How to Hop Your Way Through A Healthy Easter

Healthy lifestyle: Going into winter means that food temptations are running high, and to top it off there are chocolate-coated marshmallows doing the rounds to remind you that Easter is upon us.

Any moment of celebration lowers inhibitions when it comes to our relationships with food. We’re human, we love to treat ourselves to our favourite snacks and we’re not fond of dietary restrictions that only increase our cravings. This is why many people end up over-eating during the festive season as well as times like Easter. The key is, in fact, to be moderate and find foods that are healthier for us but also satisfy those pesky cravings.

1. Chocolate is the big hurdle we’ll need to tackle come Easter, what with candy-coated egg shells, marshmallows and other themed sugary treats lining the shelves in our local store. There are alternates such as carob that have a similar flavouring if you’re looking to stay in the same range of flavour and texture. A new, emerging trend is pressed fruits and nuts that emulate this flavour, but due to their ingredients, the textures are not the same. Banting bars and all-natural alternatives to candy can be found at boutique health stores and even online!
2. Another option is to adjust your exercise routine to the influx of treats you’ll be consuming during this period. If you know you’re going to be having a higher intake of these foods, your workout regime should reflect this accordingly. Don’t overdo the increase as you don’t want it to become an act of punishment. This is more of a pre-emptive strike to ensure that a few weeks after Easter you don’t surprise yourself with sudden weight gain.
3. Remember also to balance out your meals; make room in your day-to-day intake to accommodate the influx. Keep eating those fruits and veggies to maintain an otherwise balanced diet.
4. Have your own back, you want to commit to a healthy lifestyle without giving up sugary goods and that’s fine, but don’t allow yourself to slip into overindulgence.
5. Listen to your stomach. Your cravings might get the better of you, but if you can pay attention to your cravings you can pay attention to other signs that your body is sending you. When you’re full, stop eating. When you’re dehydrated, drink water. Make sure that all your body’s needs are being met as well as its wants

These are some simple ways to stay on track during Easter and should set you in good stead to maintain a healthy lifestyle without missing out on the age old tradition of the egg hunt!