In the eyes of most children Easter means three things, chocolate, chocolate and more chocolate!

But as mothers how can you prevent your kids from bouncing off the walls from too much sugar without denying them fun during this festive time.

I have a few tips and tricks to help make this Easter a healthy and happy one:

1) Get you all in the kitchen

Your kids will be far more willing to try out new (healthier) recipes if they are involved in the cooking process.

So put your apron on and don’t be afraid to get messy!

Both eating and cooking food should be a fun process so kill two birds with one stone, and play with your kids whilst feeding them a nutritious and delicious treat this Easter.

A crowd favourite coconut balls (or rum balls) are a fun and easy recipe that can be made healthy without the kids noticing. Swap the biscuit bits for a combination of nuts and seeds, our choice is 2die4 live foods activated nutz!

To hold the dry ingredients together opt for Medjool dates as they are a healthy and natural sweetener as opposed to condensed milk which is high in saturated fat and sugar.

2) Make it rainbow

Variety is often what drives our diet decisions meaning the more colours a dish includes the more appealing it is to us and our kids alike.

Luckily for us fresh and healthy food is not only full of nutrients but full of colour.

By simply adding goji berries, coco nibs and coconut flakes to a colourful bowl of fruit you can create a simple spin on a fruit salad that will go down like a treat.

• Beyond chocolate Easter egg hunts
• Non chocolate Easter fun

3) Make smart, subtle and simple food swaps

To keep your kids eating a healthy diet you don’t have to completely cut out the foods they love, instead keep your favourite chocolate recipes and just swap a few ingredients.

Rice malt syrup is a great alternative to sugar, it’s gluten free, fructose free making it a perfect natural sweetener.

4) Get organised

A great way to create healthy food for the kids is to be a little bit organised and resourceful especially when it comes to left overs.

Smoothies are a hearty breakfast option especially when they contain lots of fruit, coconut water, nut milks and protein powder suitable for children; they’re healthy, delicious, easy and make for a great dessert. After breakfast add the leftover smoothie from the blender straight into the freezer for later that night as it makes for a great alternative to ice-cream, we call it ‘nice-cream’.

5) Hiding veggies

Hiding veggies in food is a mum’s go-to strategy whether its grating carrot and zucchini into spag bowl or disguising them between layers of their favourite food however hiding veggies doesn’t have to be so crafty.

Including vegetables within muffins and cupcakes is a sneaky way to feed your kids without them even knowing. Beetroot cupcakes are a particularly good option as the rich purple/redish colour and sweet flavour will completely leave your kids in the dark.

6) Create your own family recipe book

Another great way to get your kids excited about healthier food options this Easter break is to document all the recipes you’ve made together in a recipe book.

Not only will it be an important reference for you to keep track of but your kids will learn the processes of cooking and what foods they are actually eating.

Do you have any other tips to making Easter a little healthier for you and your family? Please share in the comments below.