Healthy alternatives to your favourite Easter treats

Easter is a time of indulgence, when we’re surrounded by numerous Easter treats, but the constant availability and temptation can add up to a substantial amount of extra calories over a few days.

While no food should ever be completely off-limits, moderation is key. And sometimes, healthier alternatives, which are just as delicious, are the way to go. Why? Because you get to enjoy special occasions, and tasty treats without falling off the bandwagon.

To help you keep you on track with your healthy lifestyle, I’ve broken down the calories in these common Easter treats to demonstrate how much exercise you’d need to do to “burn off” a serving and reach an equilibrium. Although calories in, calories out is not an exact science, I’ve always used this method loosely to track my daily calories and ensure I balance things out with moderate exercise

I’ve also included a few healthier options so you don’t need to feel deprived or left out – in fact, they’re so good they’re sure to be a favourite among your family, too.

Lisa Raleigh running to burn off Easter Eggs

1 x 10g Lindt Bunny or two small Lindor Mini Eggs = 56 calories = about a 1km run

1 x 100g Lindt Bunny = 600 calories= an 8-10km run

1 x 50g serving Mister Sweet Speckled Eggs = 226 calories = about 20 minutes of vigorous cycling/spinning

1 x 17g Beacon Marshmallow Egg = 69 calories = about 12 minutes of Rebounding

1 x 25g Beacon White Easter Egg = 160 calories = about 16 minutes of non-stop Burpees (basically, torture!)

How to choose healthier Easter treats

There are 14 teaspoons of sugar in just one small Easter egg, which isn’t good news for your waistline or your health.

Here’s how to make healthier choices:

Dark chocolate is always your best option when choosing a healthier alternative. At least 70% cocoa means there’s less room for added sugar and fat, but remember to always check the label before buying. Dark chocolate also offers the added benefit of being packed with antioxidants, which aids in disease prevention.
Lets be honest, it’s going to be near impossible to convince your little one to only eat one Speckled Egg when they know there’s a whole packet available, so opt for dark chocolate (you’ll be surprised, many children actually prefer bitter tastes) or choose smaller serving sizes of milk chocolate such as one Lindor Mini Egg or one Marshmallow Egg – once it’s gone, it’s gone and there just isn’t any more in the house.
Look for the product with the fewest ingredients – additives, flavourings and colourings are unnecessary. Opt for the best quality chocolate possible.

My favourite alternatives

I love these options because they offer a substantial serving size that really satisfies your chocolate craving and also contain less sugar and dairy than conventional options.