There's no denying special occasions can be full of temptations and it's easy to get off track with your paleo diet. But however you choose to celebrate, you don't need to miss out either! Over the next few days, we'll be posting our top tips and tricks for a fun and nutritious Easter.
Let us know your own tips and suggestions by commenting below...
PALEO EASTER TIP #1 - Scale up your fish intake
With many opting to forgo meat over Easter, this is a great opportunity to scale up your seafood intake. A staple food of the Paleo lifestyle, fish is always something we should be having more of... the health benefits are endless! Fish boasts high levels of protein, Omega-3 and Vitamin D for optimal body and brain function.
And the perfect way to cook fish, you ask - crumbed with Deeks Grain and Gluten Free Breadcrumbs, of course! Made from a nutritious blend of our favourite breads, our versatile 500gm boxes are available from our Pearce Cafe and online here: https://deeks.com.au/breadcrumbs. They're also perfect for crumbed schnitzels and hamburgers!
PALEO EASTER TIP #2 - Be a Hunter Gatherer
Hosting an Easter egg hunt is a fantastic way to get active outdoors and embrace the inner Paleo 'hunter-gatherer' within.
Families - head to a local park to widen the scope of the hunt and get the kids running around. Why not substitute chocolate eggs for healthy, bite sized snacks or clues to find something that will keep them busy over the break, such as a book or puzzle.
With any holiday, there is always the temptation to over indulge in food, so if you're up for something more intensive, gather some friends to complete a 'Fitness Hunt' circuit workout and position each exercise station around a park or lake.
PALEO EASTER TIP #3 - Opt for Dark Chocolate
If you're following a Paleo lifestyle, there's something you should know about chocolate... it's not all bad! It wouldn't be Easter without chocolate, but this year, we're challenging you to swap out your milk chocolate in favour of dark chocolate, to take advantage of its numerous health benefits.
Opt for chocolate with a high cacao percentage (80% and upwards), that is also free from soy and dairy. Most of these bars may contain subtle amounts of added sugar, so this is where moderation comes in. Of course if you can handle the bitterness, there's always 100% pure cacao products out there too.
Now for the health benefits:
Dark chocolate is high in antioxidants and an excellent source of magnesium, copper, iron, manganese, phosphorous and potassium. Recent research suggests that regular consumption of the flavanols found in dark chocolate may play a role in preventing age related illnesses, including delaying or preventing cognitive decline.
It can also offer other benefits such as improved perception of mood, enhanced motivation and neural efficiency and reduced risk of diabetes and cancer. You can also enjoy dark chocolate guilt-free knowing that it lowers your bad cholesterol and blood sugar levels for optimal cardiovascular and metabolic function.
So this Easter, welcome chocolate, and it's host of health benefits back into your Paleo lifestyle!