Dietitians Susie Burrell and Leanne Ward have revealed whether you can enjoy chocolate every day and still be healthy and lose weight, and their answer might surprise you.
The nutrition experts appeared on their weekly podcast The Nutrition Couch to explain that a little bit of chocolate every day is fine, provided it’s your only ‘soul food’.
The key to eating chocolate well, Leanne and Susie said, is to tune in to your hunger when you’re eating it and remember that two or three pieces tastes the same – if not better – than 10 pieces.
Dietitians Susie Burrell and Leanne Ward (pictured) have revealed whether you can enjoy chocolate every day and still be healthy and lose weight, and their answer might surprise you
‘If you’re someone who has just eaten dinner and you’re craving chocolate, the chances are you’re probably not really that hungry,’ Leanne said on the podcast.
‘I always tell my clients to remember that one piece tastes the same as 10 pieces, and the satisfaction you get from eating chocolate is generally the highest in the first two to three squares.’
The dietitian’s trick involves turning down the TV when you enjoy your chocolate, and really ‘tasting’ it mindfully without distractions so you know you’re enjoying it and not just inhaling it without thinking.
‘Train yourself to get pleasure from eating less, rather than playing mind games where you avoid it, restrict it and then binge,’ Susie said.
‘I always spend a little bit more on chocolate as well to get the stuff I really like best and get most satisfaction from.’
The key to eating chocolate well is to tune in to your hunger when you’re eating it and remember that two or three pieces tastes the same – if not better – than 10 pieces (stock image)
The dietitians (both pictured) said they eat chocolate every few days, but try to eat it in moderation and choose the brands they love the most to enjoy
Susie agreed that a little bit of chocolate every single day is not in fact bad for you, but the key word to remember is moderation.
‘Try and become a good regulator of what you’re eating and limit yourself to a row or two at a time,’ she said.
‘It’s important to remember that if you’ve chosen chocolate as your soul food, you don’t get to have all the others too, like dessert and wine.’
She said remember that the more you have, the more you’ll want and the more your body will crave its daily 4pm Mars Bar.
‘If you’re someone who is an over-eater of sweet food, I would seriously consider a break from chocolate, to reset your brain so you’re not constantly looking for it,’ Susie added.
‘You might need a week or two of going cold turkey to remind yourself how much pleasure you can get from eating little.’
