5 Tips For a Healthier Easter (Without the FOMO!)

Easter is a tough time for anyone with a sweet tooth. Colourful chocolate treats are on every shelf, kids are begging for Easter egg hunts, and the smell of freshly baked buns can make every grocery trip a battle. 

A little indulgence is fine - but bingeing is not. Too much sugar too often can have a negative impact on the immune system, and may even reduce the ability of your immune cells to fight pathogens. Which is certainly not what you want just before cold and flu season! 

But Easter doesn’t have to be all about chocolate, and it doesn’t have to be all about restrictions, either. You can still enjoy the holiday (and the odd treat) while supporting your health and wellbeing. 

Here are five tips for a healthier Easter - without the FOMO! 

1. Easter egg crafts

Easter wouldn’t be Easter without those colourful eggs. But the eggs don’t have to be wrapped in foil - and they don’t have to be made of chocolate! 

Hand-painting eggs will keep the kids entertained for hours, especially during the school holidays. You can even teach them how to blow out the yolk so their creations can be kept long term. The results can be given as gifts or put on display, or - if you keep them fresh - eaten for Easter breakfast. We don’t have to tell you that a real chicken egg makes a much healthier breakfast than a marshmallow one!

There are plenty of Youtube tutorials on how to decorate and display Easter eggs. Get some paints and brushes and start a new family tradition! 

2. Go for the good stuff

As we all know, most commercial Easter treats these days are low in nutrients and very high in sugar and fat. 

Avoid the “sugar high” - and the guilt - by making your own Easter treats at home! The internet has no end of recipes for making quality chocolate at home, and it’s yet another activity to keep the kids occupied. 

No time for the kitchen? The next best thing is to choose high quality, low sugar chocolate. Yes, it does exist! Dark milk chocolate has less sugar and more cocoa than standard chocolate (which may have as little as 10% cocoa) and chocolate made from real cacao actually offers some health benefits in the form of antioxidants. The higher the percentage of cocoa, the more bitter the flavour - the most popular dark chocolate products contain 70-85% cocoa solids.

If dark chocolate isn’t quite to your taste, there’s always Be Smart Chocolate Beans. These popular little goodies are a great low-sugar alternative for kids (and adults!). They’re made with real chocolate but naturally sweetened with maltitol and steviol glycosides.

3. Support your blood sugar levels

The sight of an Easter egg can make anyone’s mouth water. But if you find yourself struggling with sugar cravings on an everyday basis, don’t blame your lack of control - it could be that your blood sugar levels are out of balance.  

Chromium is an essential trace mineral that can help to support healthy blood sugar levels. It works by supporting the activity of insulin, a hormone that helps blood sugar enter the body's cells so it can be used for energy. Chromium also supports the body’s ability to break down and absorb carbohydrates, fats, and proteins from the food you eat. 

GO Healthy GO Chromium provides a high dose of chromium picolinate in an easy one-a-day dose. 

Clinician’s Blood Sugar Balance is a blend of nutrients to support healthy glucose and blood sugar levels. It contains chromium, magnesium, and zinc to support insulin sensitivity, along with green tea and grape seed extracts for antioxidant benefits. Blackmores Sugar Balance and provides chromium plus a range of other vitamins and minerals to support sugar and carbohydrate metabolism. 

4. Try a gentle detox

Over-indulged? Perhaps a detox is in order!

The term ‘detox’ may make you think of fad diets and weird rituals, but the concept of detoxing has been around since Roman times. And it doesn’t have to be weird! Detoxing is simply about supporting your body’s natural detoxification and elimination pathways. It can support healthy digestive function, help to relieve symptoms such as bloating and bowel regularity, and even support your body’s immune defences. Not a bad idea with winter on the way!

Goodhealth Total Body Cleanse Detox is a two-part kit for an easy, gentle cleanse that supports overall health and wellbeing. The kit includes the Good Health Multi Cleanse - a gentle, effective formula to support healthy elimination via the the liver, kidneys, bowel, and skin - and Goodhealth Multi Fibre, which contains a range of nutrients for supporting bowel regularity and the elimination of toxins. You can use the Total Body Cleanse kit over seven days for a rapid detox, or over a month for a more gradual cleanse. 

To get the most out of your detox and support the cleansing process, be sure to eat a healthy diet, drink plenty of water, and exercise each day.  

5. Manage your appetite 

Worried that your love of chocolate will lead to uncontrollable bingeing over Easter? Or still dreaming about Easter eggs long after the holiday has passed? Some extra dietary fibre could help. Fibre is highly recommended for anyone trying to manage their weight or reduce sugar cravings. Fibre works by slowing down the passage of food through the gut, which means that you feel full and more satisfied for longer, so you’re less likely to snack. SlimFit Appetite Reducer contains Redusure®, a proprietary blend of dietary fibres that draw water into the bowel and keep you feeling satiated. 

Designed to help manage cravings and compulsive eating habits, SlimFit Appetite Reducer fills up to 43% of the stomach and supports a pleasant feeling of fullness, which can make portion control easier. 

And if your healthy eating habits went completely out the window during Easter, don’t worry - you can still get back on track. A great way to get motivated (and stay motivated!) is to support your metabolism with a weight management supplement. Sanderson GarciniaMax is a high potency extract of Garcinia Cambogia fruit, which contains the active ingredient Hydroxycitric acid (HCA). HCA has been shown to support weight management and help manage cravings alongside healthy diet and exercise. As a bonus, HCA may also support balanced mood during your dieting journey. 

Pop into Bargain Chemist for more healthy ideas on immune support, weight management, and detoxification. 

Always read the label and use as directed. If symptoms persist see your healthcare

professional.