After my last WIAW post, my inbox was filling with some great feedback. Many of RDelicious Kitchen readers were requesting more WIAW posts and some had great nutrition questions in your emails. I enjoy writing these posts and I hope I can share more with you to show that healthy eating doesn’t have to be complicated. Also, keep on sending in your nutrition questions to rdeliciouskitchen@gmail.com. I am happy answer any nutrition questions you may have.
A few sent in e-mails about my little chocolate everyday habit inquiring about if it’s okay to have chocolate/sweets everyday and what are the health benefits of chocolate. As you see along with a healthy day of eats, there is wiggle room for a sweet treat at the end.
I go through a lot of food phases. I get hooked on a certain combo and tend to stick with it until I get bored, or simply run out of it. Enter my latest breakfast for the past few days.
Started out with this lovely coffee. I love when the grounds of the coffee are flavored over the flavored syrups. Perfect balance of sweet and spice.
Lactaid low-fat cottage cheese, pineapple, and kashi go lean crunch (Thanks to Sarah at blog brulee!) Super simple to make in the morning.
Lunch was a salad of mixed greens, feta cheese, and a dried cranberry and nut mix. Looks can be deceiving. This was a really big salad. Plus, on the side my easy deviled eggs.
Mid afternoon I snacked on some watermelon and these pita cranberry & pumpkin seed crisps. Good thing I only packed a small bag of them, because they are addicting. Portion control for the win!
Dinner was roasted chicken, half a sweet potato with a hefty dollop of almond butter, and roasted asparagus.
Then my favorite part of the day.
CHOCOLATE! I had a couple of square of this dark chocolate. I prefer dark chocolate, not only for its health benefits, but I find it has a more decadent flavor.
When consumed in moderation, dark chocolate has health benefits.
It can help prevent heart disease
Dark chocolate contains flavonoids, which are compounds that act as antioxidants. Flavonoids protect cells from harmful molecules (called free radicals) that are produced when the body breaks down food or is exposed to sunlight or smoke. Free radicals can cause cell damage that leads to heart disease. Flavonoids can also lower blood pressure and reduce LDL cholesterol (i.e., the bad cholesterol) by up to 10 percent.
It can improve your mood.
Dark chocolate stimulates the production of endorphins, chemicals in the brain that bring on feelings of pleasure. It also contains the chemical serotonin, which acts as an anti-depressant.
But, of course everything in moderation. I’m not saying go eat a chocolate bar every night, but having a little dark chocolate can help curb your sweet tooth, plus provide health benefits. So, I will stick to my dark chocolate treat every night.
