Spring is finally here, the cold weather is gone and Easter is this Sunday. I was thinking…this year, why not put a new twist on an old tradition – let’s think about nutrition and health in our celebration.  Not sure how?!? Here are some suggestions to facilitate change in the way we celebrate Easter:

Fill each basket with healthy items i.e. sugar-free chewing gum, sugar-free Life Savers, sugar-free suckers and carrots – cuts the sugar and calories

Use colored plastic Easter eggs for scavenger hunts – using real boiled eggs can put the little one’s at risk of food illness – when eating real eggs don’t let them sit at room temperatures for more than 2 hours

Avoid all-you-can eat buffets on Easter Sunday; opt for restaurants that offer a la carte menu items – this will help eliminate adding extra calories to your meal

Try giving kids non-edible items in their baskets such as Easter erasers, stickers, pencils, tattoos, coloring books and toys (Hot Wheels for boys and dolls for girls) instead of traditional high calorie sweets.

Limit egg consumption around this holiday – one regular egg has 210mg of Cholesterol – it is recommended to eat only 300mg of Cholesterol per day – choose brands like Christopher eggs and Eggland’s Best – these brands have less cholesterol/Saturated (unhealthy) fat and added omega fats + vitamins for heart heath in their eggs.

Add a little physical to your holiday gatherings – hide physical activity games in the plastic eggs i.e. Hop like the Easter bunny to find the next egg or try egg toss contests and spoon egg races or take the family out to see the Chris Owens Easter parade in the French Quarter which starts at 1pm or check-out the Easter on the Avenue on St. Charles at 12:15pm.  The Parade will start at Emeril’s Delmonico Restaurant and make its way around Lee Circle, then up Cadiz Street where it turns around and returns to the restaurant.

Freeze fruit and offer natural sugar/sugar-free drinks instead of giving the children candy – the sweeter fruits work best i.e. papaya, berries, grapes/grape juice, sugar free Hawaiian punch mix

If you must go for the traditional sweets – go for Elmer’s dark chocolate heavenly hash and Gold brick eggs – you can also buy Hershey’s dark chocolate bars and melt them into a fondue bowl – dip strawberries, marshmallows, pretzels, and nuts in to make a yummy dessert

For more information on healthy Easter recipes and meal ideas, visit the EatingWell Magazine.

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Steve J. Roch Jr., RD, LDN, CFT is a registered and licensed dietitian. He is also a certified personal trainer. Steve is the owner and president of BestRD Wellness, LLC, a company that provides nutrition therapy and wellness services to residents and businesses in the areas of New Orleans and South Louisiana. Steve can be contacted by email at steve@bestrdwellness.com.