It’s when this behaviour becomes a consistent and regular coping mechanism and a bad habit that it can affect mental and physical health. Check out our top tips for avoiding the Easter binge this year:

Start the day right:

• You’re less likely to stock up on Easter chocolate and buns if you’ve had a wholesome brekkie with a bit of protein, so start the day with yoghurt, fruit and muesli, or rye toast with feta and avocado. This is a good way to add some balance to a chocolatey Easter diet and make sure there is some nutritious food in the system ahead of the sugar onslaught.
• Throughout the day, eat snacks that will provide important nutrients such as fibre and protein, which will send strong satiety signals to the brain and keep tummies fuller for longer. Think nuts, tuna, yoghurt, fruit, boiled eggs and whole-grain muffins.

Opt for alternative Easter treats:

• For a healthier choccy hit, make strawberries dipped in melted chocolate – that way you’re getting some of your fruit serves as well.
• Easter egg hunts are great fun but half the fun is the hunt, so why not swap out the sugary eggs for something else like stickers or toys.
• Get crafty with DIY Easter eggs from blown-out eggshells or embrace the tradition of an Easter egg hat parade.

Be careful at the supermarket:

• Supermarkets are designed specifically for us to buy food we don’t need and in large volumes. Everywhere you turn, there are specials on chocolate, not just in the chocolate aisle, but on the end caps, the checkout and the areas leading up to the checkout. To avoid overbuying, which only leads to overeating, make a list and stick to it no matter how tempting the 2-for-1 offer is.
• Aim to only buy treats for the Easter weekend. Supermarkets stock Easter food months ahead of Easter, but it will be so much more special if it comes from the Easter Bunny on Easter Sunday.
• Pester power is real – leave the kids at home when you do the supermarket shop.

You can have your chocolate and eat it too:

• Buy the best quality eggs you can get and savour them instead of bulk buying cheap chocolate
• Opt for mini hot cross buns rather than oversized ones. You’ll still get the kick of the hot cross bun taste without overdoing it.
• Mini-eggs or hollow eggs are still delicious Easter eggs but they have less sugar and fewer calories due to their shape and size.

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