Good Day Chocolate - Chocolate with Calm - Oct. 17, 2017

Chocolate of the Day: 

Good Day Chocolate

Chocolate with Calm

Good

Weight: .99 oz. (28 g.) in 1 container

Calories: 140 calories in 1 container

Cost: $ missing information

Purchased from: missing information

Welcome to Day #10 of Chocolate and Halloween wEEKs.

Today we're featuring a chocolate for older children and adults.

Chocolate with Calm from Good Day Chocolate (Boulder, CO) offers a line of chocolate dietary supplements, geared for different situations.  

Inside the creatively and cleverly designed small package were a handful disc-shaped, purple* coated pieces that contained milk chocolate and "a blend of amino acids and botanicals**" designed "to help you relax."

They tasted like chocolate candies and had no strong, herbal flavors that were objectionable.

Maybe I'll keep some on hand for the hectic holiday season.

*Natural purple coloring came from red cabbage juice

**Calm blend of amino acids and botanicals: Magnesium Oxide, L-theanine, Chamomile, Flower Extract, Oat Straw Powder

Amy's - Andy's Dandy Candy Dreamy bar - Oct. 13, 2017

Chocolate of the Day: 

Amy's Kitchen Inc.
Andy's Dandy Candy - Dreamy bar
Good
Weight: 1.75 oz. (50 g.) in 1 package of 2 bars
Calories: 200 calories in 1 package
Cost: $ missing information
Purchased from: missing information

Welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate and Halloween wEEKs. And happy spooky* Friday the 13th to you.

We've been examining traditional candy bars and healthier alternatives this week. And, healthier means different things to different people.

Today's Andy's** Dandy Candy Dreamy bar was from Amy's Kitchen Inc. (Petaluma, CA). While similar to a traditional candy bar in appearance, it's been substantially improved (and I would say it was healthier too).

The vegan Dreamy bar contained no 1.) high fructose corn syrup, 2.) preservatives or 3.) GMOs. Several companies have made a move away from the first two, not so much with the third.

Also, the bar was made with organic dark chocolate and real cocoa butter. (Much of the chocolate used in traditional candy bars is milk chocolate and often contains vegetable oils in place of cocoa fat/dairy butter, and a very low percent of cocoa solids—barely qualifying as chocolate in some cases. Beware when you see the term "chocolately.")

Amy's updated take on candy bars shows how this market has evolved. Their bars are gluten free, vegan and 98% organic ingredients, and can still satisfy a sweet tooth (via organic cane sugar and tapioca syrup).

It was sweet; but the high sugar contain (found in almost all nougat-centered candy bars) was also balanced by the use of dark chocolate and the addition of soy protein. The two smaller bars in one package made sharing and portion control easier (100 calories in each bar).

There were no dairy, wheat, gluten, or nut ingredients listed; but the packaging did contain the: "May contain traces of tree nuts" statement.

*Scarier than Halloween or Friday the 13th this week are the real life wildfires that are burning around some of the Amy's facilities in Northern California. I called to convey good thoughts, and as of this writing the facilities were fine, although many employees were being affected. 

** The name Andy's Dandy Candy came from Andy and Rachel Berliner. who founded the original company in 1987 and named it after their daughter, Amy. The privately-held, family business has grown over the years and produces a line of frozen foods, entrees, soups, and chocolates that offer consumers organic, gluten free and low-sodium options.

The Balance Bar Company - Chocolate Peppermint Patty - Oct. 11, 2017

Chocolate of the Day: 

The Balance Bar Company
Chocolate Peppermint Patty Nutrition Bar
Good
Weight: .78 oz. (20 g.) (per label) in 1 small bar
Calories: 80 calories in 1 small bar
Cost: $N/A - free sample
Purchased from: N/A - free samples being handed out on street

Welcome to Day #4 of Chocolate and Halloween wEEKs. After exploring some popular candy bar alternatives, we've moved on to some possible nutrition and/or health-bar alternatives for the scariest chocolate day of the year.

Today's Chocolate Peppermint Patty Nutrition Bar was distributed by the Balance Bar Company (Ronkonkoma/Bohemia, NY).

I happen to receive a few sample bars that were being handed out to the public. The sample-sized bar would also be great for trick or treaters looking for nutrition bars.*

This small bar-shaped patty had an intriguing mint and dark chocolate aroma.** The filling was a soft caramel nougat flavored with peppermint oil. (There were also some soft cookie crumbs rolled in - made with rice flour). So the bar had a little more textural heft than most peppermint patties with a cream filling.

