This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

Go Dark for Valentine's Day – Chocolate, That Is

Dark chocolate is not only delicious, but may also be beneficial to your health.

Do you have sweet spot for the sweet stuff on Valentine’s Day? Chocolate and Valentine’s Day go together like pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving or champagne on New Year’s. It’s a celebration treat doled out with love, affection — and sweetness, says Lisa Eaton Wright, wellness coordinator for Moraine Valley Community College and media spokesperson for the Illinois Dietetic Association.

The latest research suggests dark chocolate is the way to go, Eaton Wright said. The magic ingredient in dark chocolate is flavanols — a naturally occurring substance found in plants that boost chocolate’s antioxidant action. These antioxidants help defend our body’s cells against damage caused by free radicals formed through normal body processes, like breathing — or they protect cells from environmental contaminants like cigarette smoke. Antioxidant-rich flavanols are concentrated in raw cacao beans, the basis for all things chocolate.

Let thy guilt be gone 

Find out what's happening in Lemontwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

According to Eaton Wright, while chocolate tastes sinfully sweet and delicious, a growing number of studies show that antioxidant-rich dark chocolate is actually beneficial to your health.  Some studies suggest chocolate may lower blood pressure, improve blood flow, lower cholesterol and help with insulin regulation.

“Go ahead, indulge in a few ounces a week, but just remember to focus on the dark stuff,” Eaton Wright said.

Find out what's happening in Lemontwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Buyer beware

Chocolate lovers should remember that not all forms of chocolate contain high levels of flavanols. In fact, Eaton Wright said, the more cocoa is processed, the more flavanols are lost.  You end up getting very little cocoa content and loads of sugar. As the cacao percentage goes up, the amount of sugar goes down. Cacao percentage is the percentage of the components of the cacao bean that are in chocolate, she explained. The higher percentages have a more intense chocolate flavor. Dark milk chocolate, which is milk chocolate with a higher than normal cacao percentage, usually ranges between 38 and 42 percent.

When selecting dark chocolate, you want that number to be 65 to 70 percent or higher, Eaton Wright said. Cacao percentage can usually be found on the front of the package.

Calories still count … darn

Chocolate comes with calories, in addition to those antioxidants. 

“In small amounts, chocolate can be part of a heart-healthy lifestyle, but don’t forget about the calories,” Eaton Wright warns.

The darker the chocolate, the better for heart health — but those flavanols don't cancel out high calories. Eaton Wright recommends checking labels for calorie counts and serving sizes. (A typical chocolate bar contains 200 to 300 calories.)

And while dark chocolate offers a way to satisfy your sweet craving with fewer calories, one piece of premium chocolate in that Valentine’s Day heart-shaped box can still have up to 70 calories. So go ahead, indulge in a dark chocolate treat and savor its sweetness – in small amounts.

Try this delicious, decadent chocolate desert and share it with your Valentine:

Dark Chocolate Meringue Drops

Ingredients

  • 5 ounces bittersweet chocolate (60-75 percent cacao), divided
  • 2 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder (preferably Dutch-process), sifted after measuring if lumpy
  • 3 Tbsp. cocoa nibs, (see Shopping tip), optional
  • 1/3 cups egg whites (about 3 large), at room temperature
  • 1/2 tsp. cream of tartar
  • 1/2 cups sugar, divided (use 1-1/2 teaspoons less if cocoa nibs are omitted)
  • 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract 

Directions

  1. Position racks in upper and lower thirds of oven; preheat to 350°F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper and coat the paper with cooking spray.
  2. Coarsely chop 3 ounces of chocolate and place in a small microwave-safe bowl. (Alternatively, see “No Microwave?” below.) Microwave on medium for 1 minute. Stir, then continue microwaving on medium, stirring every 20 seconds, until mostly melted. Stir until the remaining chocolate melts completely.
  3. Chop the remaining 2 ounces chocolate into pieces the size of mini chocolate chips. Combine in a small bowl with cocoa and cocoa nibs (if using).
  4. Combine egg whites and cream of tartar in a clean medium mixing bowl. Beat with an electric mixer on low for 30 seconds, then at medium speed until soft peaks start to form. Immediately add about 2 tablespoons sugar; beat for 1 minute. Slowly, about a tablespoon at a time, add the remaining sugar, then vanilla, continuing to beat on medium speed until the mixture is smooth, opaque, glossy and thickened, about 2 minutes longer. Scrape down the sides of the bowl, raise the speed to high, and beat for 30 seconds more. Lightly fold in the chocolate-cocoa mixture and the melted chocolate just until evenly incorporated and no streaks remain; do not over mix. Immediately drop the batter by rounded teaspoonfuls about 1 inch apart onto the prepared baking sheets.
  5. Bake the cookies, switching the pans back to front and top to bottom halfway through, until just firm when gently pressed on top but still soft inside, 8 to 12 minutes. Transfer the pans to wire racks and let stand for 1 to 2 minutes. Then slide the paper from the pans to a flat surface and let the cookies cool completely, about 15 minutes. Gently lift the cookies from the parchment paper using a wide-bladed spatula.

Tips and Notes

  • These cookies are best enjoyed fresh, but can be stored flat with wax paper between layers in an airtight container for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 weeks. Thaw before serving.
  • If you add the optional cocoa nibs to the batter, the flavor-texture combination will be even more interesting and complex. Nibs, which are bits of roasted and hulled cocoa beans, are crunchy and have a pure (unsweetened) chocolate taste. Some brands of nibs are coarser than others. For these cookies, the nibs should be the size of finely chopped nuts. If necessary, simply chop them to obtain the right consistency.

Nutrition Per cookie: 28 calories; 1 g fat ( 1 g sat , 0 g mono ); 0 mg cholesterol; 5 g carbohydrates; 0 g protein; 0 g fiber; 4 mg sodium; 10 mg potassium.

Published at EatingWell.com

Editor's note: The information above is from a press release by Lisa Eaton Wright.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?