Six Healthier Ways to Satisfy Your Chocolate Cravings

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For some of us, nothing satisfies quite like chocolate. In fact, surveys show that for women chocolate ranks as the #1 most craved food.  But with bikini season right around the corner, can you indulge in chocolatey treats without blowing your diet? Here are 6 ideas to satisfy your chocolate urge — all under 200 calories and some with real nutritional benefits.  So boldly go forth, and enjoy the occasional chocolatey treat… and may Portion Control be with you! Author’s Note: All of the following are my honest-to-goodness recommendations from years of experience as a chocoholic — and RD! These are not paid endorsements.

Chocolate Covered Frozen BananasChocolate-Dipped Frozen Bananas

A little bit of chocolate goes a long way… especially if it’s paired with frozen bananas! This is one of my all-time favorite ways to get a chocolate fix.  I had my first taste of this delicious sweet treat several years ago at The Canyon Ranch Resort and Spa in Tuscon, Arizona.  Some recipes are very heavy on the chocolate or add lots of extra calories with coconut shavings and nuts.  If you keep it simple, you can make yours so that they satisfy in under 150 calories.  Plus a banana counts toward your daily servings of fruit! Check out the recipe here.

Oikos Organic Greek Yogurt ChocolateOikos Organic Greek Nonfat Yogurt – Chocolate Flavor!!

For years I never understood why yogurt companies couldn’t seem to invent a truly tasty chocolate-flavored yogurt.  Then one day I heard about Oikos Organic Greek Yogurt: chocolate variety!  It was love at first bite! This is a rich, chocolatey treat you really can feel good about.  The 4-oz. serving contains 10 grams of filling protein, is a good source of calcium, and no fat.  All this in just 110 calories!  I love this product!  No more need to dive into that bowl of bikini-busting chocolate ice cream when you can get a chocolate fix this good.

Raisinets Milk ChocolateRaisinets

Like a lot of people, I fell in love with Raisinets at the movies. But they’re not just for the theatre.  They are my go-to treat when I’m on-the-go and a chocolate craving hits.  The  1.58-ounce single serve bag has less than 200 calories and, since they’re made with juicy California Raisins, they also count towards your daily fruit servings!  Plus they have about 30% less fat than other leading chocolate brands. And for dark chocolate lovers they have Dark Chocolate Raisinets too!

Kozy Shack Chocolate PuddingKozy Shack Pudding

When it’s a creamy, chocolatey treat that you crave, consider Kozy Shack Chocolate Pudding.  They come in great portion-controlled 6-packs with just 110 calories per individual pudding cup. They’re a good source of calcium and made without preservatives or hydrogenated oils. This is truly a tasty and satisfying treat.

Chocolate Covered StrawberriesChocolate Covered Strawberries

Chocolate + Strawberries… what’s not to love?  This is another virtually guilt-free chocolatey treat.  Studies show that strawberries may help prevent certain cancers and heart disease and help us age more healthfully.  And did you know that a serving of strawberries has more vitamin C than an orange? For a fantastic recipe, check out the California Strawberries website.

Skinny Cow Dreamy Clusters Dark ChocolateSkinny Cow Dreamy Clusters

Sometimes I get hit with not just a chocolate craving, but a chocolate and caramel craving!  It used to be hard to satisfy this one without totally breaking the calorie bank. But now thanks to Skinny Cow we have Dreamy Clusters.  They are super tasty, available in both milk and dark chocolate, and come in 120 calorie pouches.

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http://appforhealth.com/2014/03/healthy-ways-to-satisfy-your-chocolate-craving-without-blowing-your-diet/

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Comments

  2. Some people get away with indulging in a modest sweet every day. Not me.

    I find when I want/need to take the edge off a craving for sweet I reach for a small piece of the most delicious pure dark chocolate. No fat free, sugar free or highly processed concoction. Quality can trump quantity.

    Timing is important. The metabolic fallout seems to be less if I time my treat right after a protein rich meal. Frequency also counts. I don’t tumble into craving more and more if I don’t indulge every day.

    Compulsive eaters or those who identify with being addicted to sweets often can’t imagine enjoying “some”. I suspect a complex metabolic dynamic at play. Sometimes people are able to quit “cold turkey”; others need to wean themselves more slowly. Many people give up because they don’t understand how the process works. They feel defeated every time they give into a craving. They are soon overwhelmed.

    Self regulation and resilience are key to navigating sweets and other treats in our abundant and adulterated food environment. From indulgent food behavior to extremely rigid approaches, the range of eating patterns is wide. My goal is to help people develop a functional approach to food–and the treats that trip them up–that works.

  3. Hi Bonnie,
    Thank you for your insightful comments. I agree that for some people, enjoying “some” is not an option.
    Katherine

  4. I’ve been going to hot chocolate for my craving. I make it hot so I really have to take my time to enjoy it, and very filling.
    I want to try that yogurt, thanks for sharing!

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