Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
Moderators: Soprano, automatedeating
-
- Posts: 426
- Joined: Mon Apr 26, 2010 8:18 pm
Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
A coworker is on some other diet, but she told me she does unsweetened cocoa powder in hot water, and "It takes away my chocolate cravings." I have tried it a few times and it does give that hot chocolate feeling, without the fat and sugar. There are 10 calories per tablespoon, but not much else. It rather tastes like cocoa tea, I guess. What do you think?
"No S IS hard... It just turns out that everything else is harder." -oolala53
Re: Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
Leafygreens, hi! Nice to see you.
Never tried that. I do often put a tablespoon of cocoa powder in my coffee but that also has some kind of creamer and stevia in it. I find that that does not lead me to want chocolate candy or anything later. I keep trying to get used to black coffee or green tea but I have a hard time with bitter things. I do still experiment with them because apparently that bitterness is part of why these things are good for us.
I admit that, as the years have gone on, I've narrowed my range of foods for health reasons and because no matter what I did, it was always too easy for me to eat more of some of them, like sweets and especially chocolate ones, than felt good later. I resisted it for ten years, but I'm glad I gave myself time. I also now eat a bit of dark chocolate sometimes. I never liked it that much and it doesn't give me the thrill milk chocolate did, which is good, I think. But now I enjoy it. Go figure.
Reinhard says in the book that if you want to have chocolate because you think it's good for you, drink it like the Aztecs did. It sounded close to what you're describing. If that does it for you, have at it.
Never tried that. I do often put a tablespoon of cocoa powder in my coffee but that also has some kind of creamer and stevia in it. I find that that does not lead me to want chocolate candy or anything later. I keep trying to get used to black coffee or green tea but I have a hard time with bitter things. I do still experiment with them because apparently that bitterness is part of why these things are good for us.
I admit that, as the years have gone on, I've narrowed my range of foods for health reasons and because no matter what I did, it was always too easy for me to eat more of some of them, like sweets and especially chocolate ones, than felt good later. I resisted it for ten years, but I'm glad I gave myself time. I also now eat a bit of dark chocolate sometimes. I never liked it that much and it doesn't give me the thrill milk chocolate did, which is good, I think. But now I enjoy it. Go figure.
Reinhard says in the book that if you want to have chocolate because you think it's good for you, drink it like the Aztecs did. It sounded close to what you're describing. If that does it for you, have at it.
Count plates, not calories. 11 years "during"
Age 69
BMI Jan/10-30.8
1/12-26.8 3/13-24.9 +/- 8-lb. 3 yrs
9/17 22.8 (flux) 3/18 22.2
2 yrs flux 6/20 22
1/21-23
There is no S better than Vanilla No S (mods now as a senior citizen)
Age 69
BMI Jan/10-30.8
1/12-26.8 3/13-24.9 +/- 8-lb. 3 yrs
9/17 22.8 (flux) 3/18 22.2
2 yrs flux 6/20 22
1/21-23
There is no S better than Vanilla No S (mods now as a senior citizen)
-
- Posts: 426
- Joined: Mon Apr 26, 2010 8:18 pm
Re: Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
Thanks for the response. It does taste pretty bitter, but I've gotten into tea, so to me it doesn't taste much different than that. I have also read about health benefits of pure cocoa, so I think drinking it in hot water could be a good distraction from chocolate treats or candy. I do remember Reinhard saying that in the book, but I was curious if he was being sarcastic, because I bet most people probably wouldn't bother drinking it this way!
"No S IS hard... It just turns out that everything else is harder." -oolala53
-
- Posts: 5305
- Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm
Re: Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
I have tried to develop a taste for 90% dark chocolate. I actually quite enjoy a square or two from time to time now. My trick is that I eat it with my coffee (which has cream in it). Voila! The cream cuts the bitter of the chocolate and it's a delicious dessert.
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2
- Sammybunny711
- Posts: 195
- Joined: Thu Mar 24, 2011 5:08 pm
Re: Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
Hmmm this sounds interesting. I may have to start putting some cocoa powder in my coffee. *thinking face*
Height: 5'4"
Highest weight: 210.4
Current Weight: 194.8
Goal Weight: 125-135
*^..^711
Highest weight: 210.4
Current Weight: 194.8
Goal Weight: 125-135
*^..^711
Re: Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
SB, that's basically what mocha is, though I think officially that has some kind of creamer. You'll be likely looking at a doppelganger of me if you ever see me drinking black coffee with or without cocoa. So far, I'd rather suffer the cravings.
