I'm Declaring my "Sweet Independence" and am Eating Chocolate Guilt-Free

Since starting this blog, I’ve always tried to remain truthful when I write on the topic of parenting.  As a mom, I certainly have unconditional love for my children, but let’s face this simple fact.

Parenting is a lot of work! 

Yes, it’s rewarding and all, but every day is not a lovely walk in the park.  Now, add the demands of outside work, other obligations, and some wacky hormones into the mix, and life, as we know it, can get crazy.

We may all look happy here, but there is no telling what the scene was like an hour earlier.

The only way we could really get this happy photo is because they each got a
piece of  Hershey's Simple Pleasures chocolate as a reward. 

My only survival tactic on a lot of these days is to enjoy bites of chocolate, especially dark chocolate. It helps me cope. It makes me happy.  It’s like I take a bite and my body sings, “I Will Survive!”

But, as a mom in my early 40s, and toting a metabolism that doesn’t function like it did a decade ago, I have to be careful of my diet because what I eat goes straight to my hips, and it’s starting to move to my stomach now, too.  I can’t eat a whole chocolate bar like I could at 25.  One chocolate bar needs to last me weeks, not a day!

When The Motherhood on behalf of Hershey’s, asked me to sample the new chocolates, Simple Pleasures, I think it took me less than a second to say, “Yes!”  The one thing that intrigued me was Hershey’s Simple Pleasures chocolates have 30 percent less fat than the average leading milk chocolates. I couldn’t help but wonder if less fat meant less taste.

Hershey's Simple Pleasures chocolates have 30 percent less fat than average leading milk chocolates. 

Guess what? It doesn’t.  I sampled three chocolates, all with a rich and creamy center.  The varieties included Milk Chocolate with Vanilla Creme, Milk Chocolate, and Dark Chocolate.  My mom even heard there was extra chocolate at my house so she got in on the tasting, too.  She thought they were so good that she had to read the label about the less fat for herself.  She didn't believe me. 

All are delicious, but I'm going to say the dark chocolate is my favorite. 

My kids loved them, too.  What I love more than anything, though, is that the serving size is clearly labeled, and since each chocolate is individually wrapped, there is no guessing on how many calories you are getting with each chocolate.  Six chocolates equal 180 calories and 8 grams of fat.

I give my children one chocolate each for dessert, and everyone is happy.  The family favorite is the dark chocolate variety, but all flavors are great.

With Independence Day this week, I’m very happy to declare my “Sweet Independence” on Hershey’s Facebook page and enjoy my chocolate without any guilt.  I can have one chocolate with my tea in the afternoon, or one after dinner, and still have fewer calories than the serving size.  Even all the chocolates together contain fewer calories than a cupcake, a piece of cake, or slice of pie.

Hershey's Simple Pleasure Dark Chocolate with Chocolate Creme

I am going to enjoy my Simple Pleasures and maintain a healthy and balanced lifestyle throughout the ups and downs of parenting.  Join me in signing a declaration for “Sweet Independence” and get special coupons and a chance to win a weekly $100 gift card.

Sweet Independence never felt and tasted so good!

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Disclosure: This is a sponsored post on behalf of The Motherhood and Hershey’s. I was compensated for my time to sample the products and to write my honest opinion about Hershey’s Simple Pleasures.