The Art Of Eating Chocolate

If you’re at all like me, you’ve probably had a situation like this:

You’re at a party. There is a bowl of m&m’s on the refreshment table around which you’re conversing. You grab a handful of m&m’s while your chatting. And then another handful. And then another. And before the night is over, you single-handedly demolished the entire supply! And scarcely remember doing so!

But real chocolate, fine chocolate, is a delicacy, and much like wine, it is meant to be savored!

So whether you are partaking of Doncker’s (delicious!) dark chocolate spicy sea salt caramels, Davin’s Chocolates, gourmet chocolate from the Marquette Co-op or Everyday Wines, or your own homemade chocolates (for a simple recipe, see this article: Reasons You Should Eat More Chocolate, you can put some mindful eating practices to use.

Here’s a little practice in mindfulness to master the art of eating chocolate:

1. Begin with deep inhalations & exhalations, noticing your thoughts, mood, emotions, etc as you become more aware of your body in the present moment.

2. Place the chocolate in the palm of your hand and feel it. Is it warm? Is it cool? Does it feel dense or light and airy?

3. Lift the chocolate closer to your eyes and look at the chocolate, really look at it. Notice the shade of brown, the depth of color, the shape of the chocolate, swirls or ridges.

4. Imagine the miracle of the chocolate… the cacao bean, a gift from the Theobroma cacao tree. Imagine the earth that supplied the tree with nutrients, the sun and rains that were vital for the thriving of the tree. The gathers who harvested the cacao pods, collected the seeds, fermented and dried them. The hands that processed the cacao and transformed it from bean to nib to melted chocolate liquor to the chocolate in hand.

5. Bring the chocolate to your nose and take a deep inhalation, activating the olfactory receptors in the nose. Olfaction is wired into the memory centers of our brains… what memories arise for you in the chocolatey aroma? Allow those memories to be present with you, honor the memories and then let it all go, returning to the moment.

6. Allow the eyes to close and gently press the chocolate against the lips. Our lips have a high concentration of touch receptors and are very sensitive, what does it feel like as the chocolate dances across your lips?

7. Open the mouth and break off a small piece of chocolate. What sound does the breaking chocolate make? Is the chocolate gooey? Creamy? Solid? Allow the small bite to swish in your mouth. Our tongue is home to many taste receptors, each detecting different chemical compounds. By moving the chocolate in the mouth, perhaps you notice the bitterness of the cacao, or the sweetness of honey, or perhaps there is a floral undertone. Notice what you taste, savor it.

8. Continue to slowly explore the depth of sensation as you indulge in the chocolate delicacy, bit by bit, pausing to breathe, to notice, to honor.

9. Once the chocolate has been consumed, rest in silent gratitude, knowing that the chocolate continues to nourish you as your body converts its chemistry into energy.

10. Repeat and enjoy.

The spirit of this article is inspired by Buddhist mindfulness practices and the work/teachings of Thich Nhat Hahn.

by Adonna Rometo

Adonna Rometo, PhD, LMT is a massage therapist and natural therapeutics specialist who focuses on holistic health and vitality. After earning her PhD in Physiological Sciences with minors in Neuroscience and Medical Pharmacology at the University of Arizona, Adonna worked at a meditation center in Albuquerque, New Mexcio before opening her own massage practice and eventually moving to Marquette, Michigan. She is owner of “Wild Wonderful You”, providing therapeutic body work, jewelry and artistic expression, and workshop opportunities (including “Chocolate As Medicine.”) For more information, visit www.wildwonderfulyou.com

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