Easter eggs & buns: Your calories guide

Before ripping into your Easter eggs this weekend, you may wish to spare a thought for your waistline.

Or you could just choose to enjoy your chocolate treats in blissful ignorance. If that's you, stop reading now.

For some people it may come as a surprise to learn that one (relatively) harmless looking egg could easily contain half your daily recommended calories.

A random survey by The Daily Post found one egg on sale in Rotorua contained a massive 1000 calories and 58 grams of fat.

For those without the willpower to make one egg last the whole long weekend - which, let's face it, is most of us - that's a big chunk out of the average recommended daily calories of 2000 for women and 2500 for men. For children, the recommended calorie intake is even less.

It's not all bad news though, with the much-loved Cadbury creme egg and marshmallow egg both at under 200 calories. But remember, that's for just one.

That other Easter treat, the hot cross bun, should also be enjoyed in moderation. Depending on brand, they are around 200 calories each - without butter.

According to Rotorua nutritionist Tatjana Smolic of Good Nutrition it's okay to treat ourselves sometimes, but only "a little bit".

She said there was no problem with people having a high calorie treat on special occasions such as Easter. The problems can come when people over indulge.

"Those eggs grow bigger and bigger," Ms Smolic said. "Quite a lot of them are calorific bombs."

If the idea of a "calorific bomb" is too depressing, the solution may be to get active this weekend - make the most of Rotorua's outdoors with a brisk walk, jog or bike ride. Then scoff away guilt-free.

Lots of fat

• 
  Cadbury Creme Egg (39 grams): 171 calories, 6 grams fat
• 
  Cadbury Marshmallow (40 grams): 168 calories, 4.9 grams fat
• 
  Cadbury Hollow Egg with Jaffas (100g): 457 calories, 14.8 grams fat
• 
  Cadbury Dairy Milk Hollow Egg with Chocolate Buttons (105 grams): 550 calories, 32 grams fat
• 
  All Black Hollow Bunny (The Warehouse) (150g): 789 calories, 42.9 grams fat
• 
  Milk Chocolate Egg with Chocolate Buttons (The Warehouse) (185 grams): 1000 calories, 58 grams fat
• 
  Countdown Hot Cross Bun (without butter): 224 calories, 3.1 grams fat
• 
  Countdown Hot Cross Bun (with 1tsp butter): 274 calories, 6.7 grams fat