Valentine’s Chocolate Swaps

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and if you’re anything like me, you want to shower your loved ones (and yourself!) with the best treats possible. But wait! Before you grab that box of chocolates off the shelf, let’s talk about making choices that are not just sweet for your sweetheart but also for the planet and its people. This year, let’s make it about more than just love; let’s make it about fair trade and healthier options.

better for people

fair trade

For many cocoa farmers and their families (predominantly in West africa), they face a lifetime of living below the poverty line. They can't provide the basics for their family, face grueling conditions and devastatingly -  there is little they can offer their children when it comes to education or opportunity.

Bigger picture: generational extreme poverty breeds child labour, gender inequality and deforestation as well. Buying fair trade is something that can contribute to helping break this cycle.

better for our health

avoiding unnecessary additivies

Now, let’s talk about what to look for when picking out your chocolate. If you’re wanting your chocolate to ‘love you back’, there’s some simple things to look out for to avoid including:

• Flavours

• Thickeners

• Colours

• Vegetable fats

• Emulsifiers

• Raising agents

• Titanium oxide

• Palm oil

• Artificial sugars

my avoid, better best picks

dark side to chocolate

Consumer reports scientists recently measured the amount of heavy metals in 28 dark chocolate bars. They detected cadmium and lead in all of them! The lead and cadmium are concentrated in the cocoa (or cacao).

Heavy metals can be found in many foods - such as arsenic in rice, mercury in some types of fish, cadmium in spinach, and lead in carrots and sweet potatoes, so in my opinion it’s not a cause to completely give up your dark chocolate habit. But you can buy better!

Brands that tested high for lead and cadmium 🍫

high in cadmium

• Alter Eco Organic Dark Chocolate Classic Blackout 85% Cacao

• Lindt Excellence Dark Chocolate 70% Cocoa

high in lead

• Tony's Chocolonely Dark Chocolate 70% Cocoa

• Lindt Excellence Dark Chocolate 85% Cocoa

• Hu Organic Simple Dark Chocolate 70% Cacao

• Green & Black's Organic Dark Chocolate 70% Cacao

Happy gifting, and eating!

So there you have it! This Valentine’s Day—or any day—when indulging in chocolate treats, remember: what you choose matters. By opting for fair trade chocolate, you're supporting farmers and their families while also treating yourself (and your loved ones) to something healthier and more delicious. Let’s make this Valentine’s Day not just about love but also about making choices that are good for people and the planet. Happy gifting!