Now that the holidays are over you may find yourself missing some of the hustle and bustle of social events and activities. Which is why we think that throwing a chocolate tasting party this month is such a great idea. It’ll give you an excuse to get together with friends or family in a more relaxed atmosphere, while encouraging the exploration of tasty food (which is heart healthy too, if you choose dark chocolate).

Here are some ideas for planning a successful party:

• Decide what type of chocolate you will be tasting. You can focus on a particular type of chocolate (like dark chocolate) or choose a broader range of chocolates (like milk chocolate or chocolates with nuts). Another idea is to focus on a particular brand or country of origin. Whatever you decide let guests know ahead of time, especially if you’d like them to contribute a bar (to avoid duplicates make assignments).

• Collect your party supplies. You’ll need foods that clear the palate, like water crackers or breadsticks. You should also print out a rating form that includes sample flavors, textures, and aromas.

• Break up chocolate bars into small pieces and present them on small plates with accompanying labels.

• Taste lightest chocolates first and move toward the darker versions as you progress.

To really savor the experience and flavors, try to avoid overindulgence. Oh, and please let us know how it goes!

(We’ve given you 30 days for this Challenge. When you log your progress, you only need to log as many – or as few – days as are applicable.)