April 27, 2017 · Written by Foodtolive Team
How to Enjoy Healthy Vegan Chocolate on a Diet
You can have chocolate on a diet, but only if it’s the right kind of chocolate mixed into a well-balanced meal plan. As a vegan, you can enjoy all the healthiest cacao-based treats and the benefits of phytonutrients they contain.
Can You Eat Chocolate on a Diet?
You can eat chocolate while on a diet, and vegan chocolate is usually safe for any meal plan as it contains fewer fats and calories than the highly unhealthy milk chocolate. In fact, some chocolatey treats can contribute to a vegan diet for weight loss because cacao naturally contains catechins. These elements speed up the process of fat burning as well as benefit you in a great variety of ways, such as promoting heart health.
However, you must understand that no matter its type, chocolate is not a low-calorie type of food. It contains a lot of sugar and fats. In vegan chocolate, they come from cocoa butter and agave or maple syrups, which makes it healthier by default. Unfortunately, overindulging in this delicious sweet would still be bad for your figure.
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Therefore, in order to enjoy chocolate on a diet, you must limit the amounts of it. A couple of small pieces every 1-2 days for dessert would be safe if your general meal plan is well-balanced and you are getting regular exercise.
You can also try and get a ‘chocolate fix’ by adding a few spoonfuls of raw cacao powder into your morning smoothie. This product is full of fiber and antioxidants, but low in fats. Most importantly, it has potent flavor and will make the drink taste like chocolate, which will curb your craving for it.
Which Type of Chocolate Is Safe for Your Diet?
You can only have bitter dark chocolate on a diet if you want to minimize the influence of the delicious dessert on your waistline. The good news is that this product is vegan in most cases as it doesn’t contain any dairy fats, like milk chocolate does.
Note that some companies add whey protein or other animal-derived substances to their products. Check the label before buying to make sure you are on the safe side. However, the majority of dark chocolate with over 80% of cacao content is vegan.
There are some commercial vegan chocolates that taste similar to sweeter and milder candy most people are used to. Those usually contain much more sugar and extra fats that come from vegan cream substitutes, so they aren’t diet-friendly.
Enjoy Vegan Chocolate on a Diet: Recipe
Ingredients:
- 1 cup cocoa butter
- 2-5 tablespoons agave nectar or maple syrup
- ½ cup cacao powder (unsweetened)
Instructions:
- Melt cocoa butter using the ‘double boiler’ technique.
- Pour sweetener into the butter while the bowl remains on the ‘boiler’ and whisk until perfectly combined.
- Remove sweetened butter from heat and add cacao powder. Mix until smooth.
- Pour chocolate into cupcake liners and put in the fridge or freezer for 10-15 minutes.
Store your vegan chocolates in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week as it melts quite fast. You can add any flavoring, like vanilla, cinnamon, sea salt, or cayenne pepper to enhance the taste of your dessert. Mix it in alongside cacao powder.
