Easter oh yes!; oh no!
Yes, Easter can bring out the best and worst in us and the temptation to indulge can be hard to avoid. Well-meaning friends, family and workmates showing their love for us with a giant chocolate bunny can raise the stress levels if you’re trying to eat healthy. Whilst an occasional fall off the healthy eating wagon won’t hurt us and can actually be good for our soul, in today’s blog we’ll look at the healthy alternatives.
For our little people
Easter egg hunts can still take place but how about swapping some of the milk chocolate for darker chocolate. Whilst our wee darlings may not cope with 90% dark chocolate (which contains 7.5% sugar), any improvement over the standard 57% sugar content of most milk chocolate for will help their taste-buds acclimatise to have less preference for sweetness. Dark chocolate contains antioxidants, many of which are lost in when making milk and white chocolate. Although dark chocolate is relatively healthy, still include only moderate amounts in your Easter egg hunt baskets as unfortunately even with dark chocolate, more is not better!
Dark chocolate coated nuts are another great option and my kiddies love making them (especially as they get to lick the bowl of melted chocolate after)! The nuts provide a good source of healthy fats; moderate amounts of protein; dietary fibre; and provide a good range of essential nutrients, including several vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.
Other options for children include homemade healthy chocolate brownies or fudge. My favourite recipe (because it contains zucchini and is a sneaky way of getting more veges into my wee darlings) can be found at https://iquitsugar.com/recipe/zucchini-brownies/. Also, remember small toys/crafts as an option, it’s the gift that lasts longer! Lastly, all children love the gift of time, you can always make a voucher for a ‘mummy moment’, something special that your child loves to do with you.
For us big kiddies
All the tips for the little people apply can still apply for us, yes I still love ‘mummy moments’. For us this could involve your partner looking after the children while you go for a walk with a friend or have a relaxing bath. Alternatively, maybe suggest to your partner that you would much rather have a ‘date night’ with them instead of the biggest chocolate bunny he/she can find. There are so many other ways your family, friends and workmates can show their appreciation of you that doesn’t involve adding to your waistline. It can be a bit awkward to mention your wishes to them but you will probably find they are also dreading the temptation of all those extra Easter calories lying around. Maybe say, “I would like to buy you a gift for Easter, but I know not everyone is keen on the extra calories. What would you like me to buy you or do for you for Easter?” Most important of all though, don’t beat yourself up if you over-indulge this Easter. Stress is just as harmful to our bodies as unhealthy food. Make up for Easter indulgence with at least a few days prior or after of super healthy eating. Your body will thank you for it and you’ll feel less guilty!
