For many of us, Easter is a time to get together with family and friends and enjoy delicious food, including chocolate. But if you’re worried about overindulging, don’t stress. With a bit of planning, preparation, and creativity, it is possible to enjoy food festivities without going overboard. Check out these simple tips to make this Easter both enjoyable and nourishing.

Have a plan

For many of us, it is a busy period leading up to the Easter long weekend with little time to plan and shop for groceries. This may result in making unhealthy food choices.

Tip: Write a shopping list for the meals you will be preparing plus any party food for entertainment. It is surprising how much money you can save by cooking meals using wholefood and relying less on packaged foods.

Start the day right

Rather than reaching for chocolate on Easter morning, start the day with a low GI, sustaining breakfast. This will not only keep you feeling satisfied and energised, but it can also help control the urge to snack on chocolate all day!

Tip: Try some of these easy to prepare low GI breakfasts:

• Two eggs served with one slice low GI or low carb toast and top with sautéed veggies e.g. mushrooms, tomatoes, spinach
• Try this all in one, protein rich brekkie Easy Shakshuka Recipe | Diabetes Australia
• Brekkie smoothie – One cup milk of your choice, ¼ cup oats, one serve fruit e.g. ½ banana or ½ cup berries, one tablespoon seeds/nuts or 100% peanut butter. Blend!
• Coco-Berry Chia Pudding Recipe | Diabetes Australia

Smart snacking

Hot-cross buns are a delicious snack for many of us during the Easter period. The problem is that supermarkets now stock hot-cross buns well before and after the holiday period, making it tempting to add them to our shopping basket each week. Most commercial hot-cross buns are made with high GI refined flour and contain a lot of carbohydrate so they are not an ideal everyday choice.

Tip: Try our mini hot cross bun recipe to bake over the Easter long weekend. Alternatively, limit how many hot cross buns you buy i.e. buy only for Easter Sunday.

Easy entertaining

With a little creativity and planning, you can still serve party food that is easy to prepare, healthy and delicious.

Tip: Try these party platter ideas based on whole foods that will add colour to the table and be sure to impress.

• Raw or roasted nuts, any kind.
• Hummus stuffed eggs. Cut boiled eggs in half, lengthways. Place yolks in a bowl and mash with a few tablespoons of hummus. Spoon back in the eggs.
• Celebrate with seafood such as fresh cooked prawns, oysters, smoked salmon, or trout served with lemon wedges
• A variety of cheese and meat served on a platter. Add fresh strawberries and grapes
• Sushi and sashimi
• Rice paper rolls
• Whole olives
• Grilled, marinated eggplant, red capsicum and semi dried tomatoes
• Healthy dips such as guacamole, hummus, and tzatziki with carrot and celery sticks for dipping
• Grissini (bread sticks), wholegrain crispbreads, baked wholemeal pita chips
• Chocolate dipped strawberries
• Fruit platter with seasonal fruit

Easter weekend meal plan

Whether you’re going away or staying local try some of these holiday low GI snacks and Easter style recipes to keep the cravings at bay.

• Low GI road trip snacks (or Easter gift): Chocolate Fudge balls
• Good Friday fish dish: Jewelled Quinoa with Salmon Recipe | Diabetes Australia
• Easter Sunday long lunch: Grilled Lamb with Pumpkin Tabouli | Diabetes Australia

Note: Pregnant women should avoid raw seafood, sushi with raw seafood, soft cheese, and uncooked deli meats.

By Rebecca McPhee, Accredited Practising Dietitian