According to Vancouver dietitian Gloria Tsang, author of the new book Go UnDiet: 50 Small Actions for Lasting Weight Loss and founder of nutrition network HealthCastle. com, choosing the right chocolate eggs can reduce the health impact of your kids' Easter egg hunt.
"Many big brands produce chocolate eggs specifically for the Easter season," Tsang said in a press release. "Since parents are buying products they don't buy the rest of the year, they may not have checked out the ingredients of each product."
Here are HealthCastle.com's top items to watch for when buying chocolate eggs:
? Sugar: You know chocolate eggs contain sugar. But you might be surprised that all brands reviewed contain more sugar than cocoa. The key source of sugar is often a candy shell.
? Artificial dyes: Colourful candy shells contain dye, of course. But some contain tartrazine (aka Yellow No. 5 in the U.S.), which may cause hyperactivity in some kids.
? Artificial flavour and wax. Yes, wax. Many branded chocolates use wax in their formulas. Look for brands that skip this "extra" ingredient. The best course of action is to buy chocolate eggs from a local chocolate shop, where you're likely to find more real chocolate and less sugar, dye and other artificial ingredients. If you're buying chocolate eggs at the grocery store, look for brands with no candy shell.
