“Embrace the dark side,” Charlene says.
“By that I mean try to include some dark chocolate in your Easter feast as research has shown that we have reduced cravings for sweet, salty and fatty foods when we eat dark chocolate when compared to milk chocolate.
“Also, dark chocolate has double the antioxidants of milk chocolate.”
What if you don’t like dark chocolate?
The good news is, Charlene says, there are other things we can do help reduce the amount of chocolate we eat:
Stick to a handful
Portion your chocolate intake to what fits into your tightly cupped hands.
Be mindful
Learn to savour the chocolate you do eat. Eat it slowly, think of the taste and sensation in your month and the pleasure it provides. Don’t eat it in front of the TV or on the run. When you eat chocolate mindfully you’ll be surprised by how little you need to hit the spot.
Identify why you want chocolate
Are you eating because you are bored, stressed, emotional or simply out of habit? If you are having a chocolate based on a non-eating trigger, try to manage this. For example: if you are tired, go outside and take five deep breaths or have a nap.
Easter isn’t just about chocolate
While chocolates line the supermarket shelves in the lead up to Easter, it is not the only way to recognise the holiday.
Charlene said participating in activities during the break can be a great way to reduce the amount of chocolate you eat.
“Try to include some social time with family and friends that includes exercise during the break, for example a game of football or cricket at the oval or a walk on the beach,” she says.
About Charlene Grosse
Charlene is an Advanced Accredited Practising Dietitian (AdvAPD), Manager of Allied Health at St John of God Subiaco Hospital and media spokesperson for the Dietitians Association of Australia.