I LOVE Chocolate! I’m a chocoholic and yet when it comes to my littlies having it I’m a bit of a meany Mummy! It’s not that I don’t like sharing my chocolate stash (well, there is that) no, it’s because I know that too much of it isn’t great.
Now I’m not the chocolate police, I’m not saying you shouldn’t give chocolate to little ones, but there are alternatives, and I try to limit the amount my two have.
With Easter just around the corner, the supermarket and shop shelves are crammed with chocolate eggs encouraging grandparents, aunties and uncles to buy buy buy! It’s no wonder littlies are on an all time chocolate high over Easter! Whilst it is all in good fun, its important to remember that too much chocolate indulging is definitely not good for littlies.
I don’t think I’m mean limiting chocolate, I think I’m sensible. Chocolate is full of sugar and also contains caffeine. In the human body, caffeine acts as a stimulant. It increases heart rate, blood pressure and feelings of alertness. Your weight affects the impact of caffeine on your body so your children, who have lower body weights can have very intense reactions to even small amounts of caffeine. Bit worrying isn’t it?
We all know sweets, sugar and chocolate can make our littlies a little crazy, so how much is too much during the Easter fun and what can we do to stop chocolate overload?
Here are my Top Ten Tips for a happy, low sugar, Easter, together with ideas for burning off egg-sessive eating of chocolate! (Pah – you see what I did there?!)
1. Plastic Eggs! Buy a plastic Easter egg (these were from good old Poundland but available in most supermarkets! Fill with pocket money toys such as lego, crayons, stickers or even real money for older children. You could even fill with raisins, grapes or 
other healthy snacks!
2. Get out and burn off some chocolate! If your littly has over-indulged due to nanna’s chocolate eggmania buying session, encourage lots of outdoor activities to burn off the effects. Take a long family walk or bike ride and have fun together while brunging off those egg-stremely calorific eggs!
3. Swap Chocolate for a DVD - It’ll last much longer than a chocolate egg! There are fab offers on at ASDA and other supermarkets so shop around and don’t feel you always have to buy chocolate for Easter!
4. Turn your Eggs into cakes! Melt down eggs and make into cakes! Rice crispy cakes are easy to make and can be shared out over Easter when family come to visit. This way your littlies are still having a chocolate treat but its broken down a little!
5. Easter egg hunts - A great way to burn off the chocolate while having fun! Hide small eggs rather than great big commercial eggs around the garden. The small quantities won’t have such a big effect if they are being eaten while walking and running around.
6. Easter crafting kits A great alternative to chocolate Easter eggs that will last longer than the chocolate and give lots of fun. We have some lovely kits that the littlies had a a pre-Easter gift which they are really enjoying at the moment!
7. Books make great Easter gift alternatives and there are some lovely Spring themed books out there such as
‘When will it be Spring’ by Catherine walters.
A really cute story if Alfie Bear is not sure he’ll know how Spring is on it’s way! Also availlable ‘Little Bunny’s Easter’ by Sophie Piper and my particular favourite ‘Peter Rabbits Springtime’ by Beatrix Potter! A really nice keep-sake present idea this Easter!
8. Buy a fluffy rabbit! Little ones love fluffy animals and there are lots of cute fluffy bunnies about in the shops right now. My favourite has to be the Jellycat range of soft, fluffy bunnies! We have far too many, but they are just so adorable!
9. Egg Decorating kits Lots available from supermarkets and art stores. Why not make a paper mache egg and decorate together?! Fill it with non-chocolate goodies to be opened on Easter Sunday to share with everyone!
10. Get Crafting! There are lot’s of messy fun time activities to keep your littlies entertained over Easter, including egg blowing and decorating! Why not give some of our ideas a go and pop all your creations onto your very own homemade Easter Tree?
Whatever you choose to buy and do this Easter may we wish you lots of fun! Happy Easter everyone!
March 25, 2013
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