This blog post is in partnership with That’s It Fruit Co. Thanks for supporting projects that make Nutrition Happen!

POLL: What’s better than pairing fruit with chocolate?

(spoiler: nothing really – unless you said “and wine” because in that case, I’d have to give you a high-five and a YES my friend!)

Separately, fruit and chocolate already have different vitamins and minerals that are beneficial to our health, but together, it’s even better. For example, not only do apples give us a nice dose of fiber (hey, digestive health!) but the skin contains a flavonoid called quercetin (a type of antioxidant) which helps reduce inflammation. The cacao in chocolate contain high amounts of catechin (another antioxidant) that is beneficial in maintaining heart health by reducing the risk for plaque buildup in the heart. When combined as a part of a healthy diet, it could help with reducing overall inflammation in the body. Think less inflammation = improved skin and heart health.

But more importantly, let’s chat about eating desserts for a second. Dietitians get this question often: “Can I eat desserts if I want to eat healthier? What about the sugar?!” First of all, it’s important to honor your cravings – part of healthy eating is knowing that you can enjoy all foods. It’s important to feel empowered about your food choices and understand how to enjoy everything in moderation. When the majority of our food choices involves lots of whole vegetables, fruits, quality protein and healthy fats (i.e choices that are as close to nature as possible), choosing to include a dessert is completely normal and can even help satisfy cravings in the long run.

However, it’s such a bonus when we can satisfy a sweet tooth a nutrient packed way – with fruit! Choosing to incorporate a variety of fruits can help curb a sweet craving without any added sugars – while providing extra vitamins. So, the bottom line when it comes to sugar is to to be mindful about added sugars – and choose natural sources as often as possible.

These dark chocolate truffles from That’s It Fruit are made with apples + blueberries + dark chocolate and no additional preservatives – which makes great options for everyone, even vegans and those who are gluten-free. I love eating a few of these truffles after dinner as night cap! But my all-time favorite way to enjoy them is adding to a cheese or snack board for when friends come over. It’s an easy way to entertain as a host (and at the same time, make nutrition happen)!

Also highly recommended: combining with wine for an extra-antioxidant boost. (Zinfandels are my current choice to pair with chocolate!) The apple + blueberry + chocolate truffle combination is a classic, but my favorite is definitely the coconut + apple + chocolate. The mini packages are the perfect emergency sweet snack to toss in your bag!

To check out where you can find That’s It chocolate truffles, check out their website here.