{"id":1849,"date":"2015-12-30T16:59:34","date_gmt":"2015-12-30T16:59:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/leadershipshape.com\/wardroom\/?p=1849"},"modified":"2015-12-31T17:00:27","modified_gmt":"2015-12-31T17:00:27","slug":"health-boosting-hot-cocoa-recipes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/leadershipshape.com\/wardroom\/health-boosting-hot-cocoa-recipes\/","title":{"rendered":"Health-Boosting Hot Cocoa Recipes"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"3717\"<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n

By the time you\u2019re halfway through this article, I hope you\u2019re craving a nice toasty-warm mug of hot cocoa. Not the super-sweet stuff you remember from kidhood\u2014made with high-fat milk and a sugary fake \u201cchocolate-flavored\u201d syrup\u2014but a palate-pleasing yet calorie-conscious grown-up version.<\/p>\n

Why do I want you to head for the stove? Because hot cocoa\u2019s key ingredient (the cocoa!) is packed with nutrients that benefit your body and brain.<\/p>\n

For instance, recent research suggests that cocoa\u2019s antioxidant flavanols<\/em> and other healthful components may help prevent clogged arteries, improve circulation and reduce blood pressure\u2026combat inflammation\u2026keep your mind and memory sharp\u2026and even make it easier to keep weight under control.<\/p>\n

For tips on transforming sticky-sweet kid-style hot cocoa into a super-healthful and tasty beverage with adult appeal, I turned to Janet Bond Brill, PhD, RD, LDN. As a nutrition, health and fitness expert and author of Cholesterol Down: 10 Simple Steps to Lower Your Cholesterol in 4 Weeks\u2014Without Prescription Drugs<\/em>, she had lots of smart suggestions and creative recipes to share.<\/p>\n

CHOOSING THE RIGHT STUFF<\/strong><\/p>\n

For the healthiest, yummiest hot cocoa you\u2019ve ever had, start by selecting the right main ingredients\u2026<\/p>\n

Cocoa.<\/strong> Use natural unsweetened cocoa powder. Stay away from \u201cDutched\u201d cocoa or anything labeled \u201cprocessed with alkali,\u201d Dr. Brill recommended\u2014it undergoes processing, including alkalizing, that depletes disease-fighting antioxidants.<\/p>\n

Milk.<\/strong> If you go with cow\u2019s milk and want to limit your fat intake, Dr. Brill suggested using 1% or fat-free milk. But cow\u2019s milk isn\u2019t your only option\u2014there are plenty of unsweetened alternatives to choose from. (If you do choose a presweetened brand of milk for any of the recipes below, eliminate or reduce the amount of sweetener suggested in the recipe.) Tasty options to try:<\/em> Almond milk, which has fewer calories than skim cow\u2019s milk and is rich in calcium and vitamin E\u2026oat milk, which provides a type of fiber that may help reduce cholesterol\u2026hemp milk (derived from shelled hemp seeds), which contains fatty acids believed to fight heart disease and arthritis\u2026rice milk, which tastes much like cow\u2019s milk but can be tolerated by some people who are allergic to cow\u2019s milk\u2026or regular or light (reduced-fat) soymilk, which contains heart-healthy soy protein.<\/p>\n

Sweetener.<\/strong> Experiment to see how little sugar you can add to your hot cocoa and still satisfy your taste buds. You may be pleasantly surprised at how the other flavors come through when they\u2019re not overpowered by sugar. Or swap sugar for a low-calorie sweetener, such as Splenda or stevia.<\/p>\n

Spices.<\/strong> Cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger are packed with disease-fighting antioxidants. Experiment with these and other favorite spices and flavorings to put your own personal spin on your cocoa.<\/p>\n

RECIPES YOU\u2019LL GO GAGA FOR<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Dr. Janet\u2019s Quick-n-Healthy Hot Chocolate<\/strong><\/p>\n

2 Tablespoons natural unsweetened cocoa powder<\/p>\n

2 packets (4 teaspoons) Splenda\u2026or other low-calorie sweetener or sugar, to taste<\/p>\n

