Five Healthy Easter Holiday Suggestions

Expert demonstrates how you can loose weight fast with some, simple yet powerful nutrition strategies!

Are you dreading the Easter baskets full of jelly beans and the huge dinner? If you or your family members are overweight, consider making a change that will give everyone a chance at being more healthy. Instead of lecturing your family, make changes that won't feel drastic but will help get you all moving in the right direction.

Replace most of the candy in the baskets with gifts. Pile the baskets high with things that are fun but useful, such as sandals, sunglasses, bubbles, goggles, bug-catching toys, decks of cards, and jump ropes. Use this opportunity to interest the kids in leisure activities that are creative or active; anything other than watching TV.

Choose candy carefully. Instead of eliminating candy altogether from the basket, place a few really good pieces of something indulgent, like a couple truffles from a chocolate shop or some Jelly Belly jelly beans. Don't let the kids down the candy all at once; have them guess at jelly bean flavors and tell you about the inside of the special chocololates, teaching them to savor treats.

Serve a low-cal menu. Serve a lean ham, topped with slices of pineapple secured with cloves. Identify and remove from the menu the least healthy of the traditional Easter menu items such as twice-baked potatoes, dinner rolls, and that high-fat, high-calorie green bean casserole dish. Instead serve a green salad, sliced fresh pineapple, and baked potatoes, halved. Don't serve something dastardly for dessert like cheesecake, but instead serve something like berries with whipped cream.

Plan an active agenda for the holiday. Do a traditional egg hunt either outside or in your house. Plan a family walk either to a park or to a pleasant location. Set up an obstacle course for rambunctious kids or a game of hide and seek indoors if you encounter inclement weather.

Buy an egg dyeing kit. Eggs are good sources of protein, so they fill you up. Coloring eggs will stimulate creativity.

By setting this example, you may set new healthier traditions in motion.