Here’s a fact: there are few times in a day when I would pass up the temptation of something chocolate. Save for when I first wake up… er… scratch that. Let’s try this again:

There is NEVER a time in the day – not even once, not even a half second – where I wouldn’t want something chocolate. It’s getting to the point where I totally get how Charlie Sheen feels. Mmmhmmm, it’s that bad.

Except, if I gave into my chocolate obsession I wouldn’t just be filling the void in my belly, I would also be filling out my dress. And my jeans. And my swimsuits. In a big, not-so-cute-way. Chocolate chip muffin? Good. Muffin top as a result of chocolate? Not so much.

So in order to keep myself happy, sane and clothed, I’ve resorted to indulging in the good stuff once in a while (I’m talking to you, Sprinkles Cupcakes!) and finding healthy chocolate alternatives to kill my daily (or a few times daily) cravings. It both satisfies the chocolate craving AND the reassurance that my jeans will still fit up over my thighs tomorrow. And those two things are pretty much all the happiness a girl could ask for, right? Well, that and Jason Segel showing up at my doorstep…covered in chocolate. What? A girl can dream.

Anyway, here are my three favorite chocolate-distractions. If you’ve got an unyielding need for the ooey, gooey, creamy goodness of chocolate, these should kick that unhealthy craving to the curb. Read More »

We already know that beer does a body good, but you can’t have alcohol without food, so ditch that late night pizza and indulge some late night chocolate instead.

Here’s why:

Chocolate is good for your heart.

A bar of chocolate helps lower your blood pressure and cholesterol AND reduces your risk of heart disease. Start thinking about these things now, so in 40 years that’s at least two less pills you’ll have to be popping.

Chocolate stimulates endorphins and serotonin.

Endorphins are hormones that give us a sense of pleasure. They’re allegedly released when we exercise (I’m skeptical), and also when we have sex (this, I can believe). Eating chocolate also has the same effect. Serotonin is a natural antidepressant, which may help to explain why we ladies crave chocolate so much when we’re premenstrual.

Chocolate is rich in antioxidants.

Antioxidants are crucial for killing off free radicals that roam around your body trying to wreak havoc on your cells. Cacao, the base substance of chocolate, contains 8 times as many antioxidants as strawberries. (New diet plan: chocolate covered strawberries all the time. Hello, 100th birthday!)

Read More »

Summer is winding down, school is starting up, alumni are still doing the same-sh*t-different-day dance. In summary, the end of August kind of blows. Which is why this week’s Intro to Cooking is throwing nutrition to the wind (sort of), because it’s time for something indulgent!

The Ingredient: Dark Chocolate

In truth, dark chocolate IS good for you. In small servings, it can lower blood pressure, due to its richness in antioxidants. Why the dark stuff, over its milk- and white-chocolate sisters? Researchers think that the milk found in the latter two varieties may temper with the body’s absorption of the healthful nutrients found in pure chocolate.

Easy recipes (do you really need an excuse?)

* Pair a few pieces with a glass of red wine (more antioxidants!) for a refined evening snack.
* Mix 2 tablespoons agave nectar with 1 tablespoon dark cocoa powder for a healthier alternative to chocolate dip, and serve over pieces of apples, raspberries, and bananas.
* Toss some dark chocolate pieces in a baggie with almonds, goji berries, walnuts, and peanuts for an upscale, super-tasty trail mix for those really hectic days.

The Recipe: Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cupcakes
Whoever discovered the combination of chocolate and peanut butter should be given the Nobel Prize, for their contribution to countless moments of decadent dessert bliss. So if you want a cupcake that is truly a religious experience (seriously, just look at that photo), pull out this recipe from Food & Wine, and you’ll be praying to the chocolate gods in no time. Read More »

Everyone wants a set of killer abs. If you have a svelte midsection and you automatically feel healthier and sexier. But are you clocking in hours at the gym and hundreds of crunches a week with no results? There’s a new fad diet out there that’s sending everyone atwitter.

The editors of Prevention magazine have come up with a diet plan that aims to send your excess gut to the gutter…or so it seems.

“The Flat Belly Diet” boasts a flat tummy in 32 days. The flagship website gives you everything you need to get started (read: sh*t you have to buy) including cookbooks (with cupcakes on the cover), exercise DVDs (for the “optional” exercise component), and online subscription program to track your progress. Best of all, what kind of diet would it be without a catchphrase (so you KNOW it works): “A MUFA at every meal!”

