A dietitian tells us how to detox after Easter (without actually detoxing at all).

It’s official. Easter is over for another year.

And not only did you eat your body weight in chocolate Easter eggs – you’ve got stacks of eggs left over. STACKS. Everyone from your work colleagues to your Aunt Susan bought you an egg this year and thought they were doing you a favour. What they were really doing? Screwing. You. Over. You now have enough chocolate to build a fort that would withstand a Zombie apocalypse.

And you already feel a bit shit about yourself because, let’s be honest, a chocolate binge does not result in the body or the mind feeling particularly pleasant. Personally, I overindulged on the Crunchie bunnies and now I feel like I’ve been hit by a truck.

But please, friends: take caution with where you proceed from here. Here are our dietitian-approved dos and don’ts of how to get back on track after Easter. It’ll make sure that you avoid extreme dieting – or extreme further overindulging – and get back on track with your health in a safe and pleasant way…

DON’T go on some kind of health rampage that involves throwing out ALL the Easter eggs and buying yourself a dodgy detox program off an infomercial that promises to “cleanse your body!” and make you lose a ridiculous amount of kilos in a ridiculously small amount of time.

DO simply return to healthy eating patterns as soon as the holiday is over. This means eating a balanced, varied diet which includes things such as wholegrain cereals and grains and plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables.

DON’T say “screw it, all this chocolate is going to have to go somehow!” and eat yourself into a chocolate coma every time you feel like a snack.

DO opt for healthy snacks such as fruit salad, vegetables sticks with hummus, yoghurt and muesli instead. Fill the fridge with healthy options and take some snacks with you when you leave the house (here are some other snack ideas).

DON’T drink a shiteload of alcohol to mourn the fact that Easter (also known as the Season Of Eating Chocolate At Any Time Of The Day Without Being Judged) is over.

DO drink plenty of water. It’s good for you.

DON’T starve yourself just because you feel like you’ve put on weight.

DO eat – but eat mindfully, listen to your appetite, take your time and enjoy each bite of your meal. Also keep an eye on your portion sizes to make sure they’re not completely out of control.

DON’T fall for diet marketing campaigns that promise to get you feeling “energised”

DO ensure you get a good amount of quality sleep – it’s important for optimal metabolism, energy and brain function and we seriously underestimate it.

DON’T decide that you’ve completely ruined your fitness New Year’s Resolutions and that you may as well just give up now and never go back to the gym again because what’s the point anyway, you didn’t even like it?

DO stay active – add some physical activity into your routine everyday. It’s amazing for your physical and mental health and it will help to burn off some of those Easter indulgences, so you can feel extra good about yourself.

DON’T skip breakfast because you think it’ll help you lose weight.

DO eat a decent brekkie – it helps to keep hunger at bay, gets your metabolism working for the day and can prevent overindulging later in the day.

DON’T buy all the cheap Easter eggs that go on sale at the supermarket once the holiday is over. Seriously, half of them are broken anyway.

DO save your money for something that will give you more happiness in the long-term. Or spend that money on some of the delicious aforementioned snacks.

Thank you to our accredited practicing dietitian, Amy Vero, for her suggestions.

How are you planning on getting back on track after Easter?