Enjoy Valentine's Day with Chocolate!

Whether single or taken, treat yourself this Valentine's Day!

*Tips About Dark Chocolate* 

(From Hershey)

-Your best option is dark chocolate that is 60% cocoa, or higher. 

-Rich, full-bodied chocolate with less sweetness and no milk flavor

 -Can improve cardiovascular health (in moderation!).

-Natural flavanol antioxidants (like green tea and blueberries)

-Flavanols enhance blood flow, help cholesterol levels, and reduce blood pressure

-2 Tbs of natural cocoa antioxidants=3.5 cups of green tea

-2 Tbs of natural cocoa antioxidants=1 1/3 glasses of red wine

-2 Tbs of natural cocoa antioxidants= 3/4 cup blueberries

-Contains natural fat from cocoa beans

-Types of fats: oleic acid (good), stearic acid (saturated, but not as harmful as other saturated fats)

-Contains theobromine: closely related to caffeine with a small diuretic action

-The darker, the more caffeine

-Cocoa helps skin health

Enjoy your dark chocolate this Valentine's Day by dipping fruit in melted dark chocolate, mixing dark chocolate chips with berries, mix in yogurt or milk, choose dark chocolate brownies, eat it plain, or use your imagination! Below is my quick, yummy, and healthy dessert with strawberries, raspberries, and dark chocolate chips.  Push the chocolate chips into the center of the raspberry and it tastes like a chocolate covered raspberry!!

*Watch your portions when enjoying that candy*

-1 snack size snickers= 80 calories, 8g sugar

-1 Peanut Butter Cup= 110 calories, 11 g of sugar

-1 Dark chocolate bliss square= 35 calories, 3 g sugar

- 1 Tbsp. Semisweet Chocolate Chips= 70 calories, 8 g sugar

-1 Nestle Butterfinger heart= 40 calories, 5g Sugar