How to Keep Healthy at Easter Amidst COVID-19: A Dietitian’s Notebook

Despite the disruptions, the sun’s out and the buns are also certainly out! Easter is coming, and even though this time around things are a little different, one thing is for sure – the supermarket shelves are chockers of chocolate and hot cross buns. And they’re not running out anytime soon.

However, for many of us working from home #WFM, it will be only too easy to walk a few steps to the kitchen to find a delicious Easter treat in the pantry, both before and after Easter Sunday.

To help keep us healthy this Easter, why not get creative with your Easter treats? Here are my top tips for enjoying Easter (during COVID-19):

Choose Dark Chocolate

Choose dark chocolate where possible (at least 70% chocolate, 85% is better). Why not whip up your own ‘chocolate bark’, using melted dark chocolate, flaked almonds, pepitas and freeze dried berries or cranberries to add natural sweetness? This bark will give your gut health a boost to help keep your immune system healthy. You can order online a range of freeze dried berries here: https://forager-foods.myshopify.com (100% Australian from Tasmania). My tip: for melting chocolate in the microwave, blitz it in no more than 10 second bursts each go.

Try Making Your Own Hot Cross Buns

Put this bun in the oven! If you’re feeling confident in the kitchen and would like a bit of a challenge to pass the indoor time, try a healthy spin on your classic hot cross bun. As sourdough is fermented, it is good for your gut health. Hot cross buns are made generally with more refined white flour, however this recipe also uses wholemeal flour and spelt flour. The bakery might be closed, but what could be a better time to try something different? See this website for a sourdough starter recipe and sourdough hot cross buns. https://www.theswirlingspoon.com/2019/02/sourdough-hot-cross-buns/ http://www.theswirlingspoon.com/2020/03/how-to-make-a-sourdough-starter/

Tip: You could use “allspice” where the recipe calls for mixed spices. If you’re not sure where to obtain flour during this time, head to Rebound’s Nutrition blog: “Cooking Amid Coronavirus: A Dietitian’s Notebook”

Bear in Mind the Bun

Bear in mind that 1 regular size hot cross bun is small but the equivalent of 2 slices of bread! Compared to a humble slice of raisin toast, the dough, cross and glaze in hot cross buns have a higher sugar content. While it’s important to enjoy a hot cross bun as a treat, if you’re worried your eating routine is a little out of whack with all that is going on, aim to enjoy just one or two hot cross buns on Good Friday.

Make it More Filling

It’s generally what’s added to a hot cross bun that makes it more energy dense. To make your hot cross bun more filling, why not try these topper ideas instead of butter? Serve your hot cross bun with reduced fat cream cheese or ricotta (with a teaspoon of jam or honey if you like something sweet) or you could try a hot cross bun with some nut butter such as all natural peanut or almond butter.

Keep the Easter Eggs to Easter

It’s important to enjoy chocolate at Easter! However, with more time at home, a sprinkling of boredom here and there, and ready access to the pantry, it can be difficult to resist going for sweet treats (I hear you!). Then there can be some sneaky Easter Eggs left floating around, and Easter Sunday turns into Easter Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday (you get me!) Try to enjoy Easter eggs just on Easter Sunday.

After Easter Don’t Beat Yourself up - Just Get Back to Healthy Habits!

When we look back on it, Easter is one day. One day out of 366 days (this year being a leap year!). If you felt like you overdid it, this is where I really challenge you to not focus on yesterday. Try not to restrict yourself to “compensate” the next day. Instead, wait until you are genuinely hungry and reach for healthy foods. How quickly can you get back on track with healthy eating in a way that best takes care of you? If you feel like you’re out of routine given with all that’s going on, make a little plan for healthy foods you’d like to get back to.

Keep up the Exercise

Keep up your exercise routine! Tune into our online live exercise classes streaming daily for free as part of Rebound Health’s PrimeFit facebook group - we’ve got you covered!