Easter Nutrition

Easter doesn't have to equal a calorie splurge. There are alternatives.

When the Easter Bunny leaves millions kids candy-filled baskets this Sunday what comes with them is the same temptation that follows other "sweet" holidays, like Halloween. It is the temptation to snack on candies for days and days; not only the kids, but parents partake too - "Just to help little Johnny and Susie from having to eat all of it," we tell ourselves.

But just because we celebrate a holiday with candies doesn't give us the excuse to go overboard. Here are a few tips for keeping the calories where they belong...outside the house!

1. Don't buy bulk. If you "help" the Easter Bunny with its deliveries, it is smarter to buy a small amount of quality treats rather than whatever cartful of cellophane-wrapped candies that greet us at the door of every grocery store. Remember, for chocolate, the darker it is the more antioxidants. In general, look for chocolates with 60 percent cocoa or more.

2. Eat good foods first. Candies aren't snacks; they're desserts. Eating candies on an empty stomach spikes blood sugar levels and puts us on a hunger and energy roller coaster. Eat your Sunday meal first, then treat yourself with a dessert. The same goes for the days after.

3. Put it away. Don't leave that colorful, candy-filled Easter basket on the kitchen counter (our most trafficked room). Instead, put it up in a cupboard so kids and parents aren't tempted every time they walk by.

4. Respect your co-workers. Don't assume your workplace wants a surge of cheap candies come Monday morning. Respect them and leave your excess at home, or better yet find a good place to donate extras if you bought too much or your family sent a little too much sugar this year. Your co-workers may be dealing with their own calorie excess or trying to live healthy lives; don't tempt them to save yourself from eating it.

5. Tell the Easter Bunny that it doesn't have to be sweets. There are many other "gifts" that can go into Easter baskets. For instance, stickers, tattoos, crayons, coloring books, jump ropes, Play Dough, bubbles, and garden supplies are terrific gifts for kids that come with calories.

If you're still not convinced, take a look at the chart below to see just how many calories and fat grams are in some common Easter treats.

Candy	Serving Size	Calories	Fat	Carbohydrates
Wonka® SweeTARTS® Chicks, Ducks & Bunnies	10 pieces	50 calories	0 grams	12 grams
Jelly Beans	20 small pieces	83 calories	0 grams	20.6 grams
Easter Peeps®, Marshmallow Bunnies	4 pieces	130 calories	0 grams	33 grams
Hershey's® Whoppers® Mini Robin Eggs®	20 pieces	145 calories	4.3 grams	26.4 grams
Cadbury® Creme Egg	1 piece	150 calories	6 grams	24 grams
Almond Joy® Egg	1 piece	150 calories	8 grams	19 grams
Snickers® Easter Egg	1 piece	160 calories	9 grams	18 grams
Cadbury® Caramilk Bunnies	4 pieces	170 calories	7 grams	24 grams
Reese's® Reester Bunny®	1/4 of the bunny	190 calories	10 grams	21 grams
Nestlé® Crunch® Chocolate Eggs	5 pieces	190 calories	10 grams	25 grams
Nestlé® Butterfinger® Eggs	5 pieces	210 calories	11 grams	29 grams
Hershey's® Miniatures Assortment	5 pieces	210 calories	13 grams	25 grams
Hershey's® Kisses® (milk chocolate)	10 pieces	224 calories	13.5 grams	28 grams
Russell Stover® Easter Traditions Solid Milk Chocolate Bunny	1 bunny	240 calories	14 grams	25 grams
M&M's® Milk Chocolate	1.7-ounce package	240 calories	10 grams	34 grams
Dove® Milk Chocolate Eggs	6 eggs	240 calories	14 grams	26 grams
Fannie May® Yellow Buttercream Egg	1 piece	248 calories	8 grams	40 grams