Chocolate-Covered Anything Day
Versatile chocolate is a sweet confection which pairs well with multiple food flavors. Yes, even bacon! Many people enjoy chocolate-dipped fruit or nuts. Chocolate can complement a pretzel’s salty notes. Or add sweetness to a spicy mole. Why do we crave chocolate? Eating chocolate releases the chemical phenylalanine, which boosts our mood. Falling in love causes a similar effect on our brains. There is also evidence that dark chocolate can increase memory and reaction times . D ark chocolate, a bar with 70–85% cocoa, is nutritious . If you consume 100 grams (3.5 ounces) of dark chocolate, you’ll get a significant percentage of the daily recommended intake of manganese (85%), copper (196%), iron (66%), magnesium (57%), [and lots of potassium, phosphorus, zinc, and selenium], as well as 11 grams of fiber. Cocoa has a good fatty acid profile, consisting primarily of oleic (heart-healthy), stearic (neutral effect), and palmitic (can increase cholesterol but is only 1/3 of the total ch...