Obesity Experts on Surviving Easter

31 March 2010, 13:02 | Updated: 1 April 2010, 12:05

Obesity experts in Kent have come up with some top tips on how to survive Easter for parents with overweight children.

MEND - which stands for Mind, Exercise, Nutrition, Do it! - works with families across the county to help them get healthier and fitter.

One in three children in the South East is either overweight or obese, and MEND says Easter can be particularly challenging for them with supermarkets full of chocolate.

Jo Cook, MEND Regional Manager for the South East said: "Easter can be a really difficult time for many families trying to live healthier lives. Suddenly Easter chocolates, sweets and cakes appear everywhere making it hard to resist temptation. In response MEND has come up with some top tips to help families steer clear of these unhealthy foods and instead focus on family fun over the holiday."

MENDs Easter suggestions:

  • A treasure hunt for your breakfast: hiding real eggs in the house or garden and having to find them before you can turn them into poached eggs on toast
  • Have an egg decoration competition
  • Instead of buying lots of chocolate eggs surprise your child with an Easter art and craft set; make an easter bonnet or use a kit to personalise your own egg cup
  • Get the family out in the garden and have an ‘egg and spoon race’.  You can even make it harder by turning it into a three-legged race
  • Make an easter egg hunt with a difference; instead of hiding chocolate eggs, hide plastic eggs with clues in them.  The clues can include active forfeits ie 10 star jumps or hop like the easter bunny before you can move on to the next clue
  • Instead of filling a basket full of chocolate eggs, fill the basket with little toys – you can even place these in colorful plastic eggs
  • Play a game of ‘Pin the tail on the bunny’.  Colour a big picture of a bunny (without a fluffy tail) and then once blindfolded see if you can stick on the missing tail

MEND run programmes in Dover, Thanet, Ashford, Shepway, Canterbury and Swale - you can get details on local events by calling 0800 849 4000

Listen to Beverley Falconbridge from MEND in Kent