Many of you may have noticed that the Easter Buns and Eggs were starting to hit the shelves as soon as Boxing Day ended. I don’t ever recall these things being available so early. So you may be one of these people whose Easter began 3 months ago.
You might be one of these people whose Easter starts this weekend but then continues weeks and weeks afterwards as you try to ‘get back on track’.
Wouldn’t it be great if we could just be one of “those people” who could enjoy a bit of an Easter treat and not have it affect our entire diet or waistline?
You can.
I put together this wee Easter Survival Guide for you to help.
Tip #1 – Pick your Battles
Eggs, Booze & Buns is how I summarise Easter, but what if you just chose a portion of that for your enjoyment and not the entire lot? What is it that you love the most about Easter? Is it long lazy weekends, or is it having the time to catch up on things? Perhaps it’s just a chance to let your hair down. Focus in on that and leave the other stuff. I don’t know about you, but for me the chocolate in Eater Eggs doesn’t really excite me, so even if I was given an Easter Egg, I wouldn’t bother eating it ‘just because it was there’.
I’ve got a mate who is off to the beach this weekend which is 2 hours away from her home, she’s hanging with her brother over there on Sunday, she told me she intends on going for lots of long walks and eating clean and waiting until Sunday to have a few drinks. She said she loves Hot Cross Buns and in the past would buy a couple of dozen and binge on them over the weekend, but this weekend she would much rather save her treat eating for the time she’s going to spend with her brother. This is an example of picking your battles and not indulging in ALL the things.
Tip #2 – Find the healthy version
So let’s say you just can’t bring yourself to pick your battles, how about looking for the healthier option.
Here’s a quick and easy recipe to replace Hot Cross Buns. Just take 3 egg whites and about 1/3 cup of Rolled Oats. Add 1-2 sachets of Stevia to sweeten, a tsp (or more if you want) of mixed spice and a TBSP of sultanas (or mixed peel). Panfry and top with 2tsp of butter. What you have just created is a Hot Cross Oatcake! We left the egg yolks out so you could enjoy it hot with butter melting on it, like you would a Hot Cross Bun. This recipe is only 250 calories and is a nice balance of carbs, proteins, fats and Easter Joy!
Tip #3 Keep Exercise Fun
Exercise doesn’t have to be the same thing all the time. If you’re feeling pressured about exercise this weekend, keep it fun! Are you doing an Easter Egg Hunt for the kids? Here’s a tip, for every movement they make finding the eggs … copy them! So if that means they’re running around, climbing under things or jumping for joy, then you have to also! You can keep exercise short also, even if it’s just 10 minutes of something intense before the family members show up – it’s totally fine! Back to my friend who’s going to the beach, she loves bike riding and doing Gravity Training, but this weekend she said she just feels the need to do long beach walks – she’s not beating herself up over not doing her normal exercise and you don’t need to either.
Tip #4 – Keep Perspective
Easter is a 4 day weekend to connect with friends and family. Sure, there are Eggs, Buns & Booze – but is this REALLY what we’re here for? And is it really necessary to buy up all the Hot Cross Buns to store in your freezer for the next 2 months? Can you enjoy this weekend without feeling the need to continue it on for eternity? The best way to do this is to be truly present in the moment with what you’re doing and be appreciative and grateful for the weekend. If you start complaining that you didn’t get a Creme Egg, guess what you’ll be trying to seek out AFTER Easter?
Tip #5 – Focus on the People not the Food/Drink
Socialising is fun, I do it myself. Your mission this weekend is to really focus on who you’re with, not what you’re doing with them. If we fill ourselves up on connection, then we may find that we eat and drink less calories. The best moments are when you are so engaged with conversation or fun that you don’t even realise your glass is empty!
Have a great Easter guys! Stay safe and healthy!