Tips for a healthy happy Easter!
When you're focused on your health and fitness goals-Easter can be tough. Supermarkets are stockpiled with Chocolate Easter Eggs, the scent of Hot Cross Buns waft from the bakery and family gatherings are usually centred around food. So, to make the Easter holiday easier for you, we have put together some tips to make the best of this time of the year without getting off track!
1. Dark Chocolate is King!
If you are going to indulge on the sweet stuff during Easter, make it Dark Chocolate. Dark chocolate is often purported for its health benefits because it is higher in antioxidants and lower in sugar than its white and milk counterparts. But don't take this as permission for a free for all! Dark chocolate has significantly higher fat-but because of the bitterness, lower sugar and higher fat you shouldn't need to eat as much!
2. Maintain your regular exercise
Exercising is a great way to reduce your cravings for sugar and bad foods so will reduce your need for chocolate. Exercise will also keep you mindful of making good choices as you won't want to undo the good you have done! It doesn't even need to be structured-just try to keep active! Organise a game of backyard cricket or footy, go for a hike or run while the kids ride their bike! Just try to minimise the damage of the holiday's food consumption and keep moving!
3. Good Friday = seafood
Traditionally seafood-rather than red meat-is served on Good Friday. Whether this is a tradition you follow or not, it is a great opportunity to have some fresh seafood for dinner and there is usually an abundance of beautiful seafood available at this time of year. Seafood is a great source of Omega 3 fatty acids, rich in protein and low in calories. Pair your seafood with a fresh salad and veggies and you have a very healthy Easter meal.
4. Keep hydrated-but not with alcohol!
Alongside that beautiful seafood often comes some beautiful Champagne. Although we don't want to ruin all of your fun, be sure to limit the amount you consume, as alcohol adds extra unwanted calories. And since it is a toxin, your body has to burn it off first, so if you've splurged on extra chocolate, you won't be burning that off while alcohol is present in your body! So instead of downing the alcohol choose some low-calorie drinks like sparkling water or kombucha to stay well hydrated but not at detriment to your goals!
5. Make like a real Bunny not a Lindt Bunny and eat your veggies!
As Easter is often full of gatherings and entertaining's, nibbles and cheese and biscuits are often on the menu! So, make like the Easter Bunny not a Lindt Bunny and eat your veggies like carrots, cucumber, capsicum and celery for nibbles. These low-calorie veggies will help to keep your overall food consumption low and might even give you some extra room for that dark chocolate you are eyeing off. J
Don't be ashamed to eat some this Easter, a healthy, fit lifestyle is all about balance, but, if you can control how much you eat, maintain your intake of fresh fruit/veg, without forgetting to exercise, you'll have a very happy healthy Easter holiday and come back with minimal or no damage. Good luck and Happy Easter!
*Disclaimer: Individual results vary based on agreed goals. Click here for details.
