Have An Egg-cellent Heart Healthy Easter

Easter is a mere 9 days away – nope, we’re not yolking! Easter Eggs have been on the supermarket shelves for months now, with 1 in 4 adults admitting to already having eaten an entire Easter egg this year and doctors stating that this is fuelling the current obesity epidemic. 

Easter is typically a time for feasting as we wave goodbye to Lent, but there are other ways that you can celebrate this occasion without overindulging and putting your heart health at risk.

Egg-nore the Chocolate

The tradition of chocolate eggs at Easter stems from the death and resurrection of Christ, with the egg resembling the stone being rolled away from the entrance of the tomb.

However, both Easter eggs and even smaller treats like Crème Eggs and Mini Eggs contain large amounts of sugar, which is not a friend to your heart. Just one Crème Egg weighing 40g contains 177 calories and 26.5g of sugar – more than a child’s daily recommended amount. What’s even more worrying is that an average-sized Easter egg accounts for three-quarters of an adult’s daily calorie intake.

Excessive sugar consumption can increase a person’s risk of developing type 2 diabetes owing to reduced insulin sensitivity, as well as increasing blood pressure and leading to coronary heart disease.  

So, this year, why not hop away from the chocolate aisle and give gifts like flowers for Easter instead?

Cracking Easter Lunch

Many people plan family get-togethers at Easter, indulging in a roast dinner to celebrate the occasion.

Roast dinners, however, are not always the healthiest of meal choices. People tend to pile their plates high and opt for the unhealthier trimmings such as roast potatoes and Yorkshire puddings, rather than vegetables.

By making these simple swaps, you can ensure that your traditional Easter meal is heart healthy for the whole family.

• At least one-third of your meal should be made up of vegetables, so ensure that you opt for a range of different vegetables, such as peas, carrots, broccoli which are readily available in Spring.
• Meat is a good source of protein – you can try opting for leaner meats like chicken or turkey, which contain less saturated fat than beef or lamb. Try cutting any visible fat from cooked meat and avoid eating the skin.
• Roast potatoes are always a popular part of a roast dinner. To ensure that your potatoes absorb less fat, you can cut them into bigger chunks and parboil before roasting. Instead of seasoning your potatoes with salt, which can also increase blood pressure, you could try seasoning with herbs like rosemary or sage instead.

Hatch An Easter Egg Hunt Plan

Wherever you live, there’s likely to be some kind of Easter-related event happening, whether it be an Easter egg hunt or egg throwing competition.

Did you know that exercising for just 30 minutes each day can significantly improve your circulation and lower your blood pressure? Going on an Easter egg hunt or a walk after eating your lunch are simple ways to improve your heart health that can be fun for the whole family.

Enjoy Your Easter Shell-ebration!

We’d like to wish you a Happy Easter from the Imperative Team and hope that you are visited by the Easter Bunny!

What are your plans to celebrate Easter? Let us know by tweeting us @ImpTraining.