How to have an egg-stremely healthy Easter
Easter can be your first major hurdle if you’ve kicked off the year in a healthy way. But fear not, you can have your cake (OK, chocolate) and eat it too.
For those watching their waistlines and working on their health and fitness, Easter can be a truly tricky time. Easter eggs, chocolate bunnies, hot cross buns… we could go on.
But consider this. A Creme Egg may take just a few (admittedly delicious) seconds to consume but burning it off requires a full hour of swimming, according to research.
“I get it, you set those New Year’s resolutions and you’re getting into the swing of eating well, exercising and staying on track and along comes the Easter long weekend, tempting you with all of the delights we know and love from this holiday season,” says best-selling cookbook author, fitness coach and House of Wellness TV co-host Luke Hines.
“But I’ve got good news: you can head into Easter incredibly confident that you can have your cake and eat it too – or in this instance, Easter treats!”
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All chocolate not is created equal
Dietitian Teri Lichtenstein says the first key to healthy eating habits at Easter is to not “demonise” chocolate, but rather try to “savour it in small amounts”.
And the darker the chocolate the better. She says products containing at least 200mg of cocoa flavanols (bio-active compounds found in plants) can improve blood vessels elasticity, which helps with blood flow (and that means wellness).
“And happily, dark chocolate pairs very well with a range of fruits and vegetables including oranges and beetroot,” Teri says.
“With less than 4 four per cent of Australians eating enough veggies every day and only 30 per cent eating enough fruit, why not try getting a bang for your buck this Easter by combining chocolate deliciousness with fruit and veg goodness.”
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Make it a mindful Easter
Use the time off to focus on a little self-care, adds workout guru Tiffiny Hall.
“Easter is a great opportunity to reset your exercise routine and prepare for the colder months ahead,” says the popular TV personality.
“Can you sneak in some extra workouts over Easter to feel more empowered? Take some time out to engage in some mindfulness and meditation? Anything that focuses on helping you to feel healthier mentally and physically over this time will be a huge head start.”
There’s an added benefit to combining the two. A US study found that when meditation and exercise are practised in tandem – in a twice-a-week routine – both might be even more beneficial than the sum of their parts, especially for those with depression.
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Healthy Easter treat recipes
Our experts have come up with three delectably delicious healthy Easter recipes that will satisfy every last sweet tooth craving and leave you feeling great.
Simple Snickers Bites (low-carb, keto, gluten-free and dairy-free)
(Recipe and image from The Fast Low-Carb Kickstart Plan, written by Luke Hines and available in bookstores and online.)
“This will crunch those cravings, and keep you looking and feeling your best,” Luke says.
Ingredients
For the peanut butter filling:
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MethodStep 1. Step 2. Step 3. Step 4. Step 5. Good to know: For a thicker chocolate coating, re-freeze the bites after coating with the chocolate (and before sprinkling over the peanuts and salt). Leave to set completely, then coat again before applying the toppings as before. Makes 12 |
Blender Beetroot Brownie
(Recipe and image from In Praise of Veg by Alice Zaslavsky, photography by Ben Dearnley. Murdoch Books RRP $59.99. See more online.)
“This delicious chocolate-beetroot brownie by Alice is extremely yummy and is exactly the sort of Easter treat we’ve been talking about,” Teri says.
Ingredients
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MethodStep 1. Step 2. Step 3. Step 4. Step 5. Step 6. Step 7. Step 8. Serves six to eight. |
Tiff’s Chocolate Hot Cross Buns
(Recipe and image from Tiffiny Hall’s online health and fitness program, TIFFXO)
“Easter doesn’t have to be a time you eat all the things and fall off the wagon,” Tiffiny says. “Of course one little treat won’t make a difference, but a chocolate binge will.”
Ingredients
For the paste:
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MethodStep 1. Step 2. Step 3. Step 4. Step 5. Step 6. Makes 12 |
Recipe credits:
In Praise of Veg by Alice Zaslavsky, photography by Ben Dearnley. Murdoch Books RRP $59.99. See more online.)
The Fast Low-Carb Kickstart Plan, by Luke Hines and available in bookstores and online.
Tiffiny Hall’s online health and fitness program: TIFFXO
Written by Liz McGrath.