by Kelsey Murray
For many people, Easter is a religious holiday that causes them to meditate on the sacrifices their Creator made for them. For most children, however, Easter is all about the Bunny and the candy. For the parents of these children, Easter is about sugar-highs and trips to the dentist.
If you are a parent and want to give your children healthier candies and chocolates this year (or if you just have a sweet tooth yourself), consider these Easter sweets instead of your usual standbys.
Dark Chocolate Covered Nuts. Almonds, walnuts, cashews, and other nuts provide healthy fats that are essential for your body to function properly. Dark chocolate provides antioxidants while also lowering your blood pressure and cholesterol and boosting your mood (every woman knows that chocolate has magic mood-lifting powers). The combination of nuts and dark chocolate (at least 70% cocoa) usually weighs in at 210 calories per 1.4 ounces while also providing 8 percent of your daily dietary fiber.
Brachs Chocolate Covered Marshmallow Eggs. One of these tasty treats only contains 45 calories. If you can eat them in moderation, you won’t be breaking your diet too badly. However, be careful because they do contain 7.8 grams of carbs and 1.3 grams of fat per egg.
Jellybeans. Jellybeans are a fat-free food, which is a good thing if you are following a low-fat diet. However, they do contain a lot of sugar, so be cautious about letting your children eat too many; the ensuing sugar high and then sugar crash will have them regretting those fruity-flavored sweets.
Marshmallow Peeps. Like jellybeans, these treats are fat-free. Also, you can indulge in four peeps while only racking up 130 calories. However, they do 29 grams of sugar per serving, so make sure you brush your teeth afterwards.
Now that you know which Easter goodies to search out when you are filling your Easter baskets this year, it’s time to explore the darker side of the candy aisle. These items are diet and healthy-lifestyle no-no’s.
Cadbury Solid Milk Chocolate Easter Bunny. If you simply cannot live without this treat, then don’t read the rest of this article, because the facts I’m about to share with you will forever ruin the chocolate bunny. One of these bunnies contains 890 calories, 48.6 grams of fat, and 101.2 grams of carbs. If you are eating a 1,400-calorie a day diet, then this is about 60 percent of your daily caloric intake. It is also more than your daily allowance of fat, so you will be eating steamed veggies for the rest of the day.
Reese’s Reester Bunny. Peanut butter and chocolate: is there any better combination in the world? I think not! But when you consider that one of these bad boys has 798 calories, 42 grams of fat, and 88.2 grams of carbs, you’ll quickly understand why the Reester Bunny is also known as the Easter Bunny’s evil twin.
Peeps Hollow Milk Chocolate Egg. This egg is hollow and the calories it contains are also empty (of nutritional benefits). With 420 calories, 24 grams of fat, and 54 grams of carbs, it is a lighter version than the Reester Bunny or the Cadbury Bunny, but it will still leave you in a severe sugar coma after the high wears off.
Via FitSugar.com
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