“Moooom! Did YOU eat my chocolate bunny?” Have you ever heard this in your house? Easter has come and gone for another year and I’ll bet you’re wondering where all of the chocolate treats have disappeared to.
In Canada, the average person will consume 12 pounds of chocolate per year* – much of that at Easter! While that is far less than the average Swiss person (they clock in at 22 pounds per person!), it’s still a lot of chocolate and a lot of potential cavities down the line!
So before you hit the post-Easter sales, here are a few tips for next year’s festivities, so that you can keep the fun in Easter morning, all the while cutting down on the candy consumption for your family.
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- The dollar store is your friend: get empty plastic eggs (which you can re-use next year) and fill them with fun Easter-themed things like erasers, stickers, and temporary tattoos. Then play “hot/cold” to find your special Easter treats!
- Do you have older kids? Look into volunteering with them over Easter. Food banks and soup kitchens are always in greater need during the holiday periods and it’s a good way for your family to get together on a project that makes a difference in the lives of others.
- Do an Easter craft: paint some eggs, decorate a basket, plant a garden! In good weather or bad, there are plenty of options for Easter fun!
- Plan an egg-stravagant Easter egg treasure hunt at home, complete with written clues. If your kids are just learning to read, this can be a wonderful play exercise. The prize at the end of the hunt can be anything you want. Example? A stuffed bunny holding a single chocolate egg.
Moderation is the key to ensuring that with all the holidays we enjoy throughout the year, we don’t end up overdoing the treats. Remember, the bacteria in our mouths LOVE sugar, and the resulting acid they produce when they get a lot of fuel can lead, ultimately, to tooth decay. Make sure all the kids, big and small, keep brushing at least twice a day!
If you need a dentist to help keep your family’s smiles beautiful and teeth healthy, call or visit either our Milton or Scarborough offices, we’d love to see how we can help!
* https://www.purdys.com/chocolate-legend
