Love chocolate? A lot of us do! If you are a chocoholic or know someone who is, there are some simple rules to keep everyone surrounded by a chocolate lover happy. Writer Leanne Ely, author of Healthy Foods, explains.
The sisterhood of chocolate
No mystery here! I haven't exactly hidden my monthly
penchant for chocolate from anyone. I admit to a piece here and again,
especially at "certain times." As a matter of fact, there are
moments in life when nothing will do but a Kit-Kat bar.
I have come to the conclusion that this overt fondness of chocolate is hereditary. My daughter has emerged in her own right, right out of the chocolate gene pool to claim her own spot in this accursed sisterhood. It seriously frightens me, but at least I'm empathetic.
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If I have eaten chocolate within the last week, she'll smell it on my breath. "Aha!" she'll exclaim. "Where is it?" No one within earshot knows what "it" could possibly mean, unless of course, they are One of Us. Like pod people from the movie, "Invasion of the Body Snatchers", we know right away what "it" is.
"It," of course, refers to the M & M's in my desk drawer, next to the paper clips.
With recipes named "Death by Chocolate," is there nothing a chocoholic won't do to satisfy the passion for chocolate? Even the Internet isn't safe for chocolate addicts. Case in point: www.virtualchocolate.com.
"I like chocolate. I was electrocuted because I started to lick the monitor." (quote from the web site). That's one way to accomplish "death by chocolate." This web site has anything you could ever dream of in the chocolate department -- chocolate desserts, candy -- the kind that can be easily sent to chocolate addict friends anywhere in the world -- via e-mail. Melts on the screen, not in your hands.
That's right -- chocolate courtesy of the World Wide Web. At least this kind of chocolate won't leave you with www.poundstolose.com.
But look here, there are Rules of Chocolate. If you happen to live with a chocoholic, you'd best learn these quick. Your very life could depend on it:
- To err is human -- but if you mess with my chocolate, you're history.
- Chocolate flavored chocolate is an abomination. Give us only the Real Thing.
- If it's imported, in a gold box and cost half your paycheck, we'll follow you anywhere.
- National Chocolate Day -- could be as frequently as once a month. Be prepared.
- Hershey Kisses, human kisses -- if you're sensitive, don't ask which ones we like better.
Chocolate soothes the savage beast as any chocolate addict will tell you and at long last, there is finally medical proof. Catechins, the antioxidants found in green tea that everyone's been talking about as being the latest and greatest anticancer fighting component, is found in greater abundance in chocolate! Four times greater, according to Holland's National Institute of Public Health and Environment. Leave it to the Dutch to come up with this research -- the world's finest chocolate producers.
So rejoice! You now have a legitimate excuse for your monthly
indulgence. Remember that next time you're caught with chocolate
on your chin. Just tell them you're trying to give your immune
system a boost. If they're even remotely in touch with the
latest health news, they'll understand.
Links, information and more for you
About the author: Leanne Ely is the author of Healthy Foods: An Irreverent Guide to Understanding Nutrition and Feeding Your Family Well. Leanne is also the editor of a new, weekly subscription newsletter called Menu-Mailer. Menu-Mailer will give you the menu, healthy, family recipes and a grocery list every week delivered right to your e-mail address for just pennies a day. For more information, send an e-mail to leanneely@aol.com.