As far as the balanced nutrition part...I did feel that the addition of a little protein and inulin fiber slowed down or helped balance the sugar rush a bit. So, take a bite, if you dare!! (Cue the sound of scary ghost laughter and lightning in the background.)

*Note: Balance Bars have some added protein (soy, dairy) to help balance out carbs. This bar did not contain wheat or gluten ingredients, but did contain soy and dairy and was made on shared equipment with peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, wheat and sesame.

** The dark chocolate flavored coating did contain cocoa and unsweetened chocolate; sugar and fractionated palm kernel oil were the first and second ingredients.

Balance - Chocolate Caramel Peanut Nougat Nutrition Bar - Oct. 10, 2017

Chocolate of the Day:

The Balance Bar Company
Chocolate Caramel Peanut Nougat Nutrition Bar
Good
Weight: .78 oz. (22 g.) for 1 small bar
Calories: 100 calories in 1 small bar
Cost: N/A - free samples being handed out
Purchased from: N/A - free samples being distributed to passer-bys

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate and Halloween wEEKs.

Many people are looking for healthier, more balanced alternatives to traditional Halloween candy. As a child, I remember a dentist handing out sample containers of dental floss instead of candy. Not really appreciated by children at the time. But, times change and balance means different things to different people.

Today's Chocolate Caramel Peanut Nougat Nutrition Bar was from The Balance Bar Company (Bohemia, NY). The company has aimed for a 40-30-30 blend of carbohydrates, protein and fat respectively in their bars. Today's bar looked like a traditional chocolate candy bar, but had added protein.

This Balance bar did have a slight soy protein taste, but overall the flavors were balanced, and the soy wasn't objectionable.

Macro Greens - Chocolate Cinnamon bar - Sept. 3, 2016

Chocolate of the Day:

MacroLife Naturals, Inc.
Macro Greens
Chocolate Cinnamon bar
Good
Weight: 1.5 oz. (42 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 190 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $1.49 for 1 bar
Purchased from:  Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #27 of Chocolate, Fruit and Botanicals Month.

Today's organic, Macro Greens Chocolate Cinnamon "superfoods" bar from MacroLife Naturals, Inc., (Culver City, CA) had a slightly chewy compressed texture.

The flavor was nutty (Brazil nuts were the first ingredient listed), with gentle hints of cacao and cinnamon. Both cacao powder and cocoa butter were incorporated into this bar. The bar was lightly sweetened with dates and agave.

If you failed to look carefully at the wrapper, you might miss seeing that you're also receiving some nutritional benefits from a Macro Greens Blend of vegetables/greens from spinach, spirulina, carrots, barley grass powder, beetroot...and parsley. Some added protein came from rice protein and flax seed powder.

This bar was gluten free and vegan, and contained raw ingredients and probiotics.

ChocolateBet: August 15, 2007

Chocolate of the Day:

1 serving - 3 pieces
Russell Stover ("Internationale" line)
Swiss Lodge Mocha Cream
Good
Weight: 3 pieces (38 grams) / 4.95 oz. (140 grams) total package
Calories: 200 calories in 3 pieces
$?
Purchased at: Long's Drug store, in Mountain View, CA

Today's individually-wrapped Swiss Lodge Mocha Cream squares from Russell Stover (Kansas City, MO) were primarily milk chocolate with a slightly creamier flavored center layered over a thin layer of white chocolate. These were a bit on the sweet side for me, but had a fairly smooth texture.

Health Impact of Chocolate?
This week I went to Long's (drug store) to have my blood sugar and blood cholesterol levels measured. (Long's hosts a mobile unit that comes in and does testing once or twice a year. It's convenient; you don't have to make an appointment.) I was somewhat apprehensive about the results given the work schedule I've been keeping (trying to do three jobs in the last few months, long hours sitting behind a desk, busy events and speaking opportunities, not enough time for fun, etc.)

Instead, I was shocked to find out that my results were very good. "Whatever you're doing, keep it up," the nurse advised. Really? The only thing I've been doing differently (from when I last was tested) has been eating chocolate every day, and walking around San Francisco a few times a month. Could that make a difference? Have other people seen similar results?

I'm starting a Chocolate and Health page on this site, and will be researching this topic in the future.