Story Created:
Feb 13, 2008 at 5:09 PM EDT
Story Updated:
Feb 14, 2008 at 2:02 PM EDT
Between the romantic dinner and the chocolate, Valentine's Day can be a diet disaster.
But some new heart-healthy recipes are giving chocolate lovers reason to rejoice.
Dr. Robert Schneider is a cardiologist so meals have to be heart-healthy. On the menu for him and his sweetheart Joyce this Valentine's Day — chocolate.
“Just look at that — no fat, no sugar!” Joyce said.
That's right. The chocoholic couple has written a book full of low-fat, sugar-free recipes called The Cardiologist's Wife's Chocolate Too! Diet.
It includes things like truffles and brownies, made with oats, egg whites and of course chocolate … which isn't just for dessert.
"You can actually add it to almost any dish,” said Dr. Schneider.
It can be sprinkled into spicy chicken and broccoli. Or how about chocolate chicken stroganoff!
We've heard chocolate is healthy, but at every meal?
“Only if you get the right kind,” explained Dr. Schneider.
Dark chocolate contains heart healthy antioxidants. But in a box of candy like you often see on Valentine’s Day, chocolate also contains loads of sugar and fat, which can hurt the heart.
And in America we mostly eat processed chocolate which is stripped of any antioxidants.
The Schneiders’ solution — only use unprocessed, sugar-free cocoa. It's loaded with 10 times more antioxidants than blueberries.
"Chocolate is a miracle drug,” Dr. Schneider said.
The bitter chocolate is sweetened with sugar substitutes to create a tasty treat.
"It does away with the boredom and the cravings that do in so many diets,” Joyce said.
And it's a healthy way to satisfy your sweetheart's sweet tooth.
