My son asked for chocolate sauce on his pancakes this morning because I forgot to add chocolate chips to the batter. So we melted some Enjoy Life Chocolate Chips with a touch of coconut oil and the sauce turned out great! Enjoy Life Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips are certified gluten free, contain no wheat, dairy, peanuts, tree nuts, egg or soy. They are also made without casein, potato, sesame or sulfites and contain no trans fat or cholesterol. They are certified kosher, vegan – no preservatives, all natural. I replaced our Toll House chips with these chips without telling my kids and no one knew the difference.
We used to use Hershey’s Chocolate Syrup until I started paying attention to labels. I am so upset that I used to feed this stuff to my kids, which is one of the main reasons I started this blog. After figuring out what so many of today’s food products are made from, I feel a moral obligation to share this information with as many people as possible. But I digress….
Here is a breakdown of the ingredients in Hershey’s Chocolate Syrup (items bolded in Red are potential GM (genetically modified) ingredients:
– High Fructose Corn Syrup
– Corn Syrup
– Water
– Cocoa
– Sugar
– Potassium Sorbate
– Salt
- Mono- And Diglycerides
- Xanthan Gum
- Polysorbate 60
- Vanillin
- Artifical Flavor
1. High Fructose Corn Syrup
What it is: Sweetener: Soft drinks, other processed foods.
What we know: High fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is produced from cornstarch that has been enzymatically treated and then is subjected to several other processing steps to form a highly processed, unnatural liquid sweetener. Since its introduction, HFCS has replaced sugar in numerous processed foods because it’s cheaper and easier to blend than sugar. It is best to avoid this highly processed, unnatural sugar. HFCS causes insulin resistance, diabetes, hypertension, increased weight gain, and not to mention manufactured from genetically modified corn.
- Information Provided By: American Chemical Society, American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Mayo Clinic, WebMD, CSPI, Chi-Tang Ho, Ph.D. Rutgers University, Wikipedia, www.wakingtimes.com
2. Corn Syrup
What it is: Corn syrup is a sweetener manufacturers use in processed foods, including canned fruits and vegetables, ice cream, salad dressings and lunch meats.
What we know: Much of the corn manufacturers grow and use today are genetically modified. Eating foods and food products made from genetically modified corn may increase your risk of liver and kidney toxicity. Corn syrup may increase the risk of diarrhea. Eating foods and drinking beverages made with corn syrup, especially high-fructose corn syrup, can increase your weight and fat.
– Information Provided By: Livestrong.com
3. Sugar
What it is: Sugar is a nutrient in foods your body converts into glucose for cells to metabolize for energy. Dietary sugars are found in whole grains, fruits, vegetables and other foods. Manufacturers often add sugars to foods to give them a sweeter flavor to make the product more appealing to consumers. Yet eating too much sugar can increase your risks of certain health conditions. – Livestrong.com
What we know: The average American consumes 142 pounds of sugar a year! Sugar weakens our immune system, causes inflammation, and spikes our insulin levels. It’s also highly addictive. Cancer cells need sugar to thrive. When you consume sugar-laden foods, your pancreas’ beta cells produce insulin. By consuming sugar excessively, an overproduction of insulin may occur and you may become immune to its effects. Reducing sugar intake and normalizing your insulin levels can lower your risk of cancer.” – Dr. Joseph Mercola
4. Potassium Sorbate
What it is: One of the most prolific preservatives in the food industry.
What we know: It is recommended to avoid this chemical. The food industry and its scientists will parrot endless myths that potassium sorbate is not a health threat because of its safety record and non-toxic profile. This could not be further from the truth. Food and chemical toxicology reports have labeled potassium sorbate as a carcinogen, showing positive mutation results in the cells of mammals. Other studies have shown broad systemic and toxic effects on non-reproductive organs in animals. No long term studies have ever been initiated on either animals or humans, so there is simply not enough evidence to theorize what could happen after years of ingesting this preservative. However, based on short-term carcinogenic and toxic effects, is it worth the risk to find out?
- Information Provided By: Waking Times
5. Mono- and Diglycerdies
What it is: Monoglycerides and diglycerides are food additives commonly used to combine ingredients containing fats with those containing water, two types of ingredients that don’t ordinarily combine well. Food manufacturers typically use them to extend a product’s shelf life.
What we know: Made up in part of fatty acids, mono- and diglycerides may contain trans fats, either when manufactured in a lab or, if they come from an animal or vegetable source, when exposed to heat for processing into packaged and prepared foods. Trans fats have been associated with increased risk of numerous diseases, including heart disease, stroke and diabetes. They promote inflammation and obesity; raise LDL, or bad, cholesterol levels; and lower HDL, or good, cholesterol levels.
– Information provided by: Livestrong.com
6. Polysorbate 60
What it is: Used as an emulsifier, thickener and stabilizer.
What we know: According to the “Journal of National Cancer Institute,” the “Journal of Nutrition” and the FAO Nutrition Meetings Report Series, polysorbate 60 can cause detrimental reproductive effects, organ toxicity and cancer in high doses.
7. Xanthan Gum
What it is: Xanthan Gum is made by fermenting corn sugar with a bacteria,Xanthomonas campestris. Xanthan gum is an emulsifier. It helps ingredients blend more effectively and stay blended while waiting on a shelf. It is also used as a thickener.
What we know: Xanthan gum may be derived from a variety of sources such as corn, wheat, or soy making it a likely source of GMOs.
Chocolate Sauce
Prep Time: 1 minute
Cook Time: 2 minutes
Total Time: 3 minutes
Whole Food. Real Food. Good Food. www.facebook.com/wholefoodrealfood
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup Enjoy Life Chocolate Chips
- 1/2 tsp Coconut Oil
Instructions
- Combine ingredients in a small bowl.
- Microwave for 20 second intervals, stirring in-between intervals until chocolate is smooth.
- Enjoy!
Chocolate Sauce
1/2 cup Enjoy Life Chocolate Chips
1/2 tsp Coconut Oil
1. Combine ingredients in a small bowl.
2. Microwave for 20 second intervals, stirring in-between intervals until chocolate is smooth.
3. Enjoy!
Eat Better. Feel Better.
