Good news for slimmers - if you're one of the millions of people in the UK trying to lose weight and avoid temptations in the shopping aisles - chocolate needn't be a guilty pleasure!
Slimming World, the UK's most advanced weight loss organisation, has created delicious recipes, perfect for even the most sweet-toothed chocaholics.
“It's a myth that you need to completely cut chocolate out of your diet to lose weight successfully,” says Liz Torrie, a Slimming World consultant, “it's just not the case.”
“The secret is to plan. If chocolate is your favourite food then plan so you can enjoy it as part of your daily diet. If you 'ban' a food it makes you much more likely to keep thinking about what you can't have so that if you do give in to your craving, you only end up eating even more,” says Liz.
“Many of the members who come along to my weekly group used to feel guilty eating chocolate, but nothing's off limits with Slimming World chocolate can be on the menu every day if you want it! And to share the secret, Slimming World has come up with some delicious chocolate desserts.”
Self-confessed chocoholic, Carolyn Swift (32) decided to join her local Slimming World group in January after finding she was struggling to fit in her clothes. In five weeks she lost over 1 stone - despite eating chocolate everyday.
Carolyn says: “I always thought I'd have to stop eating chocolate to lose weight and the great news is I didn't! I love chocolate and when I've tried to lose weight in the past I would always cut it out of my diet completely. But that never worked as it just made me miserable and I would end up giving in. Now I plan so I can enjoy chocolate every day if I want to and I've also re-found a love of cooking so as a family we are now all eating a much more varied and balanced diet.”
Carolyn's typical days eating before: Breakfast: lots of cereal with sugar and full fat milk. A glass of fruit juice. Lunch: Three slices of white bread with lots of cheese, followed by a yoghurt and fruit. Dinner: Usually pasta with vegetables and meat, with a few jars of pasta sauce or cheese sauce. Rice pudding or apple crumble with custard for pudding.
Snacks: Muffin and a latte or a chocolate bar.

Carolyn's typical days eating after:
Breakfast: Cereal and glass of low calorie squash.
Lunch: Couscous with tomatoes, spring onion, pepper and cucumber in, lentil soup or a salad and fruit. Dinner: Shepherds Pie topped with turnips or a vegetable lasagne.
Very low fat natural yoghurt and fruit. Snacks: Handful of cashew nuts, fruit or raw vegetables. Fudge bar or Crunchie in the evening.
To find out how Food Optimising can help you reach your weight loss goals contact Slimming World consultant Liz on 01473 728380.

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RECEIPE: Low-Fat Mississippi Mud Pie ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Ready in 40 minutes plus cooling and setting
28g/1oz low fat margarine,
6 plain digestives, crushed, 42g/11/2 oz cocoa, 42g/11/2 oz cornflour, 568ml/1pt skimmed milk, 4 egg yolks, artificial sweetener, to taste, 1 sachet gelatine, 4 tsp coffee essence, 2 egg whites, very low fat natural fromage frais and raspberries, to serve

1. Line a 20cm/8" spring-form cake tin with greaseproof paper. Melt the low fat margarine in a pan and mix in the biscuit crumbs. Press down firmly into the cake tin to cover the base and refrigerate to set.
2. Meanwhile, mix most of the cocoa powder and cornflour with a little of the skimmed milk in a saucepan to make a paste. Stir in the remaining milk. Bring to the boil, stirring constantly, and cook for about 2 minutes until thick and smooth. Cool for 10 minutes then mix in the egg yolks and add the sweetener to taste.
3. Dissolve the gelatine in 4 tablespoons of hot water and
add the coffee essence. Stir this into the milk mixture and set aside to cool. Whisk the egg whites until they hold their shape and then fold gently into the cooled mixture using a metal spoon. Pour the filling over the crumb base and chill for 2 hours to set. Cut into 10 slices and serve with the fromage frais and raspberries and a dusting of cocoa powder.