If you’re anything like me, you understand the importance of delicious, melt in your mouth, warm, delectable, rich chocolate in your life. Chocolate to someone like me is like the air I breathe (in this case a little cheese is necessary), or like a man-can’t live with them, can’t live without them.. Chocolate doesn’t talk back, chocolate understands. Chocolate sees you at your worst, when you’ve been dumped or feeling stressed. Chocolate also sees you at your best, when you’re in love and when you’re being generous. However, I must add, chocolate can be very dangerous.

I ordered chocolate truffles a few days ago, they were delicious I must say, and then I decided to go the super healthy route after that because they were so delicious I literally had a dozen chocolate truffles in a very short period of time and needed a cleanse. Unfortunately I didn’t finish all of them and the remaining ones were sitting next to my desk. They were keeping an eye on me, taunting me, begging me to eat them. They were so convincing, I couldn’t help myself. I started off with just one, one wouldn’t hurt right? Then I had another….and another… and another….until they were gone. I got rid of them………through my mouth! Don’t get me wrong, chocolate can be healthy, if you choose the right kind. My chocolate truffles were definitely the wrong kind, and with winter in full force, a little comfort food makes you feel warmer but it doesn’t leave you.. It stays with you until summer comes around, and then it’s just too late to fit into your bikini and feel confident. To those women who feel confident regardless of their dress size, I take my hat off to you. It’s not easy. If chocolate forms part of your clang, don’t cut it out completely. You’ll end up missing it so much that you’ll overindulge when you get your hands on some of it again. You can, however, try the healthier route and follow these tips:

Add plain cocoa to your low-fat milk or morning oats. Cocoa is low in sugar and fat while offering potential health benefits
Choose dark chocolate over milk chocolate, it has a higher cocoa content than milk chocolate, which contains flavanols to lower blood pressure and improve vascular function.
Choose dark chocolate that contains nuts (if you’re not allergic to them of course) These nutritional powerhouses are packed with heart-healthy fats, protein, vitamins, and minerals.
When faced with choosing which chocolate to buy, buy the smaller portion. When it’s done, it’s done, right? Compared to buying a chocolate slab and eating it piece by piece. Knowing me, I’ll finish the whole slab in a night. As much as I’d like to sound disciplined when it comes to chocolate, I can’t leave a chocolate slab alone. Don’t torture yourself.
Try Annique’s Chocolate Lifestyle Shake. It contains antioxidants to help remove ageing and disease-causing free radicals from the body (vitamins A, C and E, and nicotinamide); helps with stress control with the perfect combination of B-vitamins to support heart-health; calcium absorption is supported with vitamin D3 and is, therefore, ideal for the aged or people who are often restricted to indoor activities; helps to increase metabolism with vitamin B-complex. Increases energy levels and promotes weight loss; helps to control PMS and swelling of limbs during menstruation. If you wish to lose weight or go on a 20 day cleansing diet course you may replace your meals with the Annique Shake.
Make a face mask: Mix cacao with some coconut water (or just clean water) and brush all over your face and neck for soft, firm skin.
Try fruit dipped in melted dark chocolate as an alternative snack. You win both ways!

Chocolate can be healthy if you know how to use it right. Don’t wait until summer comes around to start making healthier choices, you’ll end up regretting your choices during winter. Most importantly though, don’t cut out chocolate completely. Live a little, enjoy your chocolatey treats and know how to use them to your benefit <3