Chocolate Pudding is like a magic potion that instantly transforms grown-ups into little kids. What’s better than a bowl of chocolate pudding? A really BIG bowl of Chocolate Pudding!
Years ago I ordered Chocolate Mousse for dessert at a small Parisian cafe and was served a monstrous tureen of mousse with a spoon and an empty coupe to serve myself. I felt like a little girl when that veritable vat of deliciousness was placed in front of me and I felt my eyes widen in awe.
I’ve switched out the mousse for pudding and serve Healthy-ish Chocolate Pudding family-style in a large bowl for parties instead of individual ramekins. The presentation is theatrical, entertaining, and best of all, easier on the host. Folks love it.
This issue also shares
• The Best Life Living Tip: 🍽️ Satiety and Eating for Satisfaction.
• The Self-Care Technique: 🍫 A Little Chocolate Can Go a Long Way.
• Ideas and Inspiration: 🔥Southern Smoke for Good.
Read on for more — including this rich and creamy Healthy-ish Chocolate Pudding with two layers of chocolate. It’s big in flavor and lower in fat than most puddings. Plus, you’re going to love the presentation!
Best Life Living Tip
What is satiety? Satiety is the feeling of fullness after eating, the state of being non-hungry. Satiety is the opposite of hunger and can be a part of controlling how much and how often you want to eat.
We all know there are lots of reasons we want to eat, and hunger is only one of them. (See also stress, anger, anxiety, boredom, etc) Working on emotional eating is a whole other thing.
A best life-living tip is to set yourself up for success with foods that increase satiety or satisfaction.
Foods high in protein and fiber may leave you more sated, which means you feel full for longer. Some of the most filling foods include potatoes, oatmeal, eggs, fish, Greek yogurt, and popcorn.
Check out these foods that are filling to help up your satiety.
You can do it!
Self-Care Technique
It’s not just high-fiber foods that increase your satiety levels. Truly satisfying foods can make you feel satiated, as well. And, with food like bittersweet chocolate, a little can go a long way.
- The cocoa in dark chocolate may also help you feel less hungry for longer by reducing levels of a hormone called ghrelin, which is involved in regulating appetite.
- Eating chocolate can trigger the release of other chemicals in the brain, such as endorphins, dopamine, and oxytocin, which can also contribute to feelings of happiness and wellness.
Let’s be real, dark chocolate is high in calories and can contribute to weight gain if eaten in excess. However, according to the NIH dark chocolate promotes satiety, lowers the desire to eat something sweet, and suppresses energy intake.
For more about chocolate and the Bean-to-Bar experience, check out this post on classic French Pots de Cremes au Chocolat.
Ideas and Inspiration
It’s always wonderful seeing people help others. The Southern Smoke Foundation is a nonprofit founded and powered by current and past Food and Beverage workers.
Give them a follow on IG at @southernsmokefoundation and make sure to keep an eye open for their fundraising events like Cookout for the Carolinas on 11/10/24 in Birmingham for those affected by Hurricane Helene. You can buy your tickets HERE.
Join Pihakis Restaurant Group, along with Southern Living & Food and Wine for a cookout to support the Carolinas. Food by Sean Brock of Joyland, Tyler Ashton of Rodney Scott’s BBQ and Little Donkey. All Proceeds Benefit Hurricane Helene Relief Efforts through Southern Smoke Foundation.
According to the Restaurant Workers’ Community Foundation, less than 15% of F+B workers had healthcare coverage before the pandemic. Many live shift to shift and have to make impossible choices about paying for housing, groceries, and medical care.
Southern Smoke Foundation efforts are dedicated to creating a meaningful safety net of support that doesn’t exist for most people in the F & B world.
Point it Out
This Healthy-ish Chocolate Pudding comes in at 300 calories when using 1% milk for a generous 1/2 cup serving. It’s so rich and creamy, that you won’t believe it’s a recipe remake with less fat, sugar, and calories.
Thanks so much for reading. Please give me a follow on IG @virginiawillis for more best life tips, self-care techniques, ideas and inspiration, and healthy recipes.
As long as you’re doing what’s Good and Good for You™ more often than not, you’re on the right track. 🙌🏻
You can do it!
Bon Appétit Y’all!
Virginia Willis
Corporate Gifts and Bulk Discounts
Corporate Gifts and Bulk Discounts
Healthy-ish Chocolate Pudding
Ingredients
- 6 tablespoons sugar
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch
- 11/2 tablespoons cocoa powder plus more for dusting
- 1 teaspoon instant espresso powder optional
- Pinch of fine sea salt
- 2 ½ cups milk
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 6 ounces bittersweet chocolate finely chopped
- cacao nibs for garnish
Instructions
- In a saucepan, whisk together the sugar, cornstarch, cocoa, espresso powder, and salt. Combine milk and vanilla extract in a large measuring cup. Whisk the liquid mixture into the dry ingredients in the saucepan until smooth.
- Place the saucepan over medium heat. Cook, whisking constantly, until the mixture comes to a boil and thickens, about 5 minutes. Add the chocolate and cook, whisking constantly, until the chocolate is melted, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove the saucepan from the heat. Divide the mixture equally among 6 serving dishes such as dessert coupes or ramekins. Place plastic wrap directly on the surface of each pudding to prevent a skin from forming.
- Chill in the refrigerator until set, about 1 hour. Garnish with chopped cacao nibs. Serve chilled.
Nutrition
Good and Good for You with Virginia Willis is a lifestyle brand that shares health and wellness content through digital channels, events, and print media. For more information visit virginiawillis.com
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