Easter is around the corner, and that means giant chocolate bunnies, cream-filled eggs and jelly beans galore. If you’re watching your candy intake, you may want to opt for the “healthiest” option on the store shelves. But let’s be honest — candy doesn’t really check the health food box. The good news is that registered dietitians say it’s perfectly fine to eat and enjoy Easter candy.
Here are a few things to consider when making your holiday candy choices.
“Moderation, not deprivation, is at the heart of my nutrition philosophy, which certainly carries over into how to handle holiday treats, like Easter candy,” says Elizabeth Shaw, registered dietitian and author of the “Air Fryer Cookbook For Dummies.” Christine Byrne, registered dietitian and the owner of Ruby Oak Nutrition in Raleigh, North Carolina, agrees: “Easter only happens once a year, so I encourage people to enjoy the day and then move on.”
Both dietitians encourage clients to choose seasonal candy that they truly enjoy and give themselves full permission to eat it in honor of the holiday. If you want the candy but opt for something healthier, “you might find yourself eating more overall in an attempt to feel satisfied,” Byrne explains. She suggests eating the candy and paying attention to how you feel physically and mentally. “You might notice that the more candy you eat, the less you appreciate its flavor, which is a signal to stop eating it for the time being,” she adds.
Above all else, the healthiest candy is the one that gives you the most satisfaction. Yet, some Easter candies have a slight nutritious edge over others. Below are experts’ top choices.
Lindt Milk Chocolate Mini Gold Bunny
Byrne lists this as her absolute favorite Easter candy. “It’s made from high-quality chocolate that has a perfect, velvety texture, and its shape means that each piece varies in thickness, which keeps every bite interesting,” she says. One mini bunny has 290 calories and…
Read the full article here
