Easter Food

Easter Food and Meals, especially with all the added sugar from all the Easter candy, can be transformed with some meal planning, and a few Healthy Diet Habits, and healthier food substitutions to make for some new Easter Meal traditions!

Easter Cake made by my niece Amanda

The focus of many a holiday is the family meal.  We have our generational menu that has been passed down through the ages. Healthy or not, our kids cannot make it without the famous Jell-O salad with the vanilla ice cream, or the starchy carbohydrate array!

Easter is no exception! Most of us will be making ham, potatoes, corn, bread or rolls, Jell-O, and maybe a token green salad or green veggie, and pie. I am dining with my wonderful friend’s family. That is our meal plan, the traditional Easter meal! My friend asked me to bring a green salad, because in her words, "You guys like green stuff." Too funny!

How about this Easter Meal Plan?

Should we just accept this traditional meal, or look for some ways to make some changes? Well? My choice is always: "Follow the half plate rule when possible." Never heard of the half plate rule? - click the link to find out more!

How would this look for the Easter Meal?

• Ham (See Kerry's Leftover Ham page on her Healthy Diet Habits website that has lots of great ideas and recipes to make from your leftover ham!)
  


• Roasted Potatoes drizzled with olive oil, sea salt, and pepper


• Chopped salad full of colorful veggies (Easter is colorful).  Or make a produce tray full of fruits and vegetables. (See our Produce Trays page for tips on how to make a great one!)
  


• Asparagus - cooked how you love it!


• Sliced melons


• Lightened dessert of choice - See Kerry's list of Sweet Substitutions and her Dessert Recipes
  

If you have kids or grandchildren in the house, making a Bunny out of Bread, and surrounding it with fresh vegetables and dip would be a great way to get them to eat some veggies!

This would be a great meal, enjoyed by all. It’s similar to our traditional Easter meal, but half of our plate would be full of veggies! Yeah! Usually melons would be our dessert of choice, but because this is a special holiday, we will add in the dessert. I guarantee that you would be satisfied, and even feel better than the heavier filling meal.

Let’s think outside of the box with our meals. Changes do not mean doing without, just adding some new tasty, healthier foods! Change tastes better!

This Easter Bunny Fruit Basket, found on Pinterest, would be a great addition to your Holiday Meal and could serve as a Healthy Dessert for your Easter Meal.

Sugar and Easter Basket's

If the research is correct that sugar is tied to insulin resistance, diabetes, high blood pressure, metabolic syndrome and cancer, it might be a great idea to limit sugar in your kids’ Easter baskets!

Substitute in some healthy foods, or treats that are not food, like a trip to the zoo or aquarium! Let’s make some new traditions that are not centered on sugar! We have been played long enough by the sugar industry!

See these pages on Kerry's, Healthy Diet Habits Website for more information:

• Childhood Obesity
• Healthy Kids - a great 10 page section full of tips for raising healthy kids
  
• Sugar
• Sugar Substitutes
  

Please Follow our Holidays and Observances Easter Food Holiday Board on Pinterest - below you will see our 30 most recent pins to this photo board!

Click on the SEE ON PINTEREST bar right above, to see all the rest of our photo's on this board, and to Follow the board. New photos will be constantly added! 

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