Earlier this week, I stopped in at Fantasy Candies (on Mayfield Road) to pick up some cashew bark, say hi, and let them know how wonderful the concoctions, I mean confections, are.  I’m hooked on the Dark Chocolate-Chia Seed-Cinnamon bar, among other things.  Yesterday morning I ate leftover cashew bark for breakfast.  I also polished off the last bits of almond bark, and blueberry bark, which, I submit, is in the running for one of the greatest inventions on the planet!

I counsel patients that dark chocolate is not candy, but rather food.  It’s GOOD for you.  It’s not a treat, it’s a nutritious snack.  Or meal, in my case.  Admittedly, eating it for breakfast is not something I do often, actually I never did it before, but I knew it was on the counter, and that it wouldn’t be there for long if I didn’t claim my part of the bounty.  It was great — filling and satisfying.  In my opinion, that’s one way to tell that you made a good choice.  Actually, I would eat dark chocolate for breakfast again.  In a happy heartbeat.  

I’m not going to restate all the benefits here.  There are the flavonoids, the antioxidants, the healthy fats, the anti-depressants, the flavor!  Just check out their great website for a long list of information on the benefits of dark chocolate.  

To my delight, Joel Fink, “The Candy Man,” was right behind the counter, and I had the opportunity to talk with him and another gentleman for a good long while.  Joel is working on some wonderful new ideas and products, and I can’t wait to see them available for purchase behind the counter and on the website.  What a great guy!  He has tons of different kinds of bark behind the counter, and I’m planning to work my way through them, one by one.  Maybe two by two, we’ll see.  Depends how serious the competition at home gets.

Dark chocolate is a great idea for people with a serious sweet tooth, for people who are unusually sensitive to grains, sweets, and fruits (thereby limiting your 3 p.m. snack options), for people who are doing their best to avoid stripped (refined) carbohydrates.  The added dried fruits and nuts are beneficial, too.   

If you’re diabetic and you aren’t sure about this, check your blood sugar 90 minutes after your snack.  If it’s at baseline, you’re fine.  If it’s a little too high, eat a little less and figure out how much is the right amount.  The research points to a total daily recommended amount of 1-2 ounces.  I suggested to Joel that he start making 1 oz. individual servings.  For my patients.  For my friends.  For me.

It’s a great time of year to think about buying chocolate candy.