EASTER EGGS WITH A LITTLE LESS GUILT
WHILE easter eggs can’t count as ‘healthy’, some are better than others. Bari Stricoff, a dietitian with the NHS-backed healthy eating programme secondnature.io, suggests five healthier options.
MONTEZUMA’S ABSOLUTE BLACK PEANUT BUTTER MINI EGGS
150g, £4.50, amazon.co.uk Per 100g: Calories, 599; saturated fat, 25g; sugar, 4g; salt, 0.4g THESE 100 per cent dark chocolate mini eggs have a peanut butter filling. Dark chocolate can be a good source of antioxidants that have been linked to heart health benefits. Peanuts are a source of ‘good’ fats, vital for brain and cardiovascular health. These eggs have just 4g sugar per 100g, and this is naturally occurring, compared to the 56g added sugar per 100g you find in a regular milk chocolate egg. I’d even recommend one or two of these eggs a day as part of a well-balanced diet.
HOTEL CHOCOLAT 65pc SUPERMILK EGG
220g, £15, hotelchocolat.com Per 100g: Calories, 569; saturated fat, 24.6g; sugar, 26.9g; salt, 0.2g WITH less than half the added sugar of a regular milk chocolate egg, a 20g portion should satisfy a chocolate craving. The 10 per cent granola includes dried fruit, nuts and flax seeds, which means you get just over 12g fibre (40 per cent of your recommended daily intake) in half an egg.
BUTLERS FARMHOUSE CHEESEALICIOUS CHEDDAR EGG
120g, £12.99, amazon.co.uk Per 100g: Calories, 305; saturated fat, 17.8g; sugar, 1.5g; salt, 1.1g IF YOU’RE looking for a lower-carb option, this eggshaped spreadable cheese is a clever alternative. It contains almost 45 per cent fewer calories than a milk chocolate egg, and just 1.8g of naturally occurring sugar in the whole egg. There’s almost twice as much protein, too, meaning you should stay fuller for longer.
MOO FREE CHOCCY EGGSPLOSION EGG
80g, £3.50, waitrose.com Per 100g: Calories, 535; saturated fat, 19g; sugar, 42g; salt, 0.01g IF YOU can’t eat dairy, gluten or soya, this egg is for you. It’s made with 37 per cent cocoa, rice flour and inulin (a vegetable fibre) and decorated with white cocoa and vegan marshmallows. It is sweet, with 45 per cent added sugar, but that’s still 25 per cent less sugar than a regular milk chocolate egg. It’s small too (just 80g), which can help you manage portions.
COX & CO RAW CACAO NIBS EASTER EGG
170g, £9.99, amazon.co.uk Per 100g: Calories, 630; saturated fat, 30g; sugar, 14g; salt, 0g THIS is made with 85 per cent dark chocolate with crunchy raw cocoa nibs (pieces of cocoa bean rich in antioxidants). It’s sweet, with three teaspoons of sugar in half an egg; however, the dark chocolate and cocoa nibs give it more fibre and healthy fats than most.