Why is it there is a holiday that involves food so freakishly often? January starts off with New years, February has a chocolately valentines day, March, beer and beef brisket St. Pattys Day, April the chocolatey goodness known as Easter. We are four months into the year and already each month there is some ‘food holiday’. Its Easter morning as I type this and if my kids knew how ripped off they were by the easter bunny this year they would have a fit. But since they are 2 and 3 its all good. There were no cadburry eggs, no giant chocolate easter bunnies, no huge baskets filled to the brim with sugar. My kids got a few things, all things I have no problem resisting. Food holidays are tough, especailly when its chocolate involved! Right now my youngest left his little chocolate bunny on my office desk….Bless his heart…he said ‘mamma, you eat’ sorry slugger…Ill be wearing that rabbit till next easter if I eat it now! So here are a few of my tips to getting through these brutal food holidays:
1.Dont buy the crap! I know this is really hard if you have kids. They expect certain things on certain holidays, and sometimes the joy in their faces is worth the junk. But downsize it- for Easter this year instead of buying a huge chocolate bunny for each of them I bought a 3 ounce bunny for each of them. This year I didnt buy any cadburry eggs or other candy that I personally love. The rest of their easter candy was a stash of fat free candy. Just in case I had a moment of weakness. Im not a huge fan of jelly beans, peeps or lifesaver gummies. But my kids are! So that is what they got, and they were THRILLED.
2. Eat real food before the junk comes out. I made myself a big breakfast this morning so I wouldnt be tempted to score a chunk of chocolate from one of the boys. Two pieces of whole wheat bread, two egg whites, a cup of milk and a couple of strawberries and I was too stuffed to be more than slightly tempted by the chocolate.
3. Get moving! Go for a walk, shoe the kids outside, just get away from whatever junk is left over.
4. If youve been invited over for a meal or get together bring your own safe food. Today we are going out to an Easter lunch-Im bringing a huge veggie tray with fat free dressing. That way I can still eat but keep it low fat!
5. Pawn the extra junk off on your unsuspecting spouse. The Easter Bunny came to my husband this year too. Everything I didnt give to the kids ended up in his cupboard. He was surprised and happy. And I wasnt tempted with junk!