MEDIA RELEASE
The Tempter Trap
28/03/2018
With supermarket shelves and catalogues bulging with Easter ‘treats’ since January, LiveLighter® is reminding Western Australians to make sure your Easter ‘treat’ doesn’t become a habit.
“Seasonal treats are great to celebrate seasonal events,” says LiveLighter® Nutritionist Jen Atkins, “yet with Easter chocolates hitting our shelves since Christmas, a small treat can quickly develop into a daily habit”.
“As soon as Santa has hung up his sack, the Easter Bunny has already delivered to stores all around you."
Chocolate is energy dense and nutrient poor. One small solid chocolate egg contains about 1 teaspoon of sugar. But how many people stop at one egg?
LiveLighter® calculated the amount of sugar you’d consume by eating just one small chocolate egg each day, from mid-January until the Easter long weekend. This adds up to an extra 79 teaspoons of sugar into your diet, and that’s before the Easter Egg Hunt on Easter Sunday.
The World Health Organization guidelines recommend no more than 6 teaspoons of sugar per day.
Keep track of the temptation – half price bags in the shopping trolley, having a treat at work or the free chocolate with your coffee, little treats add up. “It’s really important to treat our treats as treats," says Ms Atkins.
Chocolate Easter eggs are a traditional way to celebrate Easter. Yet there are many healthier alternatives to celebrating, and snacking, during the leadup.
“I get badgered by my 8-year old daughter for Easter eggs as any parent does. Instead I ask her to choose a special fruit to add to our weekly shop. At the moment mangoes are all the rage. This helps build a healthy view of snacking for her,” says Ms Atkins.
“Eating a treat regularly over three months can lead to unhealthy habits. Save the chocolate eggs for the Easter weekend”.
LiveLighter®’s Easter treat alternatives
Looking for a chocolatey snack? Choose a nutritious base, with a little flourish of chocolate – a little goes a long way.
- Fruit dipped in dark chocolate (strawberries and banana slices are always a winner!)
- Chocolate drizzled popcorn or roasted nuts
- Banana muffins with some dark chocolate chips
- Trail mix that includes some chocolate covered dried fruit or nuts
- Homemade chocolate milk powder (milk powder + cocoa + cinnamon)
If you’re on the hunt for a healthier Easter, LiveLighter® recommends getting active and remembering to include fruit and vegies into your feasts. For healthy Easter ideas, visit www.livelighter.com.au .
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Notes:
In-store and online product review carried out on 7th March 2018. Cadbury’s Dairy Milk Chocolate Solid Egg’s contain approximately 4.1 grams of sugar in each egg, equivalent to just over one teaspoon.
* This calculation is based one eating mini 1 Cadbury Dairy Milk Chocolate Egg each day between 12th January until Saturday 31st March.
For images, interviews or further information please contact: Michelle Weall, Marketing & Communications Manager
M: 0430 465 657