• (Psst, I'm not the only one who thinks chocolate for breakfast is cool. See what Serious Eats had to say about the phenomenon.)

2. Make dark chocolates your new BFF. And unless it's your favorite thing in the world, stay away from white chocolate. That's all milk, cream, and sugar and none of the good stuff. Don't like dark chocolate? There's a way to transition. Several chocolatiers have begun developing a hybrid called "dark milk chocolate." Read up on what a Tuscan chocolatier is doing to resolve tension between dark chocolate and milk chocolate lovers here.

3. Eat chocolate when you're happy. So you know that logic that justifies a chocolate binge when you're feeling low in spirits and high in cravings? Well, that logic makes you fat. Make chocolates a reason to celebrate instead and save yourself the mindless eating. Pity parties are never cool anyway, and waking up next to empty candy wrappers? Not sexy.

4. Saving some for later saves you calories. I've been known to tear through a box of truffles like nobody's business but on days when I practice more self-control (i.e. bikini season), I eat chocolate in bits and pieces. It once took me three days to finish a 2X3 brownie (and it tasted better the more I ate it!). Break that candy bar into seven pieces and enjoy chocolate everyday—minus the guilt.

and my favorite rule of thumb...


5. Sharing is caring...for your body. Your pre-school teacher was right all along. This no-fail rule cuts your calorie intake by as much as half—or so much more, depending on how many dessert buddies you have. Believe that good chocolate must be shared, if only because calories must be split. Keep this in mind the next time you hide chocolate under your pillow.