Foodie Friday - A chocolate diet

What if you could go on a weight loss plan that included chocolate for breakfast, lunch and dinner? Whilst we don't usually have chocolate for breakfast it has been an option for years, with chocolate croissants and hot chocolate being increasingly popular. As a child I remember being able to eat any kind of chocolate for breakfast including a chocolate Easter Eggs.

This eating plan doesn't include quite that much chocolate but it does have chocolate built into every meal. There is a list of options for each meal and very specific chocolate items that fit in with the calorie allowance. This chocolate weight loss plan is a calorie counting style plan and it also includes lots of vegetables and some fruit. In case that wasn't sufficient chocolate for the chocolate lover, there is an additional skimmed milk allowance into which you can add chocolate powder for a chocolate snack.

Does this make it a good weight loss plan? There are definite pros and cons with this weight loss plan. Any weight loss plan that has reduce calories should result in some weight loss and the plan does contain lots of healthy food options including vegetables, fruit and proteins. The plan also provides a high fibre diet. The downside of this diet plan is that the chocolates chosen as part of the plan are high in sugar. Whilst the energy from the sugar is included in the plan there is more to sugar consumption than the energy it provides.

When we eat something with sugar in it our bodies release a hormone called insulin to help us utilise the sugar and use it for fuel. Any excess fuel is stored as fat. The more sugar we consume the more insulin is produced and the more fat is stored. Because the diet plan has reduced calories the body will hopefully use all the sugar consumed however it could also store some of it as fat. This could cause a bit of a 'yo-yo' effect.

For people for whom chocolate is an absolute must every day, this is probably a feasible option for a weight loss plan. If changing your eating habits is part of your weight loss plan then this plan is not your best option because you will continue to use chocolate as part of your daily intake.

We are all unique and there is no 'one size fits all' weight loss plan. This plan is not suitable for anyone who is pregnant or who has diabetes type I or type II or glucose intolerance. As always, check with your health practitioner before considering commencing any type of weight loss plan.

For those of you who are interest here is a list of possible menu options and the website is at the bottom of this page.

Warmest wishes

Sarah



Breakfasts(around 250 calories)
 
Banana and chocolate nut spread on toast

1 slice wholegrain toast topped with 2tsp chocolate nut spread and 1 small banana.

Fruit salad and pain au chocolat Fruit salad made from 1 kiwi fruit, 7 strawberries, 1 satsuma and a handful of blueberries topped with 3tbsp low-fat plain yogurt. Plus 1 store bought Mini Pain Au Chocolat.

Strawberry and chocolate cereal 40g Nestle Coco Shreddies with skimmed milk and 7 strawberries. Plus 1 small glass of orange juice.

Scrambled egg on toast and hot chocolate 1 slice whole grain toast with 1tsp low-fat spread, 1 scrambled egg and 2 grilled tomatoes. Plus 1 sachet Options Belgian Choc instant hot chocolate drink.

Breakfast on the run 1 muesli fruit and nut with milk chocolate bar and 1 small bottle of fruit smoothie.


Chocolate wheat biscuits with banana 2 chocolate wheat biscuits with skimmed milk and 1 small banana.

Chocolate porridge 1 sachet Quaker Oat So Simple Indulgent Chocolate Brownie Porridge made with skimmed milk. Plus 1 apple.

Lunches (400 calories)
Prawn salad pitta and Maltesers 1 wholemeal pitta bread filled with salad leaves and a handful of cooked prawns mixed with 2tsp reduced calorie seafood dressing. Plus 1 kiwi fruit and 10 Maltesers.

Vegetable soup with a cheese roll and chocolate cake ½ carton fresh vegetable soup with 1 wholemeal roll filled with 2tbsp low-fat soft cheese and 1 tomato. Plus 1 Mr Kipling Chocolate Slice.

Tuna and sweetcorn sandwich and milk chocolate mousse 2 slices whole-grain bread filled with ½ small can tuna in water mixed with 2tbsp sweetcorn and 2tsp reduced calorie mayonnaise. Plus 1 pot shop bought Light Chocolate Mousse.

Cheese and tomato bagel and chocolate ice lolly 1 toasted whole-grain bagel with 3tbsp grated reduced-fat cheese and 1 tomato. Plus 1 apple and 1 Walls Chocolate Mini Milk.

Spicy chicken and new potato salad and chocolate buttons Salad made from 1 skinless chicken breast, 4 boiled new potatoes in their skins, spring onions, cherry tomatoes, ½ green pepper and 3tbsp hot salsa. Plus 12  Chocolate Buttons.

Baked beans on toast and mini eggs 2 slices wholegrain toast topped with 1 small can baked beans. Plus 7 strawberries and 6 chocolate Mini Eggs.

Salmon and rice salad and Jaffa Cakes Salad made from ½ small can pink salmon, 3tbsp cooked brown rice, cucumber, spring onions, cherry tomatoes, radishes and 3tbsp testis. Serve with a green salad.

Main meals (500 calories)
Roast pork and Curly Wurly 2 thin slices lean roast pork, 2 medium-sized roast potatoes, vegetables and fat-free gravy. Plus 1 Curly Wurly.

Veg and pasta pesto and chocolate fingers 7tbsp cooked whole-wheat pasta mixed with lightly-steamed broccoli, 3tbsp peas and 1tbsp pesto, heated through and served with 1tbsp Parmesan cheese and salad. Plus 3 chocolate fingers.

Turkey stir-fry and Kit Kat Stir-fry made with 1tsp sunflower oil, garlic, ginger and chilli to taste, 1 turkey fillet, ½ pack stir-fry veg and 1tbsp reduced-salt soy sauce. Serve with 6tbsp cooked brown rice. Plus 2 bar Kit Kat.


Greek supper and Flake Salad made using 50g reduced fat feta cheese, 1 tomato, 5 black olives, cucumber, ½ green pepper and ½ red onion, served with 1 wholemeal pitta and 1tbsp tzatziki. Plus 1 Cadbury Flake. ck per ziki.
Beef fajitas and Smarties Fajitas made using 100g lean beef, ½ red onion, ½ red and green pepper and Cajun seasoning and fried in 1tsp sunflower oil. Serve with 1 flour tortilla, 1tbsp each of salsa, reduced-fat creme fraiche and reduced-fat grated Cheddar cheese, and salad. Plus 10 Smarties.

Roasted veg with mozzarella and Easter egg ½ small courgette, ½ small aubergine, ½ red pepper, and cherry tomatoes roasted in 2tsp olive oil then topped with ½ small ball reduced-fat mozzarella. Serve with a 5cm piece granary baguette. Plus 30g of any Easter egg shell.

Steak and salad and Crunchie 1 grilled small steak with 1 grilled tomato, grilled mushrooms and salad. 1 Crunchie.

For further details check out: 

http://www.mirror.co.uk/lifestyle/dieting/eat-chocolate-all-day-and-lose-half-778993