Celebrate Green Blog

In the previous post we discussed some of the powerful emotional benefits of eating chocolate. And as most people know (and any woman caught eating a bar before breakfast will remind you) consuming chocolate is good for the body too.

So it’s no surprise that chocolate is a beloved holiday tradition; for Valentine’s Day, Americans spend $345 million on it alone. It’s as much a part of the tradition as cards and flowers (to be discussed in upcoming posts). And, as this writer can attest, V-Day just wouldn’t be as sweet without it.

But sadly, Greenies, most of the chocolate bought and consumed (okay, savored) is farmed in ways that show little to no love for the planet, not to mention its people.

The problem?

Rainforest deforestation, heavy chemical use, monoculture, loss of habitat, child labor, unfair labor practices - these are just a few of the not-so-sweet truths associated with conventionally grown cacao.

The solutions?

Look for “Triple Certified” chocolate. In other words, choose chocolate that meets the following criteria:

1. Certified organic

2. Certified Fair Trade

3. Shade grown/ bird friendly

A few of our favorite eco-delish brands:

Sjaak’s

Equal Exchange

Theo

Dagoba (In fact, this author is EWT - eating while typing - Dagoba’s new Lavender Blueberry bar. Mmmm.)

And for those women for whom eating chocolate just isn’t satisfying enough, CocoZen has created organic, Fair Trade chocolate goodies for the lips and skin as well. Chocolate for the inside, chocolate for the outside. Ahhhh… The sheer brilliance of it.