Fit Kids: Easter Candy Control

It's no secret the Easter Bunny has a sweet tooth!  He'll be delivering piles of chocolates for boys and girls this Sunday.

Chocolate treats and marshmallow peeps are sure to fill those wicker baskets left behind on your kitchen tables. 

There is a way to make sure that your kids get their fill without getting filled up.  Stephen Cook, a professor of pediatrics at the University of Rochester Medical Center says, "I think the important thing is to not live in the world of absolutes.  It's not "no candy" or "they can have whatever they want", have some candy within moderation."

So what's that mean for your child?  It's simple.  Break up the candy into small doses at a time. It'll put a smile on their face, and maybe even a smile on yours.  Cook says, "Some people give their kids a piece or two every day for 5 days.  That's all they get and whatever is left they donate or give away."

Taking time to slow down and enjoy the candy also makes you feel fuller sooner.  "You eat anything fast you don't feel full as quickly, so you tend to eat more, then fullness kicks in and you've really overstuffed yourself."

Of course, you can't forget about the real reasons that make the holidays so special either.  "Try to focus on the other things that are going on at the holidays in terms of spending time with family, enjoying the nice weather in this case."

So help your kids indulge in a more responsible way this Easter.  After all, a little chocolate never hurt anybody.