Newswise — MAYWOOD - Life-size chocolate bunnies, baskets overflowing with jelly beans and buffets filled with lavish delicacies. Easter gives us hope that consistent warm weather days are just around the corner. But it can also be a time of temptation, with large white bunnies leaving baskets full of candy around the house.
“It can be hard to stay focused on our health during what can easily become a candy-and-food related holiday,” says Cristina Harder, a registered and licensed dietitian at the Loyola Center for Fitness.
Harder suggests using the acronym SPRING as a way to keep you on track.
S is for Springtime ActivitiesGo outside and enjoy the warmer weather. You might consider planting some fresh herbs for use in creating healthy dishes. You also will be getting a dose of Vitamin D the natural way.
P is for Pass on the CandyDo you find yourself tempted by the abundance of Easter candy at the store or candy dish at work? Opt for a sweet alternative such as a combination of dried fruit and nuts. You will feel energized and satisfied for a longer period of time. If you must have candy, keep it limited to one or two pieces.
R is for Revisit Your GoalsHas it been a while since you’ve thought about your health goals you made for the New Year? This is a perfect time to reflect or modify them. Consider what needs to changed so you can stay on the right path.
I is for Imagine Yourself Reaching Your GoalsPositive reinforcement can actually make the difference between reaching your goals or maintaining the status quo. Be proud of what you have accomplished and imagine yourself reaching your goal.
N is for No Second HelpingsIf you are going to celebrate Easter with a traditional dinner, or going out to a Sunday brunch, enjoy yourself, but establish a limit of one small serving of foods that are higher in calories and fat.
G is for Get Up and MoveThis is the perfect time of year to incorporate outside exercise activities. Exercise will allow you to burn some of those extra calories you might not normally consume.
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About Loyola University ChicagoCommitted to preparing people to lead extraordinary lives, Loyola University Chicago, founded in 1870, is the nation’s largest Jesuit, Catholic university. Enrollment is nearly 16,000 students, which includes more than 10,000 undergraduates hailing from all 50 states and 82 countries. The University has four campuses: three in the greater Chicago area and one in Rome, Italy. Loyola also serves as the U.S. host university to The Beijing Center for Chinese Studies in Beijing, China and now features an academic center in Saigon-Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Loyola’s 10 schools and colleges include arts and sciences, business administration, communication, education, graduate studies, law, medicine, nursing, continuing and professional studies, and social work. Loyola offers 71 undergraduate majors, 71 undergraduate minors, 85 master’s degrees, and 31 doctoral degrees. Loyola is consistently ranked among the “top national universities” by U.S.News & World Report, and the University is among a select group of universities recognized for community service and engagement by prestigious national organizations, such as the Carnegie Foundation and the Corporation for National and Community Service. For more information about Loyola, please visit LUC.edu. You can also follow the University on Twitter (@LoyolaChicago) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/LoyolaChicago).
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