Are ‘Enjoy Life’ Semi-Sweet Chocolate Mini Chips Paleo?

enjoy-life-mini-chips-300x225.jpgThankfully, dark chocolate is allowed in moderation on the Paleo diet! You’ll notice that some of our recipes call for ‘Enjoy Life’ brand chocolate chips, such as our grain-free chocolate chip cookies and our Paleo pumpkin spice chocolate chip cookies. Most chocolate chips don’t pass as Paleo because they contain soy lecithin, grains, artificial and other non-Paleo ingredients. Luckily humans have quickly evolved the ability to make delicious baked goods out of Paleo-friendly ingredients, like almond flour and ‘Enjoy Life’ brand chocolate chips! ‘Enjoy Life’ Semi-Sweet Chocolate Mini Chips are miniature chocolate chips, about a third of the size of a standard chip. If you’re looking for a more conventionally-sized chocolate chip, then ‘Enjoy Life’ Dark Chocolate Morsels might be just the chip for you!

Nutritional Value of ‘Enjoy Life’ Semi-Sweet Chocolate Mini Chips

Ingredients: Evaporated Cane Juice, Natural Chocolate liquor (Non-Alcoholic), Non-Dairy Cocoa Butter.

Serving size: 1 Tbsp. (19 servings per container)

  • Calories: 80Total Fat: 5 g
  • Saturated Fat: 3 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Cholesterol: 0 mg
  • Sodium: 0 mg
  • Total carbohydrate: 9g
  • Dietary Fiber: 1g
  • Sugars: 7g
  • Protein: 1g
  • Vitamin A: 0 %
  • Vitamin C: 0 %
  • Calcium: 2%
  • Iron: 6%

Health Benefits of ‘Enjoy Life’ Semi-Sweet Chocolate Mini Chips

Dark chocolate is the preferred type of chocolate to consume on the Paleo diet, with higher cacao percentages being more ideal. ‘Enjoy Life’ Semi-Sweet Chocolate Mini Chips  contain 52-55% cacao, barely squeaking them into the category of a ‘dark chocolate’, so if you’re trying to limit the carbohydrates or sugar in your diet, you might opt instead for ‘Enjoy Life’ Dark Chocolate Morsels  which contain 69% cacao.

‘Enjoy Life Foods’  is our go-to brand for chocolate chips because all of their baking chocolates  are completely free from:

  • Gluten – All of the ‘Enjoy Life Foods’ products are certified gluten-free
  • Grains including corn
  • Artificial ingredients – All natural ingredients are used
  • Refined sweeteners
  • Hydrogenated oils/Trans fats
  • GMO ingredients (genetically modified organisms) – the ‘Enjoy Life Foods’ company has received the official Non-GMO Project Verification on most of their products
  • Several major allergens including: wheat (gluten), dairy (lactose), eggs, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, casein, potato, mustard, sesame, sulfites, fish, crustaceans, and shellfish.

On their website  ‘Enjoy Life Foods’ claims to be “at the top of the gluten-free/allergy-friendly food chain, as no other free-from company in the natural foods category has more verified non-GMO products.” In addition, they are a completely gluten-free and nut-free facility, which is definitely something to brag about!

Where to Buy and How to Store ‘Enjoy Life’ Semi-Sweet Chocolate Mini Chips

‘Enjoy Life’ Semi-Sweet Chocolate Mini Chips can be purchased in higher-end grocery stores, in health food stores, and online.

According to their website, you should keep your package of chocolate chips tightly sealed or otherwise stored away from light and air so your mini chips will stay as fresh as possible. Of course you will also want to store them in a cool area away from heat, or your tiny chocolate chips may melt into a giant chocolate blob. ;-) ‘Enjoy Life’ Semi-Sweet Chocolate Mini Chips can also be frozen, or otherwise enjoyed by the “best-by” date on the package.

Should I Eat ‘Enjoy Life’ Semi-Sweet Chocolate Mini Chips?

Chocolate is a delicious treat and when it comes in the form of tiny chocolate chips, I mean seriously, what’s not to love?! Thankfully Paleo-friendly dark chocolate, when used in moderation , is permitted on the Paleo diet. Yay! In general, you want your dark chocolate to contain a minimum of 50% cocoa (cacao) solids, with higher percentages (70% and above) being more ideal because they contain less sugar.  ‘Enjoy Life’ Semi-Sweet Chocolate Mini Chips  contain 52-55% cacao, barely making the cut-off, but making the cut-off nonetheless! If you’re working to reduce the carbohydrates and sugar in your life, then you may want to try ‘Enjoy Life’ Dark Chocolate Morsels, which have a bit less sugar and contain 69% cacao. All of the ‘Enjoy Life Foods’ brand baking chocolates  are free of soy, grains and artificial ingredients, and as far as chocolate chips go, they are about as Paleo as they come!

Kinsey JacksonKinsey Jackson

Kinsey Jackson, LMP, MS, CNS® is a clinical nutritionist specializing in functional and evolutionary nutrition. Her own experience of overcoming multiple autoimmune disorders by adopting a Paleo lifestyle vastly contributes to her passion for helping others to also reclaim their health and vitality by making informed dietary decisions.