Easter Basket - Healthier Ideas from South beach Diet

From South Beach Diet (tm)

To make it easier, map out a strategy for managing the sweet side of Easter — the Easter basket!

1. Give your child a healthy Easter basket. Replace some of the typical sugary treats with an assortment of fresh or dried (no-sugar-added) fruits, nuts, and whole-grain bite-size crackers. Pastel-colored hard-boiled eggs are also a good addition. Another option: Start a nonfood tradition and fill Easter eggs with stickers and other age-appropriate trinkets.

2. Enjoy a sugar-free substitute. When your kids are gobbling down their Easter treats, satisfy your sweet tooth with a sugar-free alternative. Some to try: sugar-free hard candies, sugar-free bubble gum, or even a no-sugar-added fudge pop. As always, limit sweet treats to 75 to 100 calories per day.

3. Allow yourself a bit of dark chocolate. A small amount of dark chocolate is a sinfully rich, yet surprisingly healthy indulgence. According to a 2005 study, dark chocolate contains antioxidants known as flavonoids, which have been shown to lower blood pressure and improve blood sugar metabolism in healthy individuals. Plus, dark chocolate contains the minerals magnesium and copper, which may help improve cardiovascular health. So, treat yourself to a small piece of dark chocolate (egg-shaped or otherwise!).

Finally, continue to follow your healthy eating plan throughout the weekend. This will keep hunger at bay, so you'll be more likely to make sound, nutrition-based decisions when it comes to food, and you'll avoid eating the first thing you see to satisfy your ravenous appetite.