A few years back, I stopped in at Fantasy Candies (on Mayfield Road, if you’re a Clevelander) to pick up some cashew bark, and to say thank you for the confections. When their Dark Chocolate-Chia Seed-Cinnamon bar first came out, I went through a phase when I ate a piece every day for weeks. Unrelated, I once ate leftover cashew bark for breakfast, and polished off the last bits of almond bark after lunch. The blueberry bark is in the running for one of the great inventions of the 21st century. There are many different kinds of bark behind the counter, and I’ve worked my way through quite a few of them. On occasion, our family desserts consist of a plate of berries, such as strawberries and blackberries, and then sprinkled with bites of dark chocolate.

I have long maintained that dark chocolate is nourishing. It’s not candy; it’s food. It’s not a treat, it’s actually good for you. It’s nourishing. Eating it for breakfast is not something I do often, admittedly. Actually I only did it once, when it was on the kitchen counter, and I knew it wouldn’t be there for long if I didn’t claim the bounty. But there is no need to make an excuse. It was delicious, filling, and satisfying. Truthfully, I would eat dark chocolate for breakfast again. In a happy heartbeat.

I’m not going to restate the myriad benefits of dark chocolate here. There are flavonoids, antioxidant phytonutrients, nourishing fatty acids, even anti-depressant compounds. And all that is before we even get to the flavor. If that’s not enough, and you’re looking for a more comprehensive list, click here. Fantasy Candies shares a list of benefits on their website.

Joel Fink, “The Candy Man,” was not there the day I visited, but I did get to see him on a prior visit, when we had the opportunity to talk. Dark chocolate is a good choice for people with a sweet tooth, for those who are unusually sensitive to grains, sweets, and fruit (which limits your afternoon snack options), for folks avoiding stripped carbohydrates. The dried fruit, nuts, and seeds in some versions are also nourishing.

If you aren’t sure about this, and you happen to have access to a glucometer, you can check your blood sugar 90 minutes after finishing your snack. If your blood sugar is at baseline, you’re fine. If it’s higher than ideal, eat a smaller serving another day, and check again. Figure out how much is too much, and how much is the right amount. The research points to a total daily recommended serving of one to two ounces. I suggested that Fantasy Candies offer 1-ounce individually wrapped servings. For patients, for friends, for me.