World Chocolate Day - It's Divine!

Today marks an occasion that I am particularly excited to celebrate. Nope, not Blueberry Popsicle Day—that was last week, silly. I’m talking about something much more important: World Chocolate Day.

The dark side of chocolate

This bittersweet dessert has gotten a bit of a bad rep over the years—from the Mayans’ view of cocoa beans as divine to more recent claims that chocolate causes acne and weight gain. (Frankly, I’m with the Mayans: cocoa is heavenly.)

Thankfully for us chocoholics, dark chocolate in moderation can boost our mood and help lower blood pressure. As an added bonus, the richer taste of dark chocolate makes the recommended square or two per day more than satisfying. A cocoa content of 70 percent or higher is best, though I’ll admit to cringing at the powdery texture of the darkest varieties. For me, 80 percent is the best balance of sweet and bitter.

When perusing the chocolate aisle (or section?), it’s also important to select organic products with a fair trade certification. And now that we’re all chocolate-choosing pros, we can fully enjoy the following recipes in celebration of World Chocolate Day!

Combine chocolate and fruit

• Chocolate-Dipped Grapes might be the most perfect movie snack ever.
• Chocolate-Dipped Berries would be a beautiful—and romantic—addition to date night.
• Fruit Skewers with Chocolate Drizzle are both impressive-looking and easy to make.

Make it fun for the kids

Getting kids to eat their chocolate can be difficult—right? Okay, maybe not. Unlike most commercial chocolate bars full of sugar, however, these recipes combine the sweetness of chocolate with wholesome ingredients.

• Chocolate and Strawberry Sandwiches put the egg salad lunches of my childhood to shame.
• Chocolate Oatmeal with Cherry Sauce will ensure that everyone wakes up happy (even during the first week of school).
• Chocolate Energy Orbs are a fatigue-fighting snack of which the Mayans would approve.

Are you celebrating World Chocolate Day with a sweet treat? Let us know in the comments below or by visiting our Facebook and Twitter.