This week, it's the hard boiled egg vs the chocolate Easter bunny. Sure, there's other food around, but mostly, lots of eggs and lots of chocolate.
So let's get a reality check on this unlikely twosome: Calories in 1/4 of a solid, 170 gram, chocolate bunny: 230. He's got 13 grams of fat, 24 grams of sugar, and a puny 3 grams of protein. Now contrast dear, sweet bunny with a hard boiled egg -- colorful shell or not. The egg is packing 70 calories with 5 grams of fat, 1 gram of sugar, and 6 grams of protein. That's half the fat, twice the protein, and 1/24 the sugar of the bunny!
Now you might argue in the bunny's favor that eggs are high in cholesterol and you would be right. However, many reliable studies have shown that up to 7 eggs per week can be eaten without raising cholesterol or lowering HDL. Additionally, eggs have lots of vitamins and nutrients in them, including a high amount of choline which actually helps cardiovascular and brain function. And by the way, that protein in the egg is widely considered the highest quality protein of any food. It contains all nine essential amino acids.
So, eggs it is! Or is it? Mr. Cottontail, who may or may not still have his tail, is still so tempting. And what about all those purported health benefits of chocolate -- flavanoids, antioxidants and all that? Well, if you can find yourself a dark chocolate bunny made with 70% cocoa or higher you might get some of those antioxidant benefits mixed in with your sugar and fat.
You've guessed by now what I'm up to. There's not much of nutritional contest between chocolate bunnies and eggs. I just thought a few facts might help you resist going over the top on the Easter candy. Knowing a healthful alternative was probably right under your nose might help too. You could always eat the Easter egg and then see if you really want the chocolate.
Here are some other healthful eating tips:
Nutritional info on Easter Eggs and Candy from Calorie Count
Weight Loss with a Healthy Lifestyle
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