Chocolate

Did you know chocolate is vegan? Not milk chocolate of the sort available in supermarkets and conveniences stores, though some of these are so processed and artificial that they contain no animal products(!) of any kind. Rather, I am referring to dark chocolate, specifically the purer forms. Because it is low on ingredients (typically less than 10), it can be a good way to satisfy my sugar cravings, which are extremely hard to fill without getting dairy or egg involved. I have tried vegan desserts, and some are good, but they are on the whole not moist enough for my liking.

I'm sure you've heard about the health benefits, and how pure dark chocolate (70% purity or so) will provide you with antioxidants. But what I've learned as well is that it contains a very high amount of iron per serving. In the kind I have been buying, it has 30% iron in about four squares, which is utterly astounding to me. Without meat, any reliable high source of protein or iron is hard to come by. Yes, it has sugar in it, but it is unprocessed, non-refined sugar. Or so I keep telling myself!

This is really just a rant about the benefits of chocolate as well as one of the best things I have found about being vegan. I found a way to indulge my sweet tooth and add a vital source of iron to my diet all at once!