There are many things apart from chocolate you can give for Easter such as toys, or more healthy edible things, but if you choose carefully, the lovely chocolate might not be so bad after all. The bottom line is that it is better to eat a little bit of high quality chocolate instead of the processed one from the supermarket.
Easter is a Festival, which celebrates the resurrection of Jesus, and it coincides with pagan rebirth and fertility festivals. Easter is the celebration of new life, and eggs, bunnies, and more recently the Australian bilby are symbols associated with Easter, especially when they come in the form of chocolates. In the early 1800's the first chocolate egg appeared in Germany and France. The first chocolate eggs were solid. Hollow eggs were tricky to make because the chocolate used were different, and more difficult to work with. However, modern chocolate making processes from the beginning of the 19 th century meant that it was easier to mass manufacture Chocolate Easter Eggs. The origin of the Easter egg is from pagan celebrations, and not from Christianity. The egg was a symbol of fertility and rebirth.
Unfortunately, most chocolate products have no real health benefits. They are blended with refined sugar and unhealthy fats. The bitter alkaloids have been removed, and it is the alkaloids that contains the healthy part. Dark chocolate is more healthy than milk chocolate, and white chocolate. There is a growing appetite for this intense and very indulgent type of chocolate.
Dark chocolate not only helps prevent heart disease, it also contribute to lowing blood pressure. The high level of flavonoids/antioxidants can help in prevention of cancer, and the flavonoids can reduce the likelihood of a blood clot. Dark chocolate also is better than milk chocolate for the skin. The milk content in milk chocolate can cause acne. Dark chocolate contains a higher percentage of cocoa solids, it has more chocolate element in relation to sugar and cocoa butter. There are also compounds in chocolate that make you feel good when you are eating the chocolate.
Value for money seems not to be a priority when buying Easter chocolate confections. Shoppers are more concerned with the brand of the product, and prepared to spend more money. However, several leading brands of chocolate confectionery contain more packaging than chocolate; tinfoil, plastic and cardboard.
Many children to do not like dark chocolate. You can mix milk chocolate with dark chocolate, and your children will get used to it, slowly. It is better to give them some more expensive chocolate instead of buying a lot of cheaper highly processed chocolate. Teach children to eat right while they are young so that they develop a lifetime of good habits.
Organic and Fair-trade chocolates are increasing in popularity. There is a trend towards ethical consumerism, and there are many good smaller online chocolate makers with tasty products for sell. Some of them use more raw ingredients, which are healthier to consume. Then there is also the conscious decision to buy chocolate that is not produced from cocoa farms which uses children as slave labor.
Find out and the chocolate you are buying and enjoy and love every morsel of the delicious manna from the gods.
