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Original poster

Would this be an improvement on eating chocolate? Or would it be worse?

112 replies

Chocccg · 12/04/2026 12:16

I eat so much chocolate and I know it’s so unhealthy. Aside from that I do eat generally well and I’m not overweight. But I know I eat too much sugar as I can easily eat say three Mars bars in one night or two packs of biscuits etc.

I’ve tried cutting it back and not buying it as often but find it incredibly hard. I wondered if I put a bit of sugar on fruit would that be a start to improve or is that actually more sugar than what’s in a bar of chocolate?!

OP posts:
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Kpo58 · 13/04/2026 20:24

One of the problems I have with the substitutes is that it's the texture of chocolate that I'm also craving. There just doesn't seem to be anything else that mimics the feel in the mouth.

mamaduckbone · 13/04/2026 20:18

Fruit won’t get rid of the chocolate craving, in my experience. As others have said, switching to dark chocolate or just cutting down is a more realistic option. Dates are pretty good too.

GreenGodiva · 13/04/2026 20:00

These ones by Forrest feast are amazing and super tasty. I get them from Asda but also make my own

Would this be an improvement on eating chocolate? Or would it be worse?
GreenGodiva · 13/04/2026 19:57

Dates, cut open with a bit of Peanut butter and a whole almond stuffed inside. Then dip them in dark chocolate ( higher % the better) you can also buy them ready made and they are amazing but expensive.

adding sugar to fruit is insane. you would be much better just swapping to fruit, adding Greek yoghurt, chopped nuts and a bit of sugar free syrup ( if you must). Always you would get proper nutrition fibre, vitamins and protein that way. if you HAVE to eat chocolate make it fruit and nut dark chocolate. Don’t keep it in the house and limit your intake.

EmpressaurusKitty · 13/04/2026 19:53

curlyfriess · 12/04/2026 12:45

Dates with peanut butter are quite good. Better for that chocolate hit though is Montezumas 100% dark orange chocolate (dark chocolate generally still has loads of sugar but this is sugar free), melt it and add sugar free muslei and make them into cornflake cake type things.

I had to take a different route home tonight because of tube problems, popped into a deli & there was the Montezuma dark orange. Mmmmmmmm.

anonymous98 · 13/04/2026 19:27

Highonmyownsupply · 13/04/2026 13:44

Stay near a loo if you are eating dates. They are strong laxatives.

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As a chronically constipated person, I wish dates had this effect on me

Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain · 13/04/2026 19:08

JMSA · 13/04/2026 18:26

Not for me. Are you sure you don’t mean prunes? 🙂

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Yeah Dates don’t do that to me either.

JMSA · 13/04/2026 18:26

Highonmyownsupply · 13/04/2026 13:44

Stay near a loo if you are eating dates. They are strong laxatives.

Show quote history

Not for me. Are you sure you don’t mean prunes? 🙂

JMSA · 13/04/2026 18:25

I had the most delicious and sweet breakfast this morning. I popped sliced banana, dates and chopped walnuts in the frying pan with a very small amount of butter. Gently fried them and then put the warmed mixture in a bowl with vanilla Skyr yogurt. It was gorgeous and really filling.
Would something like this satisfy your sweet tooth? Worth a try maybe.

SunnieShine · 13/04/2026 17:48

The chocolate cravings never go.

YourOliveBalonz · 13/04/2026 13:50

I guess if it works for you. For me, I think I’d be sat there thinking I’ve just made fruit less healthy and now I want some chocolate to follow!

Highonmyownsupply · 13/04/2026 13:44

PandyMoanyMum · 12/04/2026 12:19

Have you tried eating dates? I find they taste chocolate-y and sweet and can help as a substitute?

Stay near a loo if you are eating dates. They are strong laxatives.

gamerchick · 13/04/2026 13:22

Dark chocolate will help OP. It's how I come off sugar after the likes of Christmas etc. 85% or above. Just break off a segment and it'll stop the cravings.

TheDenimPoet · 13/04/2026 13:20

Ablondiebutagoody · 12/04/2026 12:24

Why not cut out the middle man and spoon the sugar directly into your mouth?

Seriously though, just because it's hard to stop, doesn't mean you can't do it. Go cold turkey for a couple of weeks and your tastes will change. Fruit will taste great without extra sugar.

Here speaks someone who has never had an issue with food.

Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain · 13/04/2026 13:19

Oneborneverydecade · 13/04/2026 11:03

I agree with this. I have a Freddo or Little Bar every day. I factor it into my macros.
At the moment I'll have a tiny Malteser bunny. I enjoy the taste of something sweet to round of a meal and that is enough.
I think you'd need to gradually drop down to 1 per day though.
If I ate 2 Mars bars a day I'd be obese. It's crazy how differently our bodies react to the same things ay

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Good plan Stan

Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain · 13/04/2026 13:19

At least Twixes are vile now so I can’t eat them anymore.

MiaKulper · 13/04/2026 13:14

OP hasn't come back to confirm the biscuit/bar size or the spoon size.

Eyesopenwideawake · 13/04/2026 13:05

Hypnotherapy/hypnosis can help with food/sugar cravings. They often arise from linking chocolate/biscuits with feeling happy as a child. Fine when someone else is in charge of the availability, but once you're an adult and have unlimited access to food based self-soothing it becomes a problem. Updating the internal operating system is generally quick and effective.

HelenHywater · 13/04/2026 12:59

My experience wasn't awful by the way. I'm simply unable to stick to a small freddo a day - for me its all or nothing.

HelenHywater · 13/04/2026 12:58

I went cold turkey after realising I was addicted to sugar. I decided that even fruit or sweetener didn't work for me as it just fed my addiction to sweet stuff. Like a pp says, it's changed my taste buds - anything seems too sweet for me mow.

loulouljh · 13/04/2026 12:56

or rice cakes with a chocolate coating?

loulouljh · 13/04/2026 12:56

Dark chocolate. Much better for you and you don't want as much. Or dates..which are gorgeous!

Ohpleeeease · 13/04/2026 12:13

Fruit with added sugar won’t replace chocolate. You might as well eat a spoonful of jam. You need either to stop buying chocolate or ration yourself if you have the self discipline. All the people I know who really struggle to lose weight eat chocolate.

Newmeagain · 13/04/2026 12:08

@WheretheFishesareFrightening sorry, my post was a bit misleading. What I mean by a “reset” is not some crazy sugar free, carb free detox. I just mean not eating things like chocolate, biscuits etc on a daily basis and instead eating a balanced diet free from too much sugar and minimal UPFs.

i used to be a chocoholic. I actually ate a pretty decent diet but used to have quite a lot of chocolate every evening. I craved it so much I almost felt panicked it I didn’t have any at home! I decided to just stop buying it and after a few weeks my cravings were gone. I still have some chocolate occasionally - but not in large amounts on a daily basis.

Oneborneverydecade · 13/04/2026 11:03

Littletreefrog · 12/04/2026 12:26

In my experience you can't replace chocolate. You will still want it and if you are anything like me end up eating your alternative as well as chocolate not instead of. My solution was one Freddo a day. Only 95 calories and proper chocolate not like this skinny bars etc. I eat is slowly and mindfully rather than just scoffing it while doing something else.so I actually feel like I've benefited from it.

I agree with this. I have a Freddo or Little Bar every day. I factor it into my macros.
At the moment I'll have a tiny Malteser bunny. I enjoy the taste of something sweet to round of a meal and that is enough.
I think you'd need to gradually drop down to 1 per day though.
If I ate 2 Mars bars a day I'd be obese. It's crazy how differently our bodies react to the same things ay