5 tips for a happy and healthy Easter

From Lindt bunnies to mini eggs, chocolate and Easter go hand-in-hand. Add in the freshly baked hot cross buns, and staying focused on your weight loss goals while navigating Easter might seem like ‘mission impossible’. But trust us, it’s doable - especially as nothing is off-limits on the WW programme. Here's how to enjoy Easter while staying on track:

Starting each day of the Easter break with a healthy breakfast will give you long-lasting energy for long walks in your local area, or fun-filled days with the kids. “Breakfast is a great opportunity to lean on foods low in Points®, like eggs, veggies, fruit and fat-free yogurt,” says Nicole Stride, WW programme developer and dietitian. “If you’re planning to snack on an Easter egg later that day, sticking to these foods in the morning means you’ve still got Points left to enjoy that.”

Organising a family Easter egg hunt is a great way to boost your Points budget. “Gardens or local parks are an ideal place to get everyone moving,” says exercise physiologist Loren Kirkwood. “For adults, the set-up can be just as physically active as it is for the children doing the searching. The up-and-down, crawling, bending and twisting to get to those hiding spots will get your heart rate up, helping to increase energy expenditure.”

The long weekend is the perfect excuse to spend some extra time outdoors, boosting your Points budget and having fun! “Why not try a new walk or cycle around a new track?” Kirkwood suggests. “If you need to be indoors, consider Twister, limbo or dig out the Wii-Fit.” You can also tune into live workouts like yoga, Pilates and Club Fit from the Healthy Body Healthy Mind Connect group in the WW app.

Movement is important, but it's equally important to give ourselves a break - especially with the year we've all had! Health psychologist Dr Marny Lishman says: “People underestimate the power of relaxation and its effect on our health,” she says. “Make sure you are proactive in having wind-down time so you can recharge, rejuvenate and reset - even if that's just reading a book or turning your phone off for 20 minutes.”

If your get-healthy goals are front and centre this year, why not hide hard-boiled eggs for the kids to find rather than chocolate eggs? Sit down as a family beforehand to decorate the eggs with colourful pens, stickers, feathers and whatever else takes your fancy. Bonus: they won’t melt and leave chocolate stains all over the house!