Now in all likelihood you will never have Lily James' waist measurement in the latest film version of Cinderella (unless, as some cynics have suggested, you have access to photoshop) but if, like me you are feeling a bit guilty about the amount of chocolate that has passed your lips so far this Easter, it's time to get a grip and have a strong word with yourself.
You could tell yourself:
I am human.
It is Easter.
The World will not implode because I have eaten three Lindt bunnies and a packet of creme eggs.
I can always eat more healthily tomorrow by increasing my intake of fruit and veggies.
I can take a walk of at least 30 minutes to raise my heart-rate and get some fresh air.
Chocolate (at least dark chocolate with a 70% or higher cocoa content) has antioxidant properties. (PS. you can find more startling information about the health benefits of dark chocolate here).
The ancient Aztecs thought chocolate was an aphrodisiac.
Mind you they also thought human sacrifice was a good idea so I'd possibly discount that one.
In the 18th century, the ladies of the French Court had a special 'diet' recipe in the event of too high a chocolate consumption - containing chocolate!
The recipe - "Chocolate a la capucine" was made from 4 oz chocolate, 6 oz sugar, well beaten eggs and a half litre of Madeira.
This was to be consumed at breakfast.
Presumably so that you would pass out for the rest of the day and hence not eat any more chocolate (from "The Temptation of Chocolate" by Jacques Mercier).
That's the most entertaining recipe for a 'Slim Fast' shake I've ever heard of.
For those of us with kids, I really believe teaching the philosophy of a "little bit of what you fancy does you good".
Complete restriction or denial tends to lead to rebellion and / or making the forbidden substance even more desirable.
And it's another good opportunity to teach how important dental hygiene is after consuming lots of sugar.
Finally, at least we can see the sugar we are eating in chocolate (in a manner of speaking).
Far more worrying to me are the vast quantities of hidden sugar in our everyday foods.
That's where our attention really needs to be focused.
How do you deal with post-chocolate guilt?
 |
| Lily James in the latest version of "Cinderella" |
I am human.
It is Easter.
The World will not implode because I have eaten three Lindt bunnies and a packet of creme eggs.
I can always eat more healthily tomorrow by increasing my intake of fruit and veggies.
 |
| You can never have too many Easter Eggs, or can you? |
Chocolate (at least dark chocolate with a 70% or higher cocoa content) has antioxidant properties. (PS. you can find more startling information about the health benefits of dark chocolate here).
The ancient Aztecs thought chocolate was an aphrodisiac.
Mind you they also thought human sacrifice was a good idea so I'd possibly discount that one.
 |
| Aztecs sharing a meal - or is that an early chocolate fondue? |
The recipe - "Chocolate a la capucine" was made from 4 oz chocolate, 6 oz sugar, well beaten eggs and a half litre of Madeira.
This was to be consumed at breakfast.
Presumably so that you would pass out for the rest of the day and hence not eat any more chocolate (from "The Temptation of Chocolate" by Jacques Mercier).
That's the most entertaining recipe for a 'Slim Fast' shake I've ever heard of.
For those of us with kids, I really believe teaching the philosophy of a "little bit of what you fancy does you good".
Complete restriction or denial tends to lead to rebellion and / or making the forbidden substance even more desirable.
And it's another good opportunity to teach how important dental hygiene is after consuming lots of sugar.
Finally, at least we can see the sugar we are eating in chocolate (in a manner of speaking).
Far more worrying to me are the vast quantities of hidden sugar in our everyday foods.
That's where our attention really needs to be focused.
How do you deal with post-chocolate guilt?
