Last weekend I had a party to celebrate the release of my new CD: The Healthy Habits Approach to Mindful Eating. A fun part of the party was tasting different dark chocolates – in a mindful way, of course.
I set out four plates with different kinds of dark chocolate. The only rule was that it had to be 70% or more cocoa. Two types were the thin- bars and two were thick chunks.
I had a little form that helped tasters eat the chocolate mindfully. It included questions like noticing the aroma, mouth-feel as it melts in your mouth, the initial taste, any changes in taste, and sweetness.
It was a fun activity. Blind tasting and comparing gets you to really pay attention to the details. There was a lot of discussion as everyone compared their notes after tasting. Trader Joes Dark Pound Plus chocolate may have gotten the most votes, but tastes varied and everyone’s preferences were different.
The least favorite was the Lindt bar with 85% cocoa. It has the lowest sugar level, and sure enough most people found it a little bitter. The Divine dark chocolate tasted the sweetest, even though the sugar level of the three ~70% cocoa bars was pretty similar.
I didn’t sample Dove’s dark chocolate – which I know has more sugar. I usually recommend finding a brand with reasonably low sugar levels. I think American brands may tend to run sweeter (that may say something about our national sweet-tooth!)
Choose chocolates with low sugar levels because higher sugar levels make you want more. I notice a big difference even between bittersweet (60%) and dark chocolate (at least 70%), although interestingly I’ve gotten so I don’t even like the sweeter chocolate anymore.
I also notice a difference between plain chocolate and chocolate with nuts or fruit. Once I start chewing, I want more. When I can let it melt in my mouth I’m more satisfied.
What I think is the best thing about dark chocolate is that it feels like an indulgence and yet a small amount is enough. When I indulge in other sweets, it’s hard to stop: the more I eat the more I want.
I often recommend dark chocolate to my clients. It doesn’t work for everyone, but I’ve had people tell me that it solved their constant craving for a treat. Especially when eaten mindfully!
The mindful chocolate tasting was fun. You can do your own. Compare brands and see what you like best. Just eat a small amount at a time, and eat it mindfully.
For more nutrition information, my Mindful Eating CD and my monthly newsletter on my website: www.HealthyHabitsCoach.com. Eat well!
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