How to eat less chocolate

[Odile13]

I’m a real chocoholic. In the last few months I find myself mindlessly eating much more than I’d like. I keep making resolutions to eat a smaller amount every day but don’t stick to it. I’m happy with the rest of my diet, it’s varied and healthy enough, but chocolate seems to be something I can’t limit.

Has anybody else given it up entirely? Or just cut down? How much do you allow yourself to have?

Any ideas appreciated!

Don't buy it!

Switch to a good quality really dark chocolate. Only buy one bar to last the week.
Try to limit to one square daily.
I find the really dark stuff satisfies my cravings after really tiny amounts.

I was the same. I haven't touched chocolate since I sorted out my sleeping disorder. No desire for it at all now.

Are you sleeping ok? Tired?

Very dark chocolate, as Rigamorph suggests. You don’t need to eat so much, and there’s barely any sugar in it so it’s better for you.

I went through a phase of only eating the Lindt 99% , but you’d probably need to work up to that slowly!!

bored you’re right, I should just stop buying it! Hard habit to break though. Chocolate has been my favourite since childhood.

Rigamorph good idea. I do like dark chocolate. The Lindt bars are delicious and it is more satisfying.

FatCatThinCat That’s interesting. My sleep is fine so don’t think it’s that for me.

I’d have to not have it in the house. Having a couple of squares off a bar would never work for me. Chocolate doesn’t do much for me but I have a problem with crisps. I only have them when I’m in coffee shops or if dh buys me one packet as a rare treat.

Don’t buy it. Don’t have it in the house.

It really is the only way.

Bread is my weakness. If it’s in the house, I will eat it so when I’m trying to lose weight I just don’t buy it.

No idea, I’m in the same boat

Thanks for the input. I’ll try having a limited amount of dark choc. If I can’t keep to that I’ll stop buying it completely for a while. I need to make a change.

Developing chocolate triggered migraines did the trick for me.

I switched to much more expensive higher quality chocolate. It worked for quite a while as a way to cut intake. Now? Now I work to maintain my expensive chocolate habit.

Can't be done, I'm afraid. [looking at the mini-candy bars directly to the right]

@nocoolnamesleft sounds like me 😂

@Odile13 how much is too much just out of interest? I have days when I expect my consumption might raise a few eyebrows!

@smogsville good question! For me too much is multiple servings in one day, which then becomes a habit. Eg I’m happy to have a row of squares or a cake bar with lunch, but if I find myself having two or three more servings later on, and then do it again the next day etc, that’s too much.

Aldi sells some lovely dark chocolate in paper packaged small slabs. I tend to find I will just take one and be done rather than keep picking when I have a large bar open

We have it once a week - something to look forward to! And we have dark chocolate to savour the chocolateyness.
I love Chocolate Sundays!

If it's not Sunday, we're not allowed it. Even on a digestive biscuit.

I think none in the house and resolving not to buy it is probably the best option.

Try and understand why you are addicted to it, sounds like comfort eating. My older siblings have food addictions, three of the four now have type 2 diabetes and it shortened my brothers life as he had complications arise from diabetes. I know that’s not really in keeping with the ooh we are a bit naughty jolly tone of many replies. But chocolate every day for my sisters and brother for decades has made them ill.

But chocolate every day for my sisters and brother for decades has made them ill.

Surely that depends on how much chocolate every day?

@MadauntofA Thank you that looks nice. Individually wrapped smaller bars are a good idea.

@Valkadin I do think there’s an element of comfort eating to it. I was a picky eater as a child but always loved chocolate. I reward myself with it automatically when I could do other things to feel better. I think dark chocolate is healthier and I don’t have a problem eating a bit every day. I’m a healthy weight and generally eat in moderation. If I can’t limit it though I will try going without for a while as a kind of ‘reset’.

Suck dark chocolate instead of crunching it . Rewrap squares in foil and only have one portion , I like Lindt 80 % or 90% Because their Squares make a nice portion.

I would switch to drinking cocoa and don’t have any chocolate in the house

@Odile13 I try to keep it to evenings only. Also it lives in a high up cupboard so you have to get a stool out to reach it which acts as a bit of a barrier. Two days a week we fast so it's the remaining five that are challenging. I also tend to eat too much choc after wine as all resistance just fades away. Good luck!