Alternatives to Super Sweet American Chocolate

Everyone loves chocolate!  There’s just something about that deliciously sweet taste that keeps us wanting more.  Unfortunately, that taste usually comes with high amounts of sugar and saturated fat which are both known to have negative effects on both your health and your appearance. 

The good news is that there are some equally delicious alternatives that can satisfy your sweet tooth without all the negative consequences.  In fact, some of these options even maintain that delicious chocolate taste -- but without the added sugars, fats, and excess calories. 

Alternatives to Decadent Chocolate:

Fruit

If you’re looking for something sweet, fruits have natural sugars but also contain a variety of vitamins and minerals as well as a good amount of fiber to help that sugar absorb more slowly.  Added sugars are harmful to your health, but the natural sugars like those found in fruit like mangoes, pears, grapes, berries, or citrus, can be beneficial.  

Nuts

Chocolate contains magnesium and nitrogen which is sometimes what your body is really craving when you feel like eating some chocolate.  Instead of chowing down on that super sweet treat, try eating some nuts to get those same nutrients.  In fact, many Americans do not get enough magnesium in their diets which can contribute to muscle cramps, fatigue, high blood pressure, and even osteoporosis.  So grab a handful of cashews, almonds, or peanuts and snack away!

High Protein Snack

Sometimes when you yearn for that chocolate taste, what you’re really craving is a snack that will satisfy your hunger and keep you fuller for longer.  Try eating something high in protein like greek yogurt, cottage cheese, protein bars, peanut butter, beef jerky, or eggs.  High protein content can help you sustain your energy levels and keep you from over eating.  

Dark Chocolate

While decadent chocolate is delicious, we also know the downsides of its sweetness.  Dark chocolate, on the other hand, can actually be part of a healthy diet.  If you eat a small amount and choose a kind with a high level of cocoa content (60%+), there will be significantly less sugar and saturated fat in the dessert.  Plus, the high levels of cacao will provide you with antioxidants which help prevent cell damage and can help protect you from a variety of diseases. 

Dateolate

Your best alternative to super sweet American chocolate is Dateolate.  These delicious treats are made with 90% date paste and a delicious chocolate coating.  They give you that same chocolatey taste, but without the added sugar in the filling or excess calories.  Each piece only has 33 calories!  The all-natural sweet date filling provides you with a boost of antioxidants along with that fiber found in fruit that we talked about earlier.  This combined with the natural proteins in the treat gives you that ‘full’ feeling while delivering sustainable energy to your body.  Dateolate chocolates are the world’s first healthy chocolate, still providing you with that luscious sweetness without the guilt!