We know what you are thinking — chocolate for breakfast? Yes. You read that correctly. It’s not a typo! Consuming small amounts of dark chocolate can actually be very good for your health. With that said, it’s important to know that not all chocolate is created equal. The best chocolate for your health is  sure to dark, organic chocolate, fair-trade (70 % cocoa or higher).  Studies show that consuming a few pieces of high quality, dark chocolate can offer health benefits. 

 Check out our 7 Reasons why you should indulge more often:

1) It raises good cholesterol and lowers bad cholesterol
2) It provides more anti-oxidants than a serving blueberries
3) It contains fibre and minerals such as magnesium, iron, copper, maganese, zinc and potassium
4) It improves blood flow and reduce blood pressure
5) It lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease
6) It improves brain function
7) It offers benefits to skin such as protection from the sun

Although cocoa is considered to be a superfood, it is important to be mindful about how much you consume as it contains some sugar and is high in calories and fat when eaten in large portions. Moderation is key when it comes to consuming chocolate.

If you would like to add some chocolate to your morning routine then we recommend trying out our delicious, nutrient dense, fluffy, chocolate pancake recipe.

Cocoa-Infused Pancakes
1-2 servings

Ingredients:
1/2 cup Gluten-free/Wheat-free oats (we like Bob’s Red Mill brand)
1/2 cup Buckwheat Flour
1 tsp of baking powder
2 tbsp of ground flaxseeds
1/3 cup of water
1 scoop of Protein Powder (I use Isa Pro)
1 tbsp of cocoa powder
1/4 cup of dark chocolate (chopped up) or dark chocolate chips
Almond milk (as much as you need to blend batter
1.5 tsp of Coconut Oil

Instructions:

1.Whisk together the flour, baking powder, protein powder and cocoa powder.
2.In a separate bowl, combine the flax seeds with the water.
3.Add everything to a blender. Add almond milk as needed (to achieve desired consistency).
4.Put coconut oil in a heated frying pan (medium heat).
5.Using a ladle, place 1 scoop of batter in the pan. Add a few dark chocolate chips or pieces of chocolate to pancake. Once the pancake starts to bubble, flip it over and continue to cook.
6.Place on a plate.
7. Continue until you have used up all the batter.
8. Serve pancakes topped with a few more chocolate chips and/or a tsp of natural sweetener of choice. Enjoy!

For more delicious recipes, nutrition plans/coaching and workouts, check out laurajacksonfitness.com.