A little whimsy for the holidays

“A little nonsense every now and then, is relished by the wisest men.” Ah, the words of Willy Wonka ringing out so true in these days leading up to Christmas 2017.

Typically, this is the time when the stress that comes with the holidays rears its ugly head. There’s a lot to do and time’s ticking away – last minute shopping, baking, mailing packages, preparing to travel, crowds, lines, the endless search for a parking space that isn’t in the next city, concerts, parties and so much more.

Sometimes, you just need something to take your mind off things for a while, sit back, relax and smile. So, today’s blog focuses on something that many turn to in time of stress – CHOCOLATE! In fact, the four basic food groups are defined by some as milk chocolate, dark chocolate, white chocolate and chocolate truffles. Works for me.

And, much to my surprise, guess what tomorrow is? It is National Chocolate Covered Anything Day. Who knew? Celebrate it. Drizzle, pour, spread that chocolate on whatever suits your fancy. Indulge, binge; make an event out of it. Chocolate strawberries, marshmallows, pretzels, chips, bacon, coffee beans, bananas, raisins – go for it. Get creative. Make up your own delicacy.

Here’s the best part. Chocolate is good for you! It contains nutrients that include potassium, calcium and iron and it contains the B-vitamin riboflavin. Studies in the past have shown that people who consumed cocoa regularly had lower blood pressure than those that didn’t, were less likely to die from cardiovascular disease and had better peripheral blood flow. It’s also been noted that chocolate has an antibacterial effect on the mouth and protects against tooth decay! How about this? When it comes to coughs, chocolate is more effective that codeine; it’s a natural pain killer and it can contribute to brain health.

Okay, point made. If all this doesn’t convince you to ease the stress of holiday preparations with chocolate, consider this line of thinking. According to an article posted on mentalfloss.com, chocolate is a vegetable – sort of. Chocolate comes from the cacao bean which grows on the cacao tree, an evergreen. This makes the most important part of the sweet treat a vegetable. And we all know that eating vegetables is good for you.

That’s it for the whimsy today. Hope it makes you smile a little. The holidays are supposed to be fun. Don’t get caught up in all the “stuff.” Enjoy and have some chocolate.

Posted by MJ Thomas