Sometimes you want something sweet to eat, and although you know fruit would be the smartest choice, you just want something chocolatey and nutty with some nutritional value that won’t wreck your diet. We’d like to share a few of our favorite dark chocolate nutty treats that you can feel good about eating – in moderation of course!
Skinny Dipped Almonds
Skinny Dipped Almonds - Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Almonds are the perfect combination of three of our favorite healthy snack ingredients – almonds, dark chocolate, and peanut butter. This fusion of flavors creates a delicious salty-sweet-chocolatey goodness! These almonds are “skinny dipped” in a very thin coating of dark chocolate and peanut butter - and have just the right amount of sweetness to satisfy that sweet tooth! To add to it, this snack is gluten free, non-GMO, and does not have any artificial sweeteners – no Stevia or sugar alcohols! The hardest part is not eating the whole bag!
What are the benefits of eating almonds as a snack?
All nuts are nutritious, but almonds are especially rich in heart healthy fats – “good” fats that help lower cholesterol. They are high in antioxidants, vitamin E, and magnesium and provide a good amount of fiber and protein to keep you feeling full longer and control blood sugar levels.
πͺππ
Another one of our favorite treats – that also happens to have almonds and dark chocolate are Dove – Silky Smooth Promises - Dark Chocolate & Almond Squares.
Dove dark chocolate is so smooth and creamy you can’t help but be won over by these little squares with almond bits in them - even if you are not a dark chocolate fan!
What are the benefits of eating dark chocolate as a snack?
Dark chocolate with its antioxidants and minerals - including iron, magnesium, copper, and manganese -has been shown to improve your health, lowering the risk of heart disease, improving blood flow, and helping to lower blood pressure. It may also have a positive effect on brain function and mood because it is known to reduce stress hormones. All these exceptional qualities make dark chocolate a perfect addition to a healthy, satisfying snack. No wonder it is recommended to have a serving of dark chocolate every day!
πͺππ
Another wholesome and delicious treat with a smooth dark chocolate – and this time - with peanut butter - are Trader Joe’s Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups.
Trader Joe’s Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups are not only full of peanut buttery chocolatey goodness, but they also do not contain any artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives.
What are the benefits of eating peanut butter as a snack?
Just like almonds, peanuts and peanut butter are a great source of fiber, protein, heart healthy fats, and antioxidants. Peanut butter also has vitamin E, B6, a healthy dose of niacin (B3), resveratrol, and potassium to help keep cells healthy.
πͺππ
Another delicious treat with peanut butter comes in the form of a protein bar that provides an extra boost of protein and fiber – Quest Nutrition - Chocolate Peanut Butter Hero Bar.
The Quest Nutrition - Chocolate Peanut Butter Hero Bar is one of those protein bars that really does taste like the candy bar that it looks like! With 18 grams of protein, 5 grams of fiber - and 3 net carbs – this bar takes the cake as a decadent sweet treat that you can feel good about! Just note that it does contain artificial sweeteners.
πͺππ
Lastly, we cannot miss an opportunity to mention the Dark Chocolate Cherry Cashew Kind Bar a delicious treat packed with one of our other favorite combinations – cashews, cherries, and dark chocolate.
The Dark Chocolate Cherry Cashew Kind Bar is unique because you can see all of the wholesome ingredients – cashews, dark chocolate, and dried cherries - right before your eyes – and the taste is better than a candy bar!
This gluten free, non-GMO bar has cashews, dark chocolate, and cherries as the dominant ingredients but it’s good to know that it also has heart healthy almonds, tart dried cranberries, and raisins too!
We already know about the benefits of dark chocolate, but what are the benefits of eating cashews as a snack?
Cashews are a great source of magnesium which aids in brain health, improving memory and protecting against age-related memory loss. They also provide zinc and iron and contain healthy fats, fiber, and protein.
πͺππ
The takeaway? Nuts are highly nutritious and having snacks with nuts will keep you more satisfied and provide a great boost of energy. Adding nuts to antioxidant packed and gratifying dark chocolate not only makes nuts tastier but adds to those nutritious benefits! Just keep in mind that although nuts are healthy and nutritious, they are very caloric - so eating too many nuts can work against your weight loss or weight maintenance goals.
So, if you’re going to have a sweet snack, why not choose dark chocolate and combine it with nuts to get a healthier snack like the ones on our list!