Best and Worst Chocolate!
Chocolate is a controversial topic and something trainers and nutritionists get a LOT of questions about. Is it healthy, how much is too much, will it pack on the kilos, or will it actually help reduce belly fat? Is eating a little choccy an anti-ageing habit, does it help to reduce cramps and muscle soreness, or are these all just things we say to convince ourselves that eating the stuff after lunch and dinner every day is A-OK?Well, I’ll tell you one thing I know with absolute certainty about chocolate… it may not make the world go ‘round, but it sure does make the trip worthwhile!Also, if you put “eat chocolate” at the top of your “to-do” list, it’s a sure way to get at least one thing ticked off that list, which is a big mental win!In all seriousness though, chocolate does have some great health benefits, if you get the good quality, low sugar version and eat it in small doses.The key is making sure you’re not just eating chocolate flavoured sugar, or inhaling a whole lot of thickeners, additives, soy and dairy solids, sweeteners and chemicals along with your cacao (which, by the way, is the unprocessed and much healthier cousin of cocoa).We’re pretty lucky here in Bondi to have access to a range of boutique health food stores stocking sugar-free, dairy-free, limited ingredient chocolates made with raw cacao and other yummy organic things but if that’s not an option, what’s a gal supposed to do?Today’s Sneaky Nutrition episode covers the brands of chocolate stocked by Australia’s two biggest retail chains; Coles & Woolworths.We’ll tell you which brands we found on the shelves that are decent for you, which are mediocre and which to steer well clear of. We’ll also tell you why.Below is a quick list of the brands we touch on in the vid… watch along for more in-depth info and enjoy the chocolate education in our Big Supermarket Chain Chocolate Hunt!
The Good Guys
- Green & Black’s 85% Organic Dark Choc
- Lindt 85% Dark Choc
- Conscious Organic Raw Choc (85% is the best!)
- The Carob Kitchen (we love ‘carob almond’)
- Vitarium 100% Naturally Sugar Free Drinking Choc
The Not-Too-Nasty
- Cadbury Old Gold 70%
- Green & Black’s 70%
- Well, Naturally No Added Sugar Choc Bars (Stevia sweetened)
The Bad
- Willy Wonka’s Milk Choc
- Cadbury’s Dairy Milk Choc
- Lindt flavoured blocks (yep, including Coconut & Mint Intense… sorry!)
- Nestle Club Dark & Cadbury Old Gold Original
- “Sugar Free” brands containing Maltitol
- Tim Tams (seriously gross ingredients people!)
- Literally ANY flavoured “bars” (snickers, mars, kit-kat, etc)
Note: One of my fave healthy chocolates that ships Australia-wide is panachocolate.com