7 Tips to Survive Easter Food Feasting
Welcome to your Easter survival guide.
It really is possible to spend quality time with your family and friends, and stick to your healthy eating plan without over-indulging, or offending any “food pushers” you may have in your life. Trust me!
All it takes is a little bit of planning, so that you won’t stress about all of the food and drink on offer.
The most important thing to remember is that it’s not ‘game over’ if you stray from your plan a little bit. That just makes you human, like the rest of us.
For most of us adults, Easter means a break from work and our regular routine. A few days off to relax, unwind, and catch up with loved ones.
Kids on the other hand, excitedly look forward to the Easter Bunny’s arrival, scavenger hunts with their friends, and lots of Easter Eggs!
As we get older, that child-like excitement can sometimes morph into stress. Worry that you’ll be tempted to over-eat, and all your good intentions will fly out the window.
Hey, I get it. We all love chocolate! So don’t worry, I’ve got some simple tips & tricks to share so you can enjoy your Easter chocolate without overindulging.
Some simple, common-sense strategies for surviving Easter
Plan, plan, plan!
Planning is the key to success and it’s always better than winging your way through on a hope and a prayer.
It doesn’t need to be complicated; just take a few minutes to think about how you would ideally like things to go.
Some questions to ask yourself when creating your plan:
- Do you want to eat any chocolate or hot cross buns? If so, how much/many and when?
- Will you be buying and receiving Easter Eggs? Will you keep and eat any eggs you receive? If not, think about how you’ll dispose of them.
- Are there any social situations or get-togethers you’ll need to deal with? Read my TIPS FOR DEALING WITH SOCIAL SITUATIONS to avoid hurting anyone’s feelings.
If things don’t go totally according to your plan, it’s okay, don’t beat yourself up about what you feel went wrong. Rather, give yourself a pat on the back for what you’re happy with, and move on.
Know your weaknesses
If you really love chocolate, don’t try to not have any, unless you’re truly an ‘all or nothing’ person.
Telling yourself you can’t have something usually ends in a binge session at some point down the track.
Moderation works well for most people, so allow yourself a certain amount and stick to that. A little bit of discipline feels a lot better than deprivation or bingeing.
Practice mindful eating
Decide on what and how much you’re going to eat and then take your time to really, truly, enjoy it.
Give the food your full attention and chew slowly.
Be in the moment and savour the smell and taste without any distractions.
Make your own
A little bit of good quality dark chocolate is good for you, so why not make yourself some? You can have fun with different moulds to make different shapes & sizes, and add your favourite nuts or dried fruit.
Make some as homemade Easter gifts. Try my HEALTHY CHOCOLATE RECIPE – it’s really easy to make.
As for Hot Cross Buns, there are loads of recipes around for healthier versions. Check out this post where I put together a list of MY FAVOURITE HEALTHY EASTER RECIPES from around the web.
Stick to your regular exercise routine
Stick to your regular training routine as much as you can, even if it means a shorter workout. Staying in the habit by just doing something is a lot easier than trying to get back into it after days of doing nothing.
Holidays are also a great time to take the opportunity to do some different activities like a walk, a hike or a bike ride with the family.
Remember you always have a choice
If you really don’t want to eat chocolate at home, then don’t buy it or keep it in the house!
It’s okay to say no in social situations, and you can do it politely. Don’t feel obliged to eat something if you really don’t want to or if it doesn’t fit your eating plan.
If your host won’t take no for an answer, or you’re worried about offending them, then have a small portion, or simply ask for a doggy bag to take home. Do whatever you like with it after that!
Don’t try to be perfect. If things don’t go according to plan, remember that it’s not the end of the world.
Nobody’s perfect and slip-ups are normal. Forgive yourself and then carry on as normal.
I’ve got more Strategies and Tips for you here, if you need them.
And look, while what you eat matters, how you eat matters too.
So if you haven’t already, I recommend grabbing a copy of my free Breakfast Reframe guide.
It’ll help you understand how to begin putting into practice what you’ve just read about in this post — starting with the first meal of the day.
You can read more about it here: The Breakfast Reframe Guide
Or, if you’d like to dive straight in, click the button below.
My final, and maybe the most important Easter tip: eat good quality chocolate, and enjoy it.
A little bit is good for the soul!
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