APRIL
April often signifies the start to summer, the sun comes out, the kids have time off school and there is the temptation of chocolate at Easter. Following the typical post Christmas fasting people’s bodies are craving sugar at this time of year and then all of a sudden there is an abundance of Chocolate on every shelf in every store!
It’s not a case of locking yourself in your house for the whole of April; it’s more a case of being sensible on what you have. We have provided a list of Chocolate Easter Eggs and Seasonal Treats and their calories. Remember you can have a treat, it is about a lifestyle not a diet and we want you to enjoy yourselves. However, be aware that these calories will go towards your daily target and you don’t want to go over too many times. It is also worth noting that the sugars in Chocolate will also leave you craving more and will not fill you up. To help with this we have provided a selection of seasonal tasty treats and meals that will leave you full, nourished and on track for a slimmer summer.
EASTER EGGS
Easter eggs – the low down on whats a good egg !!
This list demonstrates how many calories there are in a selection of Easter eggs and chocolate Easter treats.
Per Aero Bubbles Easter Egg Shell (235g) Calories: 1264.3 cals
Per Nestle Mint Aero Lamb (27g) Calories: 146 cals
Per Cadburys Buttons Medium Easter Egg (162g) Calories: 858.6 cals
Per Cadburys Caramel Easter Egg (38g) Calories: 195 cals
Per Pack of 2 Cadburys Caramel Easter Bunnies (40g) Calories: 200 cals
Per Cadburys Creme Egg (39g) Calories: 180 cals
Per Terrys Chocolate Orange Easter Egg (120g) Calories: 636 cals
Per Cadburys Crunchie Medium Easter Egg (167g) Calories: 885.1 cals
Per Cadburys Dairy Milk Large Easter Egg (343g) Calories:1817.9 cals
Calories in ½ Dairy Milk Chocolate Egg Shell Calories: 909cals
Green and Blacks Dark Chocolate Easter Egg (180g) Calories 991.8 cals
Per Cadburys Flake Medium Easter Egg (153g) Calories: 810.9 cals
Per Green & Blacks Mini Egg (7.5g) Calories: 42 cals
Per Kinder Surprise Egg (20g) Calories: 113 cals
Per Nestle Kit Kat Chunky Easter Egg (235g) Calories: 1250.2 cals
Per Chocolate Mini Egg, Lindt (5g) Calories: 30 cals
Per Maltesers Bunny (29g) Calories: 157 cals
Per half a bag of MilkyBar Mini Eggs (50g) Calories: 250 cals
Per Cadburys Mini Egg (3.3g) Calories: 16 cals
Per Cadburys Roses Large Easter Egg (307g) Calories: 1627.1 cals
Per Nestle Smarties Small Easter Egg (138g) Calories: 731.4 cals
Per bag of Smarties Mini Eggs (100g) Calories: 488 cals
Per Cadburys Twirl Large Easter Egg (325g) Calories: 1722.5 cals
In summary, there is a lot of calories in each egg, and chocolate will often leave you feeling hungry and empty afterwards
EASTER DESERTS
Here are a few suggestions to have as deserts over Easter instead of the Chocolate Eggs –
Low Fat Chocolate Chip Oatmeal cookies
What you need ( makes 2 dozen cookies)
1/4 butter, softened
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup all purpose flour
1 1/2 cups old fashioned oats
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 cup chocolate chips
How to make it
- First, preheat the oven to 175 degrees.
- Place the softened butter and the brown sugar and white sugar in a medium sized mixing bowl. With an electric beater, beat the butter and sugars until the mixture is smooth. Then, add the egg and the vanilla extract, and continue beating until the mixture is completely combined.
- In a separate, large mixing bowl, combine the flour, old fashioned oats, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and ground cinnamon. Assure that the mixture is well combined. With a large, sturdy spoon, mix in the butter and sugar mixture. Pour in the chocolate chips, and combine well.
- Spray a large baking sheet with non-stick cooking spray. Use a tablespoon to drop the dough by rounded tablespoons onto the baking sheet. Space the cookies about 2 inches apart from eachother.
- Bake the cookies for ten to twleve minutes, until the edges of the cookies turn slightly brown. (bake a little less for soft cookies, and a little longer for crisp cookies).
