Researchers have found that chocolate—primarily dark chocolate—may be good for us. According to studies done over the past ten years, dark chocolate contains antioxidants that have been found to help protect against heart disease and certain types of cancer. After learning this fact, I decided to acquire a taste for dark chocolate. If I could learn to like it as well as creamy, succulent milk chocolate maybe I could have my cake—dark chocolate, of course—and eat it too!

I did learn to enjoy dark chocolate. It’s not as good as luscious milk chocolate, but it is more welcome than Brussels sprouts! There has been a problem, however. I don’t know when to stop eating it and I don’t think the researchers meant for me to eat two pounds of this treat a day!

The green light to indulge

Maybe you’re just like me. I find something good to eat and I can’t stop. I know that the research findings don’t mean I should stuff myself with dark chocolate. It does have high levels of fat and sugar, both of which should be limited on a healthy diet.

I overeat other “good for you” things, too. Peanuts and other nuts are among my favorites. Just the news that something is good for me, gives me the green light to indulge…and indulge, I do…to the extreme. Then, there are all the “light/lite” foods. A “light” cookie can’t be all bad. And it isn’t. It’s just that I can’t stick to one cookie, or one ounce of dark chocolate—the suggested daily recommendation—or 1/4th cup of nuts.

I’ve learned—but only after pounds have been added with these good-for-you foods—that it’s best not to keep some things in the house. If they’re not around, I don’t eat them. I’ll buy a dark chocolate something or another when I’m out, such as a couple bite-size bars at the neighborhood gas station. And, forget “lite” cookies. Animal crackers, in one-serving packages, are my sweet of choice. As for nuts! I have to wait until I’m invited to a party for this treat. (So what if I eat the whole bowl!)

Too little is sometimes better than too much when it comes to staying healthy. Of course, it all depends on the food. (And I’m again referring to Brussels sprouts!)