Five Healthy Easter Holiday Suggestions

Mind is All

When you think of Easter, do you groan at the thought of the kids gorging themselves on handfuls of candy? If your family needs to lose weight, consider changing some of the holiday traditions to more healthful options. Instead of lecturing your family, make changes that won't feel drastic but will help get you all moving in the right direction.

Instead of filling Easter baskets with candy, buy gifts and only a little candy. Pile the baskets high with things that are fun but useful, such as sandals, sunglasses, bubbles, goggles, bug-catching toys, decks of cards, and jump ropes. Try to think of gifts that will encourage the kids to be active or at least to stay away from the television and computer.

Give each child only a little candy. Don't eliminate candy entirely, but instead place a few decadent pieces of something special in the basket, like a couple of Godiva chocolates or a small package of Jelly Belly jelly beans. Challenge the kids to eat the jelly beans one at a time and to guess at the flavors instead of gobbling.

Reduce calories in the menu. Shop around for a lean ham (or trim fat). Eliminate buns, mashed spuds, and the creamy green bean dish topped with those Funions since these are the least healthy traditional Easter dishes. Replace those items with a fresh vegetable, a salad, sliced fresh fruit, and a small baked potatoes. Don't serve something dastardly for dessert like cheesecake, but instead serve something like berries with whipped cream.

Plan out fun but active things to do during the celebration. Plan a fun egg hunt, hiding eggs all over the place so the kids have to search hard to find them all. Plan a family walk either to a park or to a pleasant location. Plan an active game like hide and go seek or some sort of challenge course.

Dye and eat eggs. Hard boiled eggs are delicious and full of protein. Coloring eggs will stimulate creativity.

Give your family the gift of health this Easter, instead of the gift of an extra few pounds.