73 Calories per cookie
Easter Sugar Cookies
What you need (makes approx 30 cookies)
5 tbsp butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar~
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
How to make it
- Using a mixer, beat butter and sugar until creamy. Add egg and vanilla, mixing well. In another bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt. Gradually stir flour mixture into butter and sugar until dough forms.
- Don’t worry if the dough seems a little crumbly at first; it will come together.
- Wrap dough in plastic and chill for two hours in the refrigerator.
- Preheat oven to 175 degrees.
- On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to a 1/4-inch or 1/8-inch thickness. Use Easter-themed cookie cutters dipped in flour to make cutouts. Gather scraps and re-roll until all the dough is used.
- Place cookies 1 inch apart on a parchment-lined cookie sheet.
- If you’re using sugar sprinkles, decorate the cookies before baking.
- Bake for 10 minutes or until the edges are lightly browned. Transfer to wire rack after 1 minute to cool.
Makes 30 cookies, depending on size of cookie cutters used.
65 calories per serving
Easter Nests
What you need
- 12 paper fairy cake cases
- 100g (4) wholegrain wheats
- 200g milk chocolate
- 3 tbsp golden syrup
- 50g unsalted butter
- To decorate
- 2 packets mini chocolate eggs and little chicks
How to make it
- Put 12 paper cases into a fairy cake tin. Then crush the wholegrain wheats into small pieces in a bowl.
- Break the chocolate into small pieces and put in a medium pan with the syrup and butter.
- Put the pan onto a low setting on the hob and wait for the chocolate melt.
- Take it off the heat and stir.
- Add the crushed wheats to the chocolate and quickly mix with a spoon until everything is chocolatey.
- Use a spoon to drop the mixture into the cases and then poke a hole in the middle of each one to make nests.
- Leave them in the fridge until they’re hard and then put a few eggs in each nest. 235 calories per serving
Easter Hot Cross Buns
What you need (Makes 12 Hot Cross Buns- can be frozen once made)
- 450g (1lb) strong white flour
- 1 sachet easy-bake yeast
- 5ml (1tsp) ground mixed spice
- 5ml (1tsp) ground cinnamon
- 50g (1.75oz) caster sugar
- 50g (1.75oz) butter
- 160ml (5.5fl oz) semi-skimmed milk
- 1 egg
- 75g (2.75oz) currants
- 50g (1.75oz) cut mixed peel
- 5ml (1tsp) sunflower oil
- 50g (1.75oz) plain flour (for the pastry crosses)
- 25g (1oz) butter (for the pastry crosses)
How to make it
- Mix flour, yeast, spices and sugar in a large bowl.
- Gently heat the milk with the butter and 75ml (5tbsp) water, until the butter has melted. Cool until it feels warm but not hot. Add with the beaten egg, currants and mixed peel. Mix.
- Knead the dough for approximately 10 minutes on a lightly floured surface until smooth. Place in a lightly oiled bowl. Cover with a tea towel. Leave to rise for 1.5 hours in a warm, draught-free place.
- When dough has doubled in size, turn out onto floured work surface. Knead for 2–3 minutes. Divide into 12 pieces.
- Shape each into a round bun. Place on lightly oiled baking sheets with a space between them. Leave to rise in a warm place until doubled in size again.
- Preheat oven to 220°C, 425°F, gas mark 7.
- In a bowl rub plain flour and cubed butter until resembling breadcrumbs. Add 10ml (2tsp) water. Knead to smooth dough. Roll out thinly; cut into strips.
- Lay over buns in a cross, securing with a little milk brushed on. Bake in the oven for about 15 minutes until golden and hollow sounding on bottom when tapped.
- Make a glaze by mixing 30ml (2tbsp) caster sugar with 30ml (2tbsp) water. Dissolve and simmer gently. Brush over buns as soon as they come out of the oven. To freeze, place cooked, cooled buns in freezer bags. Seal and freeze for up to 3 months. Defrost and reheat in the oven or the toaster.
250 calories per hot cross bun
Enjoy this delicious Peanut Butter Protein Flapjacks as a breakfast alternative or snack!
Ingredients:
- 120g rolled oats
- 60g whey protein
- 20g honey
- 150g semi skimmed milk
- 100g peanut butter
- 20g dark chocolate
- Coconut oil
