Valentine's Day Treats <3!

Happy Valentine’s Day!

This week, we have a fun combination of assorted treats you can make with chocolate, fruit, cereal, and other snacks. It’s a great time to be creative! You can melt chocolate and mix in cornflakes for a yummy, crunchy sweet treat, or dip strawberries and other fruits. However, remember to eat chocolate in moderation! Dark chocolate does have antioxidants and minerals like phosphorus and magnesium, which are good for you. However, it also can have a lot of added sugar and fat, which aren’t good for you! Enjoy chocolate in moderation (that means don’t eat too much). When you do have chocolate, we suggest that you eat it with other, healthier things for a satisfying dessert that doesn’t have too much added sugar. For example, 1-2 chocolate covered strawberries would be a satisfying sweet snack without too much sugar!

Recipe:

What you need:

• Microwave-safe bowl

• Spoon/spatula

• Baking tray or plate

• Wax or parchment paper

Ingredients:

• Dark chocolate (or whatever chocolate you have in the house, bars or chips)

• Optional: Different colored chocolate or candy melts (for decoration)

• Optional: strawberries, blueberries, other fruit, cornflakes, pretzels, sprinkles, shredded coconut, chopped nuts

Instructions:

1. Melt six tablespoons of chocolate: put the chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for 30 seconds and stir well. Microwave for 15 more seconds and stir. Repeat until melted

2. Fold half a cup of cornflakes into the chocolate until completely covered.

3. Drop spoonfuls onto a baking tray or plate lined with parchment or wax paper.

4. Wait until the chocolate solidifies and enjoy!

5. While you wait, make chocolate dipped stuff!

   1. Melt more chocolate as before.

   2. Dip (make fun shapes if you want!) :)

   3. Eat :)

Fun Q&A:

Q: Is chocolate healthy?

A: Some types of chocolate benefit your health, dark chocolate is one of these. Dark chocolate has large amounts of cocoa and less sugar than milk chocolate. Dark chocolate may help prevent heart disease and is a good source of antioxidants. It is also rich in many of the nutrients our body needs.

Q: Does this mean we should eat a lot of chocolate?

A: Chocolate has lots of nutrients, but it also can have a lot of added sugar and fat. Remember, last lesson we talked about the negative impacts of eating too much sugar!

Tip: enjoy chocolate in moderation (that means don’t eat too much). When you do have chocolate, we suggest that you eat it with other, healthier things for a satisfying dessert that doesn’t have too much added sugar. For example, 1-2 chocolate covered strawberries would be a satisfying sweet snack without too much sugar!