Easter is a holiday filled with fun activities like egg hunts, cookouts, and egg dyeing. However, it can also be challenging with the added candy that only comes once a year. Keep reading for 5 tips to help you enjoy the holiday this year!
1. Give yourself permission to eat the Easter candy
Eating candy is not a moral dilemma, and you are not good or bad for eating candy. Allow yourself to enjoy a couple pieces here and there. When we create food rules or make foods off limits, we are more likely to develop cravings and then overeat those foods.
2. Combine candy with dyed eggs
Dyeing hard-boiled eggs is a classic Easter activity that can also serve as a fun snack. Candy like Peeps Marshmallows will provide you with quick energy, but it will likely take more than a few to satisfy you. Try eating a few pieces of candy with a hard-boiled egg to provide you with a more satisfying snack that keeps you full for a longer period.
3. Ask yourself, am I hungry?
Remove the phrase I don’t need this from your vocabulary. Instead, try am I hungry? Telling yourself you don’t need something reinforces false beliefs that food is either good or bad (refer to #1). Issues arise from eating ANYTHING when we are not hungry, not from the candy itself. Asking yourself if you’re hungry allows you to be mindful about eating because you’re listening to your body rather than your food beliefs.
4. Enjoy other parts of the holiday
Chocolate bunnies and crème eggs aren’t all Easter has to offer. Whether you celebrate the religious meaning behind Easter, have a family gathering, or help with a neighborhood Easter egg hunt, there are many joyous aspects to Easter. Try looking for fun ways you can celebrate the holiday with your church, friends, family, or community.
5. Out of sight, out of mind
The candy aisle can be tempting around Easter because there are many types that are only sold once a year. If you really love something like Robin Eggs, don’t restrict yourself from buying a bag. However, you can help reduce ‘mindless eating’ by putting the bag out of site after you grab a few pieces. A great idea to put this idea into action is to put the candy in a freezer bag then put the bag in the freezer. The freezer will allow the candy to last longer and the visibility/proximity of it will be reduced which will help with mindless eating.