I’m having cravings.  (Oh. Don’t worry, honey, not THOSE sort of cravings.) I’m craving chocolate. Hershey’s Special Dark (mildly sweet chocolate) Nuggets with Almonds to be exact. I blame my Cousin Marilyn for this new found addiction, but no need to go into that here.

The higher my word count climbs, the deeper I get into my story, the closer I get to my deadline, the more intense my desire for chocolate. I use it as a reward. No chocolate until you complete 1,500 words. (I can be a tough taskmaster.) Usually around 750 I start to bargain with myself. With a little jolt I’ll get to 1,500 a lot quicker. I need a pick-me-up to combat my low blood sugar. To heck with me, my muse is starving and about to stage a creativity strike.   

Can you keep a secret? If you can, read on. If not, please skip to the next paragraph. I keep a hidden stash of my beloved nuggets in the back left corner of the freezer, behind the waffles. So far they haven’ t been discovered.

This hiding of chocolate and only partaking of its luscious goodness when no one is around to witness my indulgence, is a bit worrisome. The results of my new chocolate addiction (aka the uncontrolled rapid expansion of my thighs and waistline) are not so easily hidden.  Could it be the beginnings of menopause I ask my doctor hopefully. (I attribute a lot of things to the beginnings of menopause lately.) My doctor told me to knock it off and cut back on my intake of life sustaining food. Sadist.

I’ve always liked chocolate, but this daily urge to consume it is new to me. I’m happy to report I’ve kept my consumption to one delicious nugget per day. (Except, well, today I had two. It wasn’t by choice mind you, but, with total accuracy of information in mind, I wanted to make sure I wrote down the name of my new love exactly as it appears on the wrapper. In order to do that I had to sneak into the kitchen and retrieve one. My family was everywhere. Sometimes it feels like there are dozens of them, rather than the four there actually are. I couldn’t risk an attempt to return it, or the possibility of getting caught with it. So I ate it. Makes perfect sense, right?) 

Anyway, in an attempt at rationalization (and I am the queen of rationalization), I’ve done some research and I am happy to report that, according to  TheHersheyCompany.com,  dark chocolate contains cell-protecting natural flavanol antioxidants. I’m all for protecting my cells. It also states that studies show, eating chocolate, primarily dark chocolate, may contribute to improved cardiovascular health. My heart is especially important to me. And I quote, “A source of natural flavanol antioxidants, dark chocolate and cocoa sit in the same good-for-you category as green tea and blueberries.” Holy cow. If I’m willing to overlook the fat and calories, can my delectable treats actually be doing my body good?

Yeah. Let’s go with that. So, in the interest of my physical and mental health, I will continue to take my daily chocolate vitamin. 

To appease my doctor, and make my jeans more comfortable, I concede to start using the treadmill.  I figure it’s a small price to pay!

So what’s your addiction? And when do you crave it most? If at all possible, in deference to any male visitors, please keep talk of menstrual cycles to a minimum!