For most, chocolate is the ultimate sweet treat. Just a bite of this rich, creamy piece screams indulgence. However, what if you are currently on a keto diet? You may be wondering if it is still permissible to eat chocolate now, considering the sugary, high-carb foods that should be avoided during the diet. These include cakes, pies, sodas, cookies and more. We understand how irresistible this sweet treat is, and you will be pleased to hear this: some chocolates can still be eaten on a keto diet! This article will share how you can incorporate chocolate made with healthy ingredients into your diet, allowing you to satiate your sweet cravings while staying on track. Read on to learn more.
1. Can I still eat chocolate?
Eating chocolate is still possible when you are on a keto diet, but make sure you go for low-sugar, low-carb options. This is to maintain your body’s state of ketosis. In this case, dark chocolate makes for the ideal choice. Researchers found that people who ate dark chocolate felt less stressed, with reduced levels of the stress hormone cortisol. Furthermore, dark chocolate improves your heart health, reducing the risks of stroke, coronary heart disease and even fatality from heart disease. Apart from keto cakes in Singapore, dark chocolate is another treat that can satisfy your sweet tooth and nourish your soul when you are on a keto diet.
2. How to choose a low-carb chocolate?
(i) Dark chocolate VS milk chocolate
Often, dark chocolate is a great treat option for people on a keto diet. Dark chocolate contains more cocoa solids than milk chocolate. Also known as cocoa mass, cocoa solids are made from a blend of cocoa powder and cocoa butter. With few carbohydrates, they are high in fat but low in sugar, which fits a keto diet plan. On the other hand, milk chocolate has around 25% cocoa solids, with the rest made up of milk solids and sugar. Milk solids are essentially dried milk combined with a little fat.
(ii) The lowest carb chocolate
The lowest carb chocolate contains 100% cocoa solids and about 8% carbohydrates. In other words, a 28g portion comes in at under 2g carbohydrates. If you are to maintain the 5% carbs rule of most keto diets, you should only consume about 23g carbohydrates during the day, after eating chocolate.
(iii) Things to note
Containing as low as 70% cocoa solids, a good quality dark chocolate is still keto-friendly and may be more palatable for beginners. In general, nutritionists may approve of them if eaten sparingly, thanks to their vitamin and mineral content. It serves as a wonderful sweet treat when you are enjoying a high-tea session at any keto cafe in Singapore. Nonetheless, if you indulge in a portion of dark chocolate, do ensure you don’t eat too many carbohydrates throughout the rest of the day to keep your keto ratios in balance. Always check food labels and know how to determine net carbs to ensure your chocolate is keto-friendly.
3. What to eat if I'm craving sweets?
It is safe to say that sugar cravings are common for many. Stress eating has been the new norm in times of uncertainty and indulging in sugary foods like cookies and brownies is a common coping mechanism. Without you realising, those foods have become a “natural reward” when you feel overwhelmed. Even those who are on a keto diet may also have such cravings, particularly for beginners. Focusing on the restriction of carbs and sugar intake, a keto diet may cause you to feel a little upset temporarily, due to the significant shift from bulking up on carbs. As a result, an urge to consume sweet food will be triggered. So, how do you manage these cravings? Should you give in to them or just learn to live without it? Fret not, there is a solution to this. Take a look at the keto snacks below that will curb your sugar cravings without compromising your well-being.
Fruits/berries
Avocado
Nuts
Keto smoothies
Keto-friendly or dark chocolate are great options for keto dieters to reduce their sugar intake whilst still being able to enjoy sweet treats. Thanks to its low content of sugar and carbohydrates, keto-friendly or dark chocolate suits most keto diets. It is vital to ensure a minimal intake of refined/ free sugar for better health. For keto dieters, take into consideration the portion of dark chocolate consumed to help you keep to your keto plan. Looking for diabetic-friendly and gluten-free chocolate to satisfy your sweet tooth? Ange Bakes Keto’s Keto Nama Chocolate can be your ideal choice. Made with Lindt 90% dark chocolate, heavy cream and butter, the product is sweetened slightly with erythritol and sprinkled with Cocoa Powder, making it a delicious and healthy dessert.
At Ange Bakes Keto, we provide great tasting keto-compliant bakes and mouth-watering savoury pastries, such as keto cakes in Singapore. We use natural sugar substitutes in our bakes that will not spike up your blood sugar level. Get in touch with us today to find out more about us and our products.