Mini Eggs have hit the shelves, checkouts and every inch of available retail space in Bermuda. They’re in grocery stores and gas stations island-wide.

Ironically, they’re also at the pharmacy, so you can pick them up at the same time as your diabetes prescription or weight-loss accelerator. How is that for multitasking? Whichever marketing genius came up with the seasonal availability of Easter chocolate needs a pay rise from their employer and a slap from the public. It’s fuel to the fire of the chocoholic. It’s chocolate with a purpose, a deadline, a sense of urgency …. it’s the reason you go into Phoenix for eye make-up remover and leave with a Crème Egg too.

It’s tricky to stay healthy in a world that’s anything but. Milk chocolate is deliberately designed to melt at your internal body temperature. It’s why you have such a great sense of satisfaction when it hits your tongue. Food scientists have spent years perfecting the exact ratio of sugar to fat to salt — creating products that stimulate your taste buds, tap into your addiction pathways and leave you wanting more.

So if anyone needs a Mini Egg intervention or a Crème Egg prised from their cold sweaty grip, here’s a set of guidelines to help you navigate the next three weeks. Good luck!

Easter Chocolate: Three Golden Rules

Don’t eat it when you’re hungry.

You skipped breakfast and now you’re starving. Your ability to choose something healthy is now seriously compromised, whoops! Wolfing down some Easter chocolate that you just couldn’t resist results in a double fail: firstly, you ate it so quickly your pleasure pathways barely have time to acknowledge what just happened (so you want more). Secondly, you didn’t satisfy your hunger with any real nutrition (so you want more). Instead, keep healthy snacks handy and eat on time. Have a little chocolate afterwards instead and it will be much easier to stop!

Don’t go shopping when you’re hungry

For the same reason, avoid shopping when you’re starving. Much easier to leave with the things on your list rather than a basket full of Peeps.

Try chocolate-related healthier snacks

Got a craving? Try the Dark Chocolate Sea Salt KIND bar. It’s just 5g of sugar compared to others in the range with 19-23g. Or try a handful or almonds and a square of dark chocolate. Look for something with 65 per cent cocoa content or higher. Generally, the darker it is, the more likely it is to nip your craving in the bud.

•The advice given in this article is not intended to replace medical advice, but to complement it. Always consult your GP if you have any health concerns. Catherine Burns BA Hons, Dip ION is the managing director of Natural Ltd and a fully qualified nutritional therapist trained by the Institute for Optimum Nutrition in the UK. Please note that she is not a registered dietitian. For details, please go to www.natural.bm or call 236-7511. Join Catherine on Facebook: www.facebook.com/nutrifitandnatural nutritionbermuda