AS December nears, soon we will see chocolate in calendars, chocolate in selection boxes and, frankly, chocolate everywhere.
But there are already eight million of us who eat chocolate every day.
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So how do you get a chocolate fix without all the sugar and calories?
Today, I put some healthy alternatives to the test.
FLAVOURED SHAKES
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THESE shakes from UFIT come in various different flavours and are designed for those who want to pack in protein.
They contain 25g per 330ml bottle and the only sugar in these drinks is the naturally occurring type from the milk but that is still 11g.
This chocolate one contains skimmed milk, milk protein concentrate and skimmed milk powder. Not one for vegans!
It does contain sucralose, too, though, which makes this really overly sweet for my taste.
RRP £1.15 for 330ml, ufitdrinks.com.
PROTEIN BARS
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THERE are plenty of protein bars out there but I’m often put off by the texture, taste and endless additives in them.
Barebells is a brand that I have tried in the past and I have always loved its products.
Its newest is the Marshmallow Rocky Road bar, 55g, which was launched just a few weeks ago.
It has 17g of protein, 217 calories and just 2g of sugar per 55g bar.
It has a chewy marshmallow layer, crunchy peanuts and sweet caramel in a milk chocolate coating.
There is collagen and dairy in these as well as a few E numbers but they are low in sugar, high in protein and have a decent amount of fibre, with that definite chocolate hit.
I find them really filling and satisfying.
About £2 each – 12 for £23.99, barebells.co.uk.
BONE BROTH SHAKE
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A VERY clever, healthy product.
Freja, which has been making bone broth for years, has now brought out the first ever bone broth shakes.
These come in a chocolatey version, raw cacao plus vanilla bean, wild strawberry and an unflavoured version.
They are 100 per cent natural.
The chocolate one contains Swedish beef bone broth powder plus sunflower lecithin (from sunflowers), coconut sugar, 11 per cent cacao powder and natural flavouring.
It also has Type I collagen, giving strength to your skin, bones, ligaments and tendons, and Type III, which is great for muscles.
There is 13g of protein, 6.4g of sugar and just 100 calories per 25g serving.
They taste great, just like a creamy milkshake.
From £25.19 for a 300g bag, frejafoods.com.
