Last Thursday morning I was on East Broadway dressed in 80s workout gear, helping to promote the Argus Health Fair. Much to the relief of the lovely husband, it was the first and last time I will be wearing purple lycra leggings and pink leg warmers. There should be a law against new mums in lycra as much for our sake as for the eye of the general public. It wasn't really the confidence boost I needed. It has, however, had the benefit of providing me with more resolve as I brace myself for the avalanche of chocolate this Easter.Easter is for many people a time of religious reflection and celebration. For others it means just one thing crème egg season. Whichever marketing genius came up with a “season” (officially January 1 to April 4) for Crème Eggs deserves an award. They also deserve a slap in the face. Crème egg scarcity the rest of the year makes them doubly appealing when they pop up in the shops. And January 1? That's not fair. We've barely polished off the Quality Street by then. Where's the respite period?Nevertheless, at every check out, at every pharmacy, the crème eggs are lying in wait. I've said it before and I'll say it again, in the face of Bermuda's obesity epidemic, Phoenix has a lot to answer for. Ok, so it's not just Phoenix, but they have set the gold standard for the quantity of chocolate on display per square foot. I popped in the other day for some shampoo and came out with six crème eggs and a row of Lindt bunny rabbits. I didn't even get the shampoo. I am not sure what happened! It's my job to be healthy and even I got hoodwinked.Really, I should know better. Although a foil-wrapped bundle of deliciousness, each crème egg contains 6.4 teaspoons of sugar and more saturated fat than a large portion of McDonald's fries. Let's use the animals and children analogy again. If we wouldn't give our children, cats or dogs 6.4 teaspoons of sugar from a spoon or a ladle of saturated fat why do we do it to ourselves? Just because we are “grown-up” and in many ways more capable, doesn't mean that we are immune to the repercussions. In reality, it just makes us all the more irresponsible. Every single day, of our own accord, many of us take one more small step towards clogged arteries or an exhausted insulin response often both. We are literally choosing to develop heart disease and diabetes. If only humans were less susceptible to the joys of short-term satiety and more motivated by our long-term goals. “Today, I want a(nother) crème egg; in 30 years' time I want to be around for my grandchildren.” What wins? The crème egg.How did the crème egg triumph over the grandchildren? It's actually pretty simple. Through a copious amount of research, science tells us that the combination of fat and sugar (and salt) although deadly is also addictive. Humans are sensory beings and food manufacturers know that. Every single item of junk food you crave is likely to contain a great deal of sugar, salt or fat, and often a combination. Chips? Fat and salt. Doughnuts? Fat and sugar. Sweet and sour chicken? Sugar and salt. Fried fish? Salt and fat. Crème eggs? Sugar and fat. You get my point.So what's the answer? Let's turn back to nutritional science. Despite the dim picture, it's probably easier than you think to eat in a way that helps you buffer cravings for sugar and junk. You may still need blinkers when you walk through Phoenix, but these tips should help to strengthen your resolve! Good luck…..1. Have a good breakfast. By eating a healthy breakfast you can prevent yourself giving in to cravings later on in the morning when you have become really hungry. Combine complex carbohydrate (eg wholegrains or fruit) with protein (eg eggs, nuts) to provide you with plenty of slow-releasing energy. Try scrambled eggs or almond butter with wholewheat toast or a cereal that handily combines protein and carbs for you (Nature's Path Optimum Slim and Kashi Go Lean are two of the best).2. Anticipate a hunger-dip. If you know you get hungry at around 11 and 3, then anticipate these dips by having a healthy snack 15 minutes beforehand. If planning to that degree sounds like too much work, just make sure you snack as soon as you feel hungry, rather than waiting till you are starving (and therefore less capable of making a healthy choice).3. Keep healthy snacks handy. I now keep them in the car, at my desk and at home too. Nature's Path Crispy Rice bars, Kashi TLC bars, raw nuts and fresh fruit all make good snacks. Wholegrain cereals are also useful if you have a desk job and if you have more time, try guacamole/hummus with veggie sticks/wholegrain crackers.4. Try a smoothie as a snack, rather than just as a drink. If you add protein (whey powder, nuts, almond butter, soymilk) to your smoothie, it will help to slow the release of the sugar from the fruit and ultimately make it a long-lasting satisfying snack. Always order a small smoothie though even fruit can get way too high in sugar. Down to Earth and Buzz shops both have protein options as add-ins.5. Try Xylichew chewing gum. Use chewing gum to help you resist a candy craving, but choose carefully! This one is sweetened with Xylitol, a naturally occurring sugar alcohol that has little impact on blood sugar. Xylitol is also actively good for your teeth so your dentist will be happy. Try and avoid gum made with artificial sweeteners such as aspartame and watch out as many mainstream brands are combining Xylitol with artificial sweeteners. Xylichew is available at Down to Earth and Rock On. The flavours are great, but I'll be honest, they don't last all that long. Just buy lots!6. Use other natural low-calorie sweeteners. Stevia and agave nectar are both available at Down to Earth. Agave is more widely available now in most grocery stores. Stevia has a slightly odd after-taste (in my opinion) but lots of people like it. Agave is a great option, tastes a lot like honey and has no odd after-taste it's also good in both drinks and baking.7. Finally, and above all, DO NOT venture into Phoenix or for that matter near any other check-out when you are hungry! Buy lunch before you are starving and run errands when you are full.The advice given in this article is not intended to replace medical advice, but to complement it. Always consult your GP if you have any health concerns. Catherine Burns BA Hons, Dip ION is a fully qualified nutritional therapist trained by the Institute for Optimum Nutrition in the U.K. Please note that she is not a registered dietitian. She can be contacted at nourishbda[AT]gmail.com.