Alright, so hands in the air if you are like me and already have had your fair share of either easter eggs or hot cross buns and we haven’t even hit the easter long weekend yet? In the process and efforts to stay on track and lose weight or aim for goals majority of us follow a set of “food rules or “guidelines” and its our very loved, savoured and most enjoyed foods that we deprive ourselves of and or cut out of our diet and this is NOT the answer.
Eating is amazing, food is incredible and SHOULD be enjoyed but often these times come with a-lot of guilt and anxiety around food or stuffing up and falling into the “dieting cycle”.
When we cut out certain food or food groups, naturally we tend to crave them more than usual because we are telling ourselves we can’t have them. Eventually we will give in for whatever reasons and overeat way too much of it to fill the void. So when we do eat these foods ( finally) and satisfy that craving or fill the missing void we feel guilt, shame and sometimes even as if you have failed, so you pick right back up where you left off and end up bingeing. This is the dieting cycle. WE HAVE ALL BEEN THERE ins some way shape or form and its very common within the scope of nutritional habits for the general population.
So how can you eat your favourite foods and enjoy a little delicious chocolate and family food and time without the guilt?
This is something we educated and DRILL into our challengers…. MODERATION.
With that being said here are my 4 top tips for saying ta-ta to guilt this Easter:
MODERATION and PORTION CONTROL
Instead of depriving yourself, grab that dam hot cross bun or easter egg. Give yourself the OK to eat chocolate whenever you feel the urge over the weekend and when you do so eat mindfully. Sit down. Enjoy it and how good it tastes. While you’re eating, stop to savour the taste, temperature and texture of your food. Tuning into your senses is a simple way to practise mindful eating and it also helps us to eat with satisfaction and joy. If you struggle with the guilt part, Pick a smaller egg, have half a hot cross bun, eat something nutritious before or after your egg or bun!
ENJOY FAMILY FOODS and FAMILY TIME
Easter is a perfect time to gather loved ones together to share a home made delicious meal. Include plenty of fresh whole-foods and home made main meals. Eat a rainbow of colours. Eating together can enhance the pleasure that is gained from the eating experience and also be a good opportunity to role model healthy eating habits to children and teens and connect with family and friends
HEAD TO THE DARK SIDE
If the moderation thing isn’t working for you, you can always take a walk on the dark side ( of chocolate). Dark chocolate has a higher % of Cacao which is a superfood and is JAM PACKED with antioxidants. Because of the richness off dark chocolate you’ll probably find you can’t eat as much!
STAY MINDFUL and in PERSPECTIVE
What truly matters is what you eat overall. In the Sports Nutrition field if you know your daily and weekly calorie targets you can easily factor in your days where your calories may be a little higher and sacrifice on days leading up to it so your weekly calorie target is still on point. Easter is 1 WEEKEND out of 52 in the year. This should be enjoyed and not stressed over.
We don’t believe in banning ANY FOODS. Nutrition should be about healthy eating patterns and habits. Some foods we need less of other we need more of for our bodies to move towards health and wellness..Eat the eggs. Eat the Hot Cross Buns. Soul food counts too!
Channy 🤟