First, Vince has decided we need a little dark chocolate. For him, it’s for health benefits. For me, it’s torture. I don’t like chocolate to start with and that 85% dark chocolate is almost unbearable for me. He says we need 1 oz. at least 3 times a week. 1 oz. is a LOT of chocolate for someone who doesn’t like it. I go outside and eat mine, just in case I can’t get it down and have to spit it out. Maybe I’ll learn to like it but I doubt it. We had it today so I’m thinking we can wait til Tuesday to do it again.
Breakfast
Four mornings in a row we’ve had oatmeal. Five weeks and two days and I can have my cholesterol re-checked.
Dinner
This is actually a small plate! We’re not eating nearly so much these days and this was before I was forced to eat that horrible bitter chocolate. It’s strawberry balsamic chicken and . . more oatmeal. I had forgotten all about Savory Mushroom Thyme Oatmeal.
This meal took a little longer to prepare than what we’ve been having but it was a nice change from a salad and 3 oz. of meat.
Emma says
Salt will make the bitter much more bearable. I know you’re trying to limit sodium but maybe you could find a sea salt dark chocolate bar and then only eat it on days where your sodium is on the low end? My husband absolutely hates dark chocolate but we found that he LOVES the sea salt dark chocolate bars we found at our Aldi. The nutrition facts say that a serving (50g, so about 1.7 oz) only has 85g of sodium (4%DV).
Wanda says
Judy to you use a water softner? If so you may be getting salt via that too . Just thinking soon the differentiate to lower salt/fluid. We’ll switched to bottled water with not salt usdd.
Judy Laquidara says
We do have a water softener but don’t drink the tap water. I bring in a jug of water from our outside tap for cooking and drinking and it hasn’t been through the softener.
Cindy says
If I have to eat dark chocolate to be healthy, I will just have to be unhealthy.
Judy Laquidara says
Another day or so and I may agree with you.
Paula says
I love dark chocolate and even I don’t like the 85% stuff. It’ like eating cocoa powder! Can’t you just say no to it? Think of the calories you’ll save. :0)
Judy Laquidara says
That’s exactly what I said . . I could eat cocoa powder as easily as I can eat this stuff.
Sherrill says
Ha!! I way rather eat chocolate than a lot of the other healthy stuff!! Years ago, Frank and I decided to drink red wine for health benefits. He liked it because he was Italian and grew up on wine. I can’t stand wine (except for a little Moscato) and I had to drink mine holding my nose. So I know what you’re going thru eating the chocolate.
Judy Laquidara says
Oh, I’m the same way with wine. I usually turn it up and drink the whole glass at once and get it done.
Diane in CA says
I’m sure there are lots of foods that are good for you that you don’t eat, so why torment yourself eating chocolate?
I love chocolate and I won’t eat that 85% stuff.. Just say no !!
Judy Laquidara says
It really is a “superfood” with a lot of potential. I learned a long time ago that some things, even though briefly painful, are worth the effort. I can withstand a few minutes of nastiness for the health benefits.
Donna says
I hated dark chocolate too but now I cannot eat milk chocolate. It tastes way too sweet. I buy the 70% and just a square stratifies my sweet tooth.
Judy Laquidara says
That’s what I’m thinking. I’ve done this once. Maybe after a week or so, it will be better.
Susan McC says
Have you considered sitting down with a registered dietician to help you get on track with healthy menus?
Judy Laquidara says
He will get some food guidance when he starts cardiac rehab but, no, I haven’t considered a dietician.
Susan says
Not sure if you’re still eating yogurt, but shaving it as a topping might make it a little better
Judy Laquidara says
Are you saying . . ruin my yummy yogurt with chocolate? 🙂
Liz says
Check out ways to use 100% cocoa in cooking. The taco seasoning mix I sent you has cocoa as an ingredient and mole sauce usually has cocoa. I remember eating a great chili and was told the “secret” ingredient was chocolate.
I remember watching some food show with Rick Bayless where he discussed the different types of chocolate and the uses in cooking. I think the show was called Mexico:One plate at a time.
Play “hide the chocolate” just like moms would play “hide the veggies”.
Liz says
Also – check out turmeric as a beneficial spice used in Asian food. It also has anti-inflammatory benefits.
Judy Laquidara says
We’ve been taking tumeric every day for several years.
Joyce says
I LOVE dark chocolate, the darker the better. The 72% is my favorite, but the 80% isn’t bad. You can just send it to me and say you ate it… ;^)
Diana Edwards says
The strawberry chicken looks great…..is there a recipe? Thanks
Liz says
The recipe is from Natalie Perry’s The Big Book of Paleo Slow Cooking. She has a website PerrysPlate dot com. There is a table on her website to convert the slow cooker times to Instant Pot. This recipe is not on the website.
I sent Judy a copy of the recipe to show her the low amount of sodium that is used in these recipes. I am hesitant of posting the exact recipe on a website.
But, it is an interesting cookbook. She uses a lot of fruits, veggies, herbs & spices in the recipes. She is also a poster on The Pioneer Woman website.
Joyce in Oregon says
Judy, my husband swears by flaxseed to lower his cholesterol. His numbers were the best ever this last visit. I think he takes 2800 mg a day. I’ve been trying to take a smaller pill and smaller amount. His pills would choke a horse! 🙂
Linda in NE says
Personally I love dark chocolate, but if you don’t like it there’s no reason you should have to eat it. Anyway, this year’s super food will most likely be next year’s poison. The real poison is the cholesterol drugs.
April Reeves says
I’m doing low carb (keto in particular) and I decided the other day in the store that the dark chocolate wasn’t worth the carbs. But after this post, I decided yes it is. I need my chocolate and I don’t even mind if it is dark chocolate. I ended up getting 90% and I can eat a square a day. Nice to know I am being healthy eating chocolate. It is so good to to me so feel free to pretend to eat it and mail it off to me. lol.
Funny story, my 8 yr old son who likes to cook, grabbed the cocoa out of the pantry last week and proclaimed he wanted to make something with it. His face when he tasted it raw was so funny. We ended up making chocolate pancakes by adding it to the mix and some sugar. He declared it perfect! Funny how his cooking is so amazing to him and mine not so much.
Rebecca in SoCal says
I remember you grew some turmeric; are you still harvesting you own? I have a friend who took turmeric pills after some research, but it repeated on her so badly she gave it up.
I second the vote for a lower percentage chocolate! If you don’t dread eating it, it will be easier to get the benefits. You could even say you’re getting used to it to maybe up the percentage in the future (if you meet resistance).
Janice says
I think you get good health benefits from the 70%. Try Lindt 70%, it’s my favourite 80+% is just too bitter.