ASK JACKSON

The Southeast Missourian asked people how they compare to the average American who consumes 11.7 pounds of chocolate in a year.

Vicki House: "I am very close to that. I have to eat chocolate every day. Yesterday was Whopper candies. The day before was a Hershey's candy bar. I have chocolate milk every morning. I make it with three table spoons. I am addicted, but that's fine with me."

Renee Bennett: "I don't eat a lot of chocolate, maybe once a week. About three days ago I had an Almond Joy candy bar. I keep chocolate cookies in the house because my husband and my two sons want chocolate daily. If I don't, they get very upset with me."

Carole Ellis: "I probably eat half that much in a year. Reece's Peanut Butter Cups are my favorite and also Hershey's Kisses with almonds. I have to fight my cravings because if I ate chocolate as much as I wanted, I would balloon out. You have to indulge once in a while."

Joe Hercik: "I probably have about six pounds of chocolate a year. I get it mostly with chocolate chip cookies. I rarely would have a block of chocolate. I get more excited about the aroma of a freshly-baked chocolate chip cookies. I also like chocolate shakes occasionally."

Tee Trankler: "I eat very little to none. Last week I had some chocolate M&Ms left over from Easter, and now I'm wearing them with a pimple. My wife bakes lots of chocolate chip cookies because my dad loves them. One won't bother me, but if I eat too many, I wear them too."