Did you know that March is National Nutrition Month? It was officially known as this since 1980, and was created by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics to be a nutrition education campaign that concentrates on how consumers can make knowledgeable food selections and form healthy habits. This year’s theme is “go further with food,” meaning that the right foods can have a major positive impact on our day. Fueling your body the right way will help your body function at its best.

With that being said, when making your kids’ Easter baskets this week, try to go easy on the candy! Moderation is okay, but don’t go overboard. With just a few days left to get the holiday items, think about how many calories are in common Easter treats before decide on how many to place in each basket (or to eat for yourself!):

• In 15-25 Jelly beans, there are about 60 calories.
• A snack-sized candy bar has an average of 80 calories.
• Five Peep marshmallows average 140 calories.
• In one chocolate cream egg, there is an average of 170 calories.
• In seven of the small solid chocolate eggs, there is about 200 calories (Hassan, 2014).

Treats will always be a staple to many households on Easter. Just make sure it doesn’t fill your kids up so much that they don’t want their nutrient-dense meals/snacks as the day goes on. And always look at food labels to see how many pieces of candy are in a serving size. All of the empty calories, sugar, and saturated fat add up!

So while it will no longer be National Nutrition Month on Easter Sunday, the days leading up to it when you purchase treats still will be. But of course, nutrition should be an important and daily component in your family’s wellbeing all year long, not just this month.

References:

Hassan, D. (2014). Easter Candy-Worth the Calories? Retrieved from http://msue.anr.msu.edu/news/easter_candy_worth_the_calories

0