5 Tips for a healthier Easter long weekend
Published on Mon Mar 26 2018 in Lifestyle
Easter is nearly upon us! If you’re like most people, you probably aren’t thinking about your diet whilst stocking up on chocolate bunnies and hot cross buns. However, come Tuesday morning you may wish you had. Here are five tips for making your Easter a bit more waistline-friendly.
Choose your chocolate wisely. Not all chocolate is created equal. The vast majority of Easter treats are made of cheap ingredients, and are loaded with added sugar and milk. Limiting your lollies to only the best brands can help keep the kilojoules at bay. You’ll likely be tempted to buy and eat fewer of them, and what you do eat will contain higher quality ingredients.
Swapping milk chocolate for dark varieties may also help your health. Dark chocolate contains a compound called flavanol, which boasts many health benefits. It has been shown to help protect the heart, reduce stress, and improve cholesterol!
Save hot cross buns for Easter Sunday. With hot cross buns hitting bakeries earlier and earlier, it can be tempting to indulge in the week’s (or months) leading up to Easter. But as yummy as a bun with butter is, they are a very kilojoule heavy snack! Try saving hot cross buns for Easter Sunday. This will not only help your waistline, but make them feel like a special holiday treat.
Give non-food gifts. Chocolates, lollies and hot cross buns will probably always be associated with Easter, but you can make a dent in the number of sugary gifts your family receives. Instead of chocolate bunnies and eggs, give your children or grandchildren a book, DVD or small toy. Ask other family members to join in, or to at least not go too overboard with the chocolatey presents!
Fit in exercise. Long weekends were made for relaxing, but with all those Easter sweets, fitting even a little exercise in can help you stay fit. Keep things simple and involve the entire family for better follow through. A brisk walk to the shops, a game of tag with the grandkids or a backyard cricket match will all get your heart pumping!
Give away or toss chocolates after Monday. People tend to overindulge during special occasions, and Easter is no exception. Come Tuesday morning you may find your home still brimming with more chocolates than you really need. Rather than eating all these goodies, share the best ones with family, friends or neighbours who missed out on the Easter fun. Any leftover low-quality chocolates are probably best thrown out, but can be shared as well.
Do you have any tips for a healthier Easter long weekend? Share them with us on Facebook!
About Author: Momentum Life is a leading provider of Life insurance and Funeral insurance in New Zealand.
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