Contributed by Info Guru Paul Seaburn

The best medical news we’ve received recently is that dark chocolate is good for you!

I’m not sure why, but I don’t care – any reason to eat chocolate is good enough for me. There are as many ways to eat chocolate as there are selections in a big heart-shaped box. Here are some of our favorite ways to eat and enjoy chocolate.

10. Fruit Dip

Strawberries are the perfect size, shape and taste to be dipped in chocolate and eaten right away before anyone else knows you have them. Just about any berry or sliced fruit that holds up to dipping will work – oranges are an interesting combination.

9. French Silk Pie

The French claim to have invented it but we probably eat it more based on comparative waistlines. Combine butter, sugar, vanilla, eggs and good quality baking chocolate and pour into a baked shell and refrigerate – if you can wait!

8. Truffles

Chocolate truffles are another of those ways to eat chocolate invented by the French and improved (if that’s possible) by other countries. Bite into a truffle and enjoy a traditional ganache center or the many other popular fillings, including chocolate, cream, nuts and liqueur.

7. Ice cream

Chocolate ice cream is the favorite flavor of people who don’t like vanilla, but don’t stop at plain chocolate. Mint chocolate chip, double chocolate, chocolate fudge and other chocolate flavors will have you licking the bowl and asking for more.

6. Chocolate milk

Whether you make it yourself with chocolate powder or syrups or buy it ready-made, chocolate milk is ever preferred by calves over the white stuff. If you’re an athlete, it’s also a great after-workout drink to replenish carbs and protein.

5. Right out of the box

Don’t limit yourself to Valentine’s Day when it comes to giving boxes of mixed chocolates to others or yourself. Go for the double-layer box so you can sneak a few before anyone else finds them.

4. Cheesecake

Chocolate and cream cheese are a marriage made in dessert heaven, especially when made into a chocolate cheesecake on a yummy graham cracker crust. Shave a little chocolate on top and you’ve got the perfect chocolate dessert.

3. Brownies

Brownies are an all-American chocolate snack, created by a chef at the Palmer House Hotel in Chicago. Plain, extra-fudgy or with nuts, brownies are an easy chocolate treat to make and eat … and eat and eat!

2. Fudge

While you can make it in a variety of flavors, chocolate fudge seems to be the reason fudge was invented. It can be a challenge to make at home because of its consistency – fortunately, there’s plenty of fudge available at candy stores, state fairs and Grandma’s house.

1. Bars

There’s a reason why candy bars are on display at the checkout counter – stores know how much we love to eat them. Whether you go with an old childhood favorite or try the new and exotic chocolate bar versions, you can’t not smile while eating a chocolate bar.