“9 out of 10 people like chocolate, the tenth person always lies.”
Come on, nobody actually hates chocolate, am I right?!
Staying away from sweets, especially chocolate, is probably the hardest thing I have to do to stay fit. Chocolate makes everything better. Long day at work? Chocolate will take the exhaustion away. Finished a savory meal? Chocolate can cleanse your palate. Need an instant pick-me-upper? Chocolate will always hit the spot! Chocolate makes everything better!
As glorious as milk chocolate is, we are all well aware that eating too much of it is, inarguably, not good for our overall health. Eating too much chocolate is not good for our teeth, for our sugar levels, and can even cause skin problems like acne. Excessive consumption of chocolate has been linked to gastroesophageal reflux or GERD.
I know, I know, what a huge bummer, right? But what if I tell you right now that I have just the right replacement for it? Yes, you may proceed with cautious optimism. Today, I would like to share with you my latest discovery: ChocZero’s Dark Chocolate Almonds with Sea Salt.
Just writing down its name has already transported me to the times I have “bonded” with this chocolate. Okay, some of you may be skeptical - I understand. Dark chocolate is an acquired taste after all. When I was younger, I was all about the milky, creamy chocolates. But, as time passed, I realized that I was getting sick of it (Sometimes, even literally) and it was not doing my body and health any favors either. That’s when I started exploring other options to get my sweet fix and came across ChocZero’s Dark Chocolate Almonds with Sea Salt.
Made with dark chocolate composed of unsweetened chocolate and cocoa butter, soluble corn fiber which are GMO (genetically-modified organism) free, almonds, sea salt, sunflower lecithin, monk fruit extract, and Madagascar bourbon vanilla beans, ChocZero’s Dark Chocolate Almonds with Sea Salt sugar is free from sugar, alcohol, and artificial sweeteners. It is 100% stone-ground and has low carbohydrates.
So, first things first - the dark chocolate is made 100% stone-ground premium cocoa beans. However, it is bitter all on its own. Now, if this product is sugar-free, how was I convinced to eat it? Why would I eat bitter chocolate? ChocZero’s Dark Chocolate Almonds is sweetened only by monk fruit. Monk fruit extract is actually 250 times sweeter than standard table sugar due to its chemical compound called mogrosides. ChocZero does not use sugar alcohols or any other artificial sweetener. For those of you who are particular about these things, ChocZero’s Dark Chocolate Almonds with Sea Salt is non-GMO, soy-free, gluten-free, and dairy-free.
Let’s get to know ChocZero’s Dark Chocolate Almonds with Sea Salt through its nutrition facts. Each serving will earn you 120 calories. Its total fat is 10 grams - 5 grams of which is saturated fat and you get 0 gram of trans fat. It comes with 120 milligrams of sodium, 15 grams of total carbohydrates, and 1 gram of protein.
I ordered a couple of boxes on my first try (Best believe it when I say it’s the smallest order I placed). When it arrived, I was impressed because it came in those packaging with ice to make sure that it does not melt. Each box contained 6 individually-wrapped chocolate bars.
Personally, I like this packaging because I can control myself. Because if it were just one huge plastic and each chocolate bar is fair game, I’m pretty sure I would finish it all in one sitting.
Upon opening my first pack, I didn’t notice anything unusual. It was, of course, darker than your traditional milk chocolate bars as it was dark chocolate. But in terms of the smell, nothing different. When I tasted it, I was really surprised with the sweetness. Maybe because I was used to having dark chocolate with 72% of dark cacao. I was pleasantly surprised with the right amount of sweetness and chocolatey-ness sans the thick and overpowering taste of sweetness you get in your mouth when you eat milk chocolate. I like how the flavor of the chocolate gradually appeared, then you get a little hint of the sea salt which quashes the chances of you getting sick of it right away. Ultimately, I just wish it came in bigger bars!
Needless to say, I went through half the box effortlessly. It was that good. ChocZero’s Dark Chocolate Almonds with Sea Salt is definitely a guilty pleasure, minus the guilt. I love how it still abides by the diet restrictions I am under. It is Keto and diabetic-friendly. Since sugar and soy are out of the picture, you can rest assured that you get your sweet fix and be able to indulge yourself.
Staying fit and healthy does not mean you have to deprive yourself of the things that make you happy. It’s about knowing how to make the right choices when it comes to what you eat and do and staying committed to them. Remember, your journey to fitness does not stop once the scales tip to your favor - it is a never-ending process you have to see through. With ChocZero’s Dark Chocolate Almonds with Sea Salt, the process will definitely be sweeter.