements.
Ingredients
- ½ cup cocoa powder
- ½ cup coconut oil
- 1/3 cup maple syrup
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/3 cup coconut milk
- 3 tablespoons cranberries or pecans
Instructions
- Roughly chop the pecan or almond nuts.
- Melt coconut oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir occasionally to be sure the oil is melting evenly.
- Once completely melted slowly stir in the cocoa powder with either a silicon or wooden spoon and stir until smooth.
- Slowly beat the milk into the mixture and once mixed add vanilla and maple syrup and mix well.
- Remove from stove and add pecans or cranberries to the mixture and stir until evenly coated.
- Spoon the mixture into the ice tray to mould or pour on a baking sheet and smooth evenly.
- Refrigerate for 1 hour and serve when ready to eat.
Notes
If you are on a weight loss journey, you should indulge once in a while. You should make your own homemade dark chocolate than buying snacks with additives and chemicals that we can’t even pronounce properly.
