•  

Dark Chocolate

If you are struggling with your New Year resolutions why not try a little dark chocolate to ease the sweet cravings. Evidence is mounting that small quantities may be good for us, so try these ideas to enjoy chocolate without munching a whole bar…

 

•     Make a choccy chilli

It might seem odd to put chocolate in chilli con carne, but adding a few squares once the sauce is simmering will add depth to the spicy flavour.

 

•     Serve a fruity fondue

Finely chop a bar of dark chocolate into small chunks and put them in a pan with a carton of low-fat custard. Gently heat until the chocolate is completely melted. Remove from the heat, allow it to cool slightly, then serve with a plate of chopped bananas, chunks of pineapple, mango and melon for everyone to dip into.

 

•     Satisfy sweet cereal cravings

You know chocolate-coated cereal is all wrong, but if you find it hard to resist, sprinkle a little grated chocolate over unsweetened muesli or wholegrain cereal – you’ll have the great taste for a fraction of the sugar.

 

•     Sip a dreamy hot choc

Add a splash of cold milk to good quality cocoa powder to make a paste, then stir into a mug of hot milk. This comforting concoction is full of goodness, as it combines antioxidant-rich cocoa with milk, which is a great source of protein, bone-building calcium and a variety of other vitamins and minerals.

 

•     Grate it over dessert

Create the impression of a chocolate-rich dessert by filling a meringue nest with low-fat Greek yogurt, fresh fruit and a grating of dark chocolate. Your taste buds won’t believe this dessert doesn’t have heaps of chocolate running all the way through it.

 

•     Jazz up your oats

For a subtle chocolate fix, add 1tsp good quality cocoa powder to your bowl of porridge in the morning. Top with sliced banana to get the first helping of your five-a-day.

 

•     Splash over a salad

Melt 25g dark chocolate with 100ml balsamic vinegar. Cool at room temperature, then drizzle over a spinach, walnut and goat’s cheese salad.

 

•     Chocolate-coated raisins

Melt a little dark chocolate, then stir in some raisins. Spread on to a piece of greaseproof paper and chill until the chocolate has set.