Count plates, not calories. 11 years "during"
Age 69
BMI Jan/10-30.8
1/12-26.8 3/13-24.9 +/- 8-lb. 3 yrs
9/17 22.8 (flux) 3/18 22.2
2 yrs flux 6/20 22
1/21-23
There is no S better than Vanilla No S (mods now as a senior citizen)
Age 69
BMI Jan/10-30.8
1/12-26.8 3/13-24.9 +/- 8-lb. 3 yrs
9/17 22.8 (flux) 3/18 22.2
2 yrs flux 6/20 22
1/21-23
There is no S better than Vanilla No S (mods now as a senior citizen)
Re: Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
Tip: if you are finding green tea to be bitter, try steeping it for a shorter time period. I used to steep mine way too long as it would get bitter. Now I steep for 1-2 minutes max and it's much better. Mellow and easy drinking, doesn't need anything added.
Now is it as satisfying as coffee with cream? Of course not.
Re: Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
Alas, even weak tea is unpleasant-I've tried it-, but I remembered something that I've been applying recently. Salt can cut bitterness. In fact, I remembered that when I go to an Asian restaurant where they almost automatically serve tea, I put a little soy sauce in it and kind of like it. I have now started adding a little pink salt to green tea each day. It's almost like a little broth but I keep it mild. Something else is that I didn't know is that its bitterness is part of its value. Bitter foods slightly stress the body similarly to the way exercise stresses it. It gets stronger in overcoming the stress. I'm willing to see it more like medicine and it's a small price for the one or two cups I have. I get so many other delicious things!
But I'll just keep my one big of mug of coffee a day with stevia and creamer. And sometimes cocoa powder.
But I'll just keep my one big of mug of coffee a day with stevia and creamer. And sometimes cocoa powder.
Count plates, not calories. 11 years "during"
Age 69
BMI Jan/10-30.8
1/12-26.8 3/13-24.9 +/- 8-lb. 3 yrs
9/17 22.8 (flux) 3/18 22.2
2 yrs flux 6/20 22
1/21-23
There is no S better than Vanilla No S (mods now as a senior citizen)
Age 69
BMI Jan/10-30.8
1/12-26.8 3/13-24.9 +/- 8-lb. 3 yrs
9/17 22.8 (flux) 3/18 22.2
2 yrs flux 6/20 22
1/21-23
There is no S better than Vanilla No S (mods now as a senior citizen)
-
- Posts: 107
- Joined: Thu Aug 06, 2020 11:37 am
Re: Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
A tea expert once told me that if you put 1/2 tsp. sugar in your tea, it cuts the bitterness and you don't taste the sugar. Tried it and she's right. It brings out the natural taste of the tea.
Re: Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
If you can drink it without sugar I would do and do but I do add milk.
With you on the dark chocolate Oolala, used to hate it but live a good quality one now and really don't crave milk chocolate anymore.
Jx
With you on the dark chocolate Oolala, used to hate it but live a good quality one now and really don't crave milk chocolate anymore.
Jx
Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway.
- Blithe Morning
- Posts: 1221
- Joined: Wed Apr 02, 2008 10:56 pm
- Location: South Dakota
Re: Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
I put a spoonful of cacao (processed differently than cocoa) in my tea every morning with a little half and half. Then before I go to work I make another mug only use a peppermint tea bag.
Parenthetically, I started drinking tea because it has a smaller water footprint than coffee. I noticed that my frequent UTIs decreased so win win.
Parenthetically, I started drinking tea because it has a smaller water footprint than coffee. I noticed that my frequent UTIs decreased so win win.
-
- Posts: 1296
- Joined: Wed Mar 17, 2010 8:00 pm
Re: Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
This is all so fascinating! I have never been able to stomach green tea because of its bitterness. I will try steeping it less time. And now I am pondering unsweetened cocoa in my coffee tomorrow. MIght have to try that. Cacao in tea sounds really interesting. Would that supercharge it as far as caffeine? Cacao is really caffeineated right? Or is it not? I am not too familiar with it.