A wonderful comfort food that is also good for you, want to know more?
Chocolate and chocolate products are made from the beans of the cacao tree. Cacao beans and cocoa beans are names that can be used interchangeably. Here are 5 health benefits from eating raw cacao products:
• 40 Times the Antioxidants of Blueberries.
• Highest Plant-Based Source of Iron.
• Full of Magnesium for a Healthy Heart & Brain.
• More Calcium than Cow’s Milk.
• A Natural Mood Elevator and Anti-Depressant.
If you are choosing dark chocolate go for products with at least 70 per cent cocoa solids, they have more antioxidants and you will probably eat less due to the intense flavour.
Why not make your own?
Chocolate recipe
50g cacao butter – melted
2 tbs cacao powder
2 tbs maple syrup
Stir carefully to combine all ingredients
Plain chocolate – pour into moulds and refrigerate until solid
Filled chocolate – pour chocolate into mould to cover only the bottom, refrigerate until set then add your filling and fill the rest of the mould with chocolate and refrigerate until solid.
Filling suggestions
Whole nut of your choice
Soft filling suggestions
Peanut butter 1 tbs, 1 tsp honey, dash of salt – stir well and form small balls
Hazel nut or cashew ground 3 tbs, 1 tbs chocolate, 1 tbs maple syrup– stir well and form small balls