The Easter holidays is an exciting time, however, it is often a time when giving into temptation is just too easy. For anyone trying to lead a healthy lifestyle, the Easter weekend can set them back weeks, if not months.
51% of respondents to a recent survey conducted by online lifestyle tool Voome admitted that it has previously taken one to three weeks to get back on track after an Easter chocolate splurge, with a further 9% saying it has taken one month or longer. High five to the 15% who said it takes no time as they don’t give in to temptation at all!
Breaking it down – which Easter treats are the healthiest?
If shunning chocolate altogether isn’t an option, there are ways to make healthier choices and still indulge a little.
Not all Easter eggs are created equal! The above diagram, created by Voome’s team of fitness and nutrition expertscompares chocolate, breaking down the calories, sugar content and the amount of exercise required to balance out each one.
According to Amelia Phillips, fitness and nutrition expert:
“If you’re going to indulge, be smart and make an informed decision! Before reaching for what seems like a healthier choice, work out how long you’ll need to exercise to work it off. Go for quality over quantity – choosea smaller chocolate that you’re really going to love and take the time to enjoy it, rather than eating lots of ok chocolate, just because it’s there.
Also, opt for good quality dark chocolate (70% cocoa or higher) to get the benefits AND flavour. It’s true that the antioxidants found in cocoa (the main ingredient in chocolate) are good for your heart and body, but it’s also true that the excess sugar, butter and milk powder in milk or white chocolate means those benefits are lost. Finally, choose hollow eggs instead of solid eggs, give any leftovers away after Easter Sunday, and also avoid the supermarkets post-Easter when the discount eggs spring up…they can be very tempting!”