10 Tips for a Healthier, "Hoppier" Easter

Easter is a day of celebration, which often includes rich foods and candy. If you’ve been diagnosed with a chronic health condition like Type 2 diabetes, have dietary restrictions, or are focused on healthy eating, you don’t have to dread this holiday. There are many ways to strike a healthy balance while still enjoying some of this season’s favorite traditions.

Try these top tips from our health and wellness experts:

1. Rethink those Easter baskets. If you assemble Easter baskets for the kids in your life, focus on including some non-candy treats. Think colorful jump ropes, sidewalk chalk, activity or coloring books with crayons, hula hoops, and books.

2. Turn up the heat with your Easter festivities. Turn your traditional Easter egg hunt into a series of short races and games that kick up those heart rates. Stuff some eggs with small pieces of paper that require everyone to do an activity, such as a lap around the house or 10 “bunny hops” before hunting for the next egg. You could even challenge everyone to a crab walk hunt – or try balancing an egg on a spoon while you search.  The possibilities are endless for incorporating more movement and coordination skills.

3. Consider portion size and candy type. Look for your favorites in "fun" or portioned sizes that won’t tempt you to overindulge. Look for candy options with less sugar, like dark chocolate.

4. Embrace spring activities. Take advantage of the first hints of spring – warmer weather and maybe even some sunshine – and incorporate a fun outdoor activity into your day. Go for a family walk or bike ride, hit the park to play, throw the football around, or play a family game of tennis.

5. Don’t “save” your calories for later. Eat a healthy, hearty breakfast, such as eggs, and don’t try to skip meals and snacks during the day. It may seem counterintuitive to eat in the hours leading up to a special meal, but eating fiber-and-protein-fueled meals during the day will help stabilize your blood sugar levels, helping you feel your best all day long and preventing you from overeating at dinner.

6. Make healthy Easter-themed snacks. Fill your plastic eggs with nuts, seeds, and dried fruit. If you put out a spread of snacks, fill plastic egg cups with bean dips and veggie slices and cut fruit or cheese slices into bunny ears. Make hardboiled eggs or a healthy deviled egg snack with mashed avocado as your mayonnaise base.

7. Plan Easter-themed activities. Beyond decorating eggs, choose non-food treats that feel celebratory, like working a spring-themed puzzle, making an Easter wreath, or painting pots for a deck garden.

8. Plant or plan a garden. It’s a great time of year to try some seedlings – whether they’re vegetables or flowers to enjoy later this year. Your kids will have fun watching them pop through the soil and eventually flourishing into plants and flowers.

9. Time capsule. Have your kids write themselves a letter, stick it in an Easter egg, and put it away until next year. If your kids aren’t ready to write a full letter, help them write down three things they are grateful for or three fun things they did this year.

10. Balance is key. Don’t completely ban treats. Depriving yourself of all the season’s treats may lead you to overindulge in them later or feel resentful. Find ways to move during the day and incorporate some healthy meals and snacks so you can enjoy your favorite holiday treats in moderation and without guilt or worry.

Are you at risk for a chronic disease like diabetes? Take the risk assessment and learn more.