With around 80 million chocolate eggs likely to be consumed this Easter, we would like to ask, how big is your chocolate footprint?

While the words ‘carbon offsetting’ have become part of everyday life, the world’s first chocolate offsetting scheme has been launched to show people how much fruit and veg they need to substitute during their week and how much exercise they ought to take to offset the unhealthy effects of eating chocolate.

Although understandably not quite as beneficial for the health of the planet as its carbon counterpart, chocolate offsetting has the potential to improve the health of all those living on it who aren’t always quite able to resist the temptation of a little sweet indulgence.

For example, if you want to eat just one chocolate egg this Easter (248g or 1,273 calories), then offsetting will recommend you substitute your fried sausages and bacon for a grilled tomato and mushrooms and go for a two-hour walk. If it’s more like five eggs (1,240g or 6,365 calories) you have in mind, you will need to substitute your packet of crisps and fizzy drink for a smoothie and piece of fruit and swim for about two hours per day for five days to positively offset the chocolate.

The National Diet and Nutrition Survey identified adults on average are eating about two and a half portions of fruit and vegetables a day, only half of the recommended intake of at least five portions a day. The idea behind chocolate footprint is not that people shouldn’t eat chocolate, they are is informing people of ways they can offset the effect of that chocolate. This offsetting clearly has to be a combination of eating sensibly and taking exercise – not just at Easter but all year round. The amount of fruit and veg you need to eat and the level of exercise you need to take, gets bigger the more chocolate you consume.

A campaign known as “Eat in Colour is the first campaign clearly focused on helping people to find practical, quick and easy ways to achieve a healthier diet every day by including more and varied fruit and vegetables alongside, or as part of, favorite dishes. The Eat in Colour campaign aims to fill the nation’s newspapers and magazines with really simple ways to prepare, cook and enjoy the best convenience food of all – fruit and vegetables.

Just in time for Easter comes the news that will put a smile on the face of every chocoholic - chocolate is good for you after all.

Researchers have found it reduces the risk of heart disease and cancer and even boosts fertility.

But beware, not all chocolates are created equal. The key, apparently is a high concentration of cocoa. Cocoa beans are packed with antioxidant polyphenols which the experts believe help to reduce the risk of heart disease and may also help fight cancer. Red wine in moderation and orange juice are already known to have similar properties.

A 50g piece of dark chocolate has the same level of antioxidants as two glasses of wine. Chocolate contains iron for healthy blood, and zinc which helps boost the immune system and even fertility levels.

Some interesting facts about Easter eggs and some health tips on eggs


248g is the average weight of 9 popular chocolate Easter eggs sold on the high street. Average calories per 100g – 512 calories. Average calories per chocolate Easter egg – 1,269 calories

• Keep eggs refrigerated
• Cook eggs until the yolk is not runny anymore, especially for pregnant women, children, and elderly
• Don't keep eggs out of the refrigerator for more than 2 hours
• If you are hiding eggs on Easter, don't hide them where they will come into contact with pets or lawn chemicals
• After you find all of the eggs, throw away any that got cracked
• Refrigerate the eggs again after the Easter Egg hunt is over

Storage

• Do not put the in the door of the refrigerator because they are exposed to warmer air when the door opens
• Keep them in their original container and they will be protected
• Egg white can freeze well and keep for several months
• Use eggs by the expiration date
• Once eggs are hard boiled, use them within a week
• Wash your hands, utensils, and work surfaces with hot, soapy water before and after handling eggs