Easter is the Christian holiday when the death and resurrection of Christ is celebrated. It is often a time of family gatherings that are surrounded by food. This Easter, if you are the one who is preparing the meal, here are some healthy ways to reduce the fat content.

What do you like to eat during Easter? One of the main things that go on is Easter egg hunts. These are great for the children as a way of having fun on Easter Sunday. Eggs are a food that is high in protein and also a source of cholesterol.

Here are some egg ideas. Scoop out the yolk from the eggs and allow the kids to eat the egg whites. Sprinkle with a bit of salt and pepper. The eggs can also be used to make deviled eggs.

Deviled eggs are a delicious addition to any Easter dinner. Since you boiled and decorated and hid all of those eggs, you now have to eat them. When making your filling for the egg white, try to cut the use of egg yolk by fifty percent. Mix with fat-free mayonnaise, a little vinegar and some mustard. Sprinkle the top with paprika.

How about dessert? One thing that is a staple of Easter is chocolate candy and those marshmallow candies called Peeps that are shaped into chicks and bunnies. Dessert alternatives can include:

* Jell-O Easter eggs and bunnies
* Dark chocolate spoons or candy bunnies
* Low-fat carrot cake
* Pudding with whipped cream.

You can purchase Jell-O molds or use cookie cutters. Mix your gelatin and then pour into the molds. Kids can shake, jiggle and then eat their treats.

Chocolate is not all bad. Darker chocolate contains more cocoa solids and has more of an antioxidant benefit. Create your own chocolate by melting dark chocolate and pouring on plastic spoons. Allow them to set. It makes a perfect sweet treat for children.

As for Easter cake, replace part of that flour in your carrot cake with whole wheat flour. You will have fewer calories. Also you can replace some of the oil with applesauce to cut the fat.

What about the main meal? Some people have ham or lamb. If you choose the lamb, get it from a butcher shop. Ask them to remove as much of the fat as they can, even going so far as to butterfly the piece of meat. Rub the outside with various herbs, such as rosemary, and even some olive oil before roasting.

Ham is a very salty dish. Opt instead for a roasted, glazed turkey breast or a whole roasted chicken. Want some pork in the dish? Cross a couple of pieces of bacon on the top as a tasty and decorative addition.

Wherever you can, try to trim the fat and calories from your favorite dishes at Easter. Enjoy the day and the food without gaining extra pounds in the process.