We all love Easter. Some of us love the church services; others love the food. Let's be honest. I love both. Not equally, but pretty darn close. Easter has always been a holiday that I looked forward to. As a child, my Grandparents would line up large chocolate bunnies and Easter cards for each of us five grand-kids on the fireplace mantel. Then we would eagerly scavenge the house for hidden Easter eggs filled with more sugary treats. As if that wasn't enough excitement, we would follow up with diving into a plethora of delicious foods on a buffet table that took up half of the living room. It was glorious! While I love the tradition of Easter and the symbolism of gathering together to share a beautiful meal, I also don't feel that we should use the day as an excuse to go drastically overboard on what we eat. Moderation is key; just like on every other day of the year. Let's look at 7 ways to enjoy Easter while also keeping it healthy for you and your family.
1.) Eat Early
Thankfully, the tradition in my family has always been Easter 'brunch' or an early dinner. We typically eat sometime in the afternoon after we've all returned home from our various morning activities. This is a great way to alleviate going to bed on a full tummy. By the time you're ready to hit the hay, your food will be well digested (even if you followed brunch up with a light dinner).
2.) Avoid Appetizers
This one is tough for me because nothing screams 'party' like gathering around a smorgasbord of bite-sized food. However, we typically underestimate how many calories we are actually consuming before we sit down for our meal. If you do decide to have appetizers, choose light options like a vegetable tray, deviled eggs, or a fruit and cheese plate. This will satisfy your guests without spoiling their appetite for the meal you worked so hard on.
3.) Simplify
When you come from a large family like me, everyone wants to contribute to the meal. While this is wonderful, we tend to end up with way more food than any family could possibly eat in one day, let alone one meal. To avoid this, pair down the menu to 1-2 appetizers (optional), a colorful salad, a main dish (such as ham, turkey or prime rib), two sides (one being a vegetable, the other being a whole grain), and a light dessert (preferably fruit-based). Then, delegate the dishes to various guests who would like to bring something.
4.) Don't Skip Breakfast
While I don't recommend a heavy breakfast followed by an equally heavy brunch, it is essential to start your day off with a light balanced meal. This will increase your metabolism so that your body is prepared to utilize the food you eat at your large Easter meal later. It is counterproductive to skip meals in order to 'save calories'. This will only signal your body's metabolism to slow down, consequently lowering it's ability to efficiently process your food for the remainder of the day.
5.) Go Plated
Even though the ease of a buffet is so tempting, it's also tempting for your taste-buds. We tend to eat more if we have unlimited quantities of food available to us. Instead, plate up each guest's meal in the kitchen and then head to the table, leaving the remaining food behind to be packaged up for leftovers. This eliminates the urge to pile more food onto your plate than you need and going for seconds (or thirds). Serve dessert the same way.
6.) Think Outside the Easter Basket
Even though tradition may tell you to load your childrens' Easter baskets with candy and chocolate, try to remember that we set the standard for what they expect. Start incorporating healthier alternatives in their baskets to promote better eating choices for the entire day. Things such as 100% juice fruit snacks, whole grain granola bars, mixed nuts, temporary Easter tattoos, small stuffed animals, fashion jewelry, and coloring books are all wonderful ideas.
7.) Embrace the True Meaning
If you celebrate Easter, than chances are there is a deeper meaning to the holiday for you aside from the food and candy that usually accompany it. If that is the case, then make that a part of your entire day, including your meal. Remember why you are gathering together in the first place and inject that theme into everything you do. This holiday, like many others, has been drastically commercialized and at times we lose the true reason behind our celebration. While a little splurging never hurt anybody; it is important to maintain balance and moderation in your day, even on a holiday.
By now you should have some wonderful ideas for 'healthifying' your celebration. Happy Easter to you all and I hope that your day is filled with many blessings and wonderful health. Remember to embrace your family and friends on this beautiful day.
Melissa Stoner R.D., C.P.T.
Registered Dietitian
Certified Personal Trainer
Professional Chef
www.TasteofHealthOnline.com
1.) Eat Early
Thankfully, the tradition in my family has always been Easter 'brunch' or an early dinner. We typically eat sometime in the afternoon after we've all returned home from our various morning activities. This is a great way to alleviate going to bed on a full tummy. By the time you're ready to hit the hay, your food will be well digested (even if you followed brunch up with a light dinner).
2.) Avoid Appetizers
This one is tough for me because nothing screams 'party' like gathering around a smorgasbord of bite-sized food. However, we typically underestimate how many calories we are actually consuming before we sit down for our meal. If you do decide to have appetizers, choose light options like a vegetable tray, deviled eggs, or a fruit and cheese plate. This will satisfy your guests without spoiling their appetite for the meal you worked so hard on.
3.) Simplify
When you come from a large family like me, everyone wants to contribute to the meal. While this is wonderful, we tend to end up with way more food than any family could possibly eat in one day, let alone one meal. To avoid this, pair down the menu to 1-2 appetizers (optional), a colorful salad, a main dish (such as ham, turkey or prime rib), two sides (one being a vegetable, the other being a whole grain), and a light dessert (preferably fruit-based). Then, delegate the dishes to various guests who would like to bring something.
4.) Don't Skip Breakfast
While I don't recommend a heavy breakfast followed by an equally heavy brunch, it is essential to start your day off with a light balanced meal. This will increase your metabolism so that your body is prepared to utilize the food you eat at your large Easter meal later. It is counterproductive to skip meals in order to 'save calories'. This will only signal your body's metabolism to slow down, consequently lowering it's ability to efficiently process your food for the remainder of the day.
5.) Go Plated
Even though the ease of a buffet is so tempting, it's also tempting for your taste-buds. We tend to eat more if we have unlimited quantities of food available to us. Instead, plate up each guest's meal in the kitchen and then head to the table, leaving the remaining food behind to be packaged up for leftovers. This eliminates the urge to pile more food onto your plate than you need and going for seconds (or thirds). Serve dessert the same way.
6.) Think Outside the Easter Basket
Even though tradition may tell you to load your childrens' Easter baskets with candy and chocolate, try to remember that we set the standard for what they expect. Start incorporating healthier alternatives in their baskets to promote better eating choices for the entire day. Things such as 100% juice fruit snacks, whole grain granola bars, mixed nuts, temporary Easter tattoos, small stuffed animals, fashion jewelry, and coloring books are all wonderful ideas.
7.) Embrace the True Meaning
If you celebrate Easter, than chances are there is a deeper meaning to the holiday for you aside from the food and candy that usually accompany it. If that is the case, then make that a part of your entire day, including your meal. Remember why you are gathering together in the first place and inject that theme into everything you do. This holiday, like many others, has been drastically commercialized and at times we lose the true reason behind our celebration. While a little splurging never hurt anybody; it is important to maintain balance and moderation in your day, even on a holiday.
By now you should have some wonderful ideas for 'healthifying' your celebration. Happy Easter to you all and I hope that your day is filled with many blessings and wonderful health. Remember to embrace your family and friends on this beautiful day.
Melissa Stoner R.D., C.P.T.
Registered Dietitian
Certified Personal Trainer
Professional Chef
www.TasteofHealthOnline.com