What’s a MUFA, you ask? Short for monounsaturated fatty acid, MUFA foods include almonds, peanut butter, olive oil and dark chocolate. The Flat Belly Diet encourages you to eat a serving of one of these foods at every meal. That’s right, glob some peanut butter on your crackers for lunch, and grab some dark chocolate cookies to nosh on with dinner. Does anyone else think this sounds a bit too good to be true?

Just from evaluating the website and the basic diet facts, I don’t feel so confident that the Flat Belly Diet could yield real results. Optional exercise? Chocolate with dinner? It sounds like a recipe for Too-Tight-Jeans-Syndrome, if you know what I mean. Not to mention that the “after” photos of alleged Flat Belly Dieters look like they simply donned a pair of Spanx (see above).

Ladies, what do you think?

[image courtesy of flatbellydiet.prevention.com]

Happy National Chocolate Day! Finally, a holiday for me. I can enjoy a mocha in the morning, some chocolate chip pancakes for lunch, and a chocolate milkshake for snack and not. feel. guilty.

I love October 28th.

In honor of this awesome (and, quite frankly, random) holiday, I decided to throw together some ridiculously good cookies. These little guys are the perfect way to celebrate my new favorite holiday. So, skip class and eat celebrate; it is a national holiday, after all.

Flourless Peanut Butter Chocolate Chunk Cookies.

Whatcha Need:

1 cup organic unsalted peanut butter (doesn’t have to be organic, but, you know…it tastes better if it is)

¾ cup granulated cane sugar

1 large egg, slightly beaten

½ teaspoon baking soda

¼ teaspoon kosher salt

¾ cup dark chocolate, roughly chopped

½ cup roasted unsalted peanuts, chopped Read More »

I’m starting to think that there is some truth to the rule, “You are what you eat.” I think my muffin top would attest to that statement. In general, I stick to a healthy diet (of cupcakes), but when it comes time to crack the books I know that my typical eating habits will affect my scholastic performance. While I usually opt for a bag of M&Ms at the library, I now know that a giant bag of sugar is not the best thing to get me through the hours of cramming.

In contrast, there are foods out there that have been shown to improve memory retention and attention span. Read: The foods I should be eating. I am one who will do anything to pass an exam, even if it means eating my way to better grades. Because what could be better?

Eat? For better grades? Grad school may be for me after all. Read More »

Got 10 minutes? Got 13 bucks? Got frickin’ tastebuds?!

Then, boy, have I got the dessert for you.

Seriously. It’s called Mint Chip Pie and the only downside (the ONLY downside) is how retardedly addictive it is.

So take ten minutes and make this delicious summer dessert. It’s about 5 servings, so invite some friends over…or don’t and have lots of leftovers. Your choice. I won’t tell.

And now, without further ado, I give you:

Mint Chip Pie Read More »

Ladies, let’s talk chocolate.

If I needed to name one food substance I absolutely could not live without, I’m pretty sure it would be chocolate. My weapon of choice is dark chocolate, as dark as possible…I’ve had up to 88% cocoa and thought it was fantastic. Espresso or coffee mixed with dark chocolate is also possibly one of the best things on Earth.

I’m ashamed to admit that I actually believe this, but I think the chocolate I buy has medicinal qualities.

If I have a stomachache, I eat half a square and start to feel better almost instantly. If I’m feeling just crummy in general, even a little nibble can be enough to perk me up. Part of the reason my chocolate is so magical, I think, is because I don’t waste my dollars buying Hershey’s, which is like flavored candle wax to the dark chocolate connoisseur. Hershey’s has recently tried to go all high-class with their Cacao Reserve line, but let’s not kid ourselves. It’s basically the same stuff in more refined packaging.

No, when I spring for chocolate, I spring for the good stuff. Here are a few of my favorites and the reasons why they’re so fantastic. Read More »

And so it is, that time of the month. Being a woman is great, but when PMS meanders into our lives we need to know what to do to subside the pain, bloating and fatigue. Here are some food options to consider. And, by the way… according to my yoga instructor, it isn’t a good time to stand on your head.

Yeah, um, got it.

Dark Chocolate: Enjoy some chocolate and indulge. Organic dark chocolate keep sugar levels in check, which is crucial during the more moody moments.

Sweet Potatoes: These pretty orange numbers are also great for managing blood sugar levels and are more complex than the regular white potatoes in terms of carbohydrates.

Fennel: Never tried it, but I’ve been told if you eat fennel a week before your period begins it works as a great diuretic.

B-vitamins: B-vitamins (potatoes, bananas, and beer[!] are good sources) are great for stress levels and energy. Read More »