7 Healthy Chocolate Treats to Enjoy on Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day is quickly approaching, which can only mean one thing: It’s chocolate season. Now, many people would argue chocolate is great year-round, and they would be correct. But come February, chocolate flies off shelves at a rapid rate. So, if you find yourself face-to-face with a hundred different options this year, you might as well choose something that tastes great和provides a few health benefits.

When deciding betweenchocolate bars和other treats, the darker the better. Dark chocolate contains antioxidant-rich polyphenols that can benefit the heart by lowering blood pressure.Researchalso suggests cocoa powder may lower (bad) LDL cholesterol and raise HDL cholesterol (the good kind). Look for products that are minimally processed to ensure you’re getting natural ingredients rather than unhealthy fillers. When in doubt, try these seven sweet treats, from packaged chocolate bars to sorbet and spreads.

“Peanuts provide heart-healthy fats and can also help to control blood glucose, and dark chocolate can be cardioprotective,” says nutrition expertLeslie Bonci, RD, MPH. Those are great reasons to pick up someJustin’s Dark Peanut Butter Cupson Valentine’s Day. But most importantly, the all-organic treats are just plain tasty.

“Gelato takes longer to eat than a piece of candy, so you get the gift that keeps on giving,” says Bonci. She suggests坦迪的黑巧克力摩尔贝托，是用真正的可可制成的。它不含乳制品，因此即使您的乳糖智能朋友也可以享受它。如果您想添加浇头，请尝试螺母或切成薄片的浆果，以获取额外的风味和营养。

Think outside the box a little, and you can addthis spread参加情人节庆祝活动。给朋友或亲人的罐子，或将其纳入您的自制零食中。甜和坚果的蔓延是由花生，可可，可可脂，甘蔗糖和少许盐制成的。Bonci说，它在一片坚果面包或水果上很美味，例如多汁的苹果或梨，香蕉或草莓。

Theo来自中美洲，南美和非洲的10个不同国家的高质量可可豆。它的巧克力是经过认证的有机，非转基因，公平贸易和犹太洁食。该品牌在避免大豆和向日葵卵磷脂的同时，使用可可黄油增加了最少的成分。西奥的巧克力有多种口味，但坚持黑巧克力选择，例如Dark Chocolate Sea Salt, for its heart-healthy benefits and lower sugar content.

The chocolate that goes intoAlter Eco productsis sourced from small-scale, fair trade farmers and features organic ingredients with “no weird stuff,” per the brand. Alter sells milk chocolate and dark chocolate bars, truffles and more. Dark chocolate fiends will like the 100% cacao Total Blackout bar or the 90% cacao Super Blackout bar, while those who prefer a sweeter option will likely prefer the 70% options studded with sea salt, almonds or caramel.

You can mix a packet with water to save calories, but Bonci says you get more taste and nutrition with milk, which contains protein and 12 other essential nutrients. Make a batch to enjoy in front of the fire on a cold night, or while watching a movie with your valentine.

如果您想制作自己的甜点，Bonci建议these easy-to-make bites对于不会给您不满的巧克力享受。它们具有迷你黑巧克力片，滑杏仁，李子，干燕麦，脆皮米饭，杏仁黄油，蜂蜜，肉桂和磨碎的橙皮。

For those who choose to celebrate, Valentine’s Day is a fun occasion filled with chocolates and other delicious treats. In moderation, sweets can be part of a healthy diet, so don’t deprive yourself of chocolate. If you want to indulge, these healthier options provide greater nutritional punch than the more processed alternatives.

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