12 ounces soymilk or other type of milk<\/p>\n

\u215b teaspoon vanilla extract<\/p>\n

Nutmeg, ginger and\/or other spices to taste, optional<\/p>\n

In a large microwavable mug, mix cocoa powder with sweetener. Stir in milk, vanilla extract and other spices if desired. Microwave on high for 60 seconds. Stir, then microwave for another 60 to 90 seconds or until steaming (do not allow to boil over).<\/p>\n

Cinnamon-Almond Hot Chocolate<\/strong><\/p>\n

12 ounces almond milk<\/p>\n

1 vanilla bean<\/p>\n

1 cinnamon stick<\/p>\n

2 packets (4 teaspoons) Splenda\u2026or other low-calorie sweetener or sugar, to taste<\/p>\n

\u215b teaspoon vanilla extract<\/p>\n

2 Tablespoons natural unsweetened cocoa powder<\/p>\n

Place almond milk in a small, thick-bottomed saucepan over low heat and bring to a low simmer, whisking as needed so milk doesn\u2019t stick to the pan. Add the vanilla bean and cinnamon stick. Remove from heat and steep for 10 minutes. Strain the milk, discarding vanilla bean and cinnamon. Return the milk to the saucepan and place over low heat until simmering. Add sweetener, vanilla extract and cocoa powder. Whisk vigorously until cocoa has blended. Heat over low heat for four minutes or until steaming, constantly stirring.<\/p>\n

European-Style Thick Soy Cocoa<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2153 cup natural unsweetened cocoa powder<\/p>\n

2 packets (4 teaspoons) Splenda Brown Sugar Blend\u2026or other low-calorie sweetener or sugar, to taste<\/p>\n

2 teaspoons cornstarch<\/p>\n

\u215b teaspoon ground cinnamon<\/p>\n

12 ounces unflavored or vanilla soymilk or other type of milk<\/p>\n

Fat-free whipped topping, optional<\/p>\n

In a saucepan, mix cocoa, sweetener, cornstarch and cinnamon. Whisk in six ounces of the milk to dissolve dry ingredients and create a thick paste (like chocolate frosting). Add the remaining six ounces of milk and whisk until smooth. Place over low heat and stir until steaming (do not boil). If desired, top with fat-free whipped topping to complete your guiltless splurge.<\/p>\n

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<\/a>Source:<\/strong> Janet Bond Brill, PhD, RD, LDN (licensed dietitian\/nutritionist), is a nationally recognized nutrition, health and fitness expert who specializes in cardiovascular disease prevention and weight management. She is the author of three books, including Cholesterol Down: 10 Simple Steps to Lower Your Cholesterol in 4 Weeks\u2014Without Prescription Drugs<\/em> and Blood Pressure Down: The 10-Step Plan to Lower Your Blood Pressure in 4 Weeks\u2014Without Prescription Drugs<\/em>.www.DrJanet.com<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By the time you\u2019re halfway through this article, I hope you\u2019re craving a nice toasty-warm mug of hot cocoa. Not the super-sweet stuff you remember from kidhood\u2014made with high-fat milk and a sugary fake \u201cchocolate-flavored\u201d syrup\u2014but a palate-pleasing yet calorie-conscious grown-up version. Why do I want you to head for the stove? Because hot cocoa\u2019s … Continue reading Health-Boosting Hot Cocoa Recipes<\/span> →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pmpro_default_level":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1849","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-for-your-body","pmpro-has-access"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p4MGMb-tP","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/leadershipshape.com\/wardroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1849","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/leadershipshape.com\/wardroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/leadershipshape.com\/wardroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/leadershipshape.com\/wardroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/leadershipshape.com\/wardroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1849"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/leadershipshape.com\/wardroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1849\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1850,"href":"https:\/\/leadershipshape.com\/wardroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1849\/revisions\/1850"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/leadershipshape.com\/wardroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1849"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/leadershipshape.com\/wardroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1849"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/leadershipshape.com\/wardroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1849"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}