It's Easter. A time when sugar flecked marshmallow chickens and chocolate bunnies frolic- when families get together to feast and people keep giving my kids baskets upon baskets of plastic eggs filled with sugary treats, including the prized Cadbury Creme Egg! The Cadbury Creme Egg, which shows up only around Easter had been calling to my sweet tooth for weeks as I passed the display in the store. It has always been my favorite Easter sweet, though I didn't know if it was something I could treat myself to today. I would be proud of myself it I could make it through the family meal without going over my recommended calorie allowance.

I budged my calories well today and ate a small, but low sugar, high protein breakfast, knowing that there would be homemade temptations at lunch with my ever-baking relatives.

At lunch, I refrained from scarfing everything in sight, though the table was heavy with sweet and savory hors-devours, crackers and cheese (and more Easter candy). I budged for a peach-mango mimosa and sipped it slowly, letting the experience of it's sweet bubbliness be my focus without other sacks to attend to.

During the meal, I sampled small amounts of the crab and cheese quiche, chocolate current scones, fresh potato salad, spring fruit and an amazing lemon pudding pie. I savored every bite and allowed myself to put my fork down between bites and participate in the conversation at the table and leu of gorging on more food.

After a sensible dinner with chicken and vegis, I logged all my calories and discovered that I had enough room to relish a Cadbury Creme Egg and still be well within my daily limits.

I sat down to eat my Easter prize and slowly took the foil off, crinkling it into a small ball on the counter, I bit gently into the narrow part of the egg and let the chocolate melt on my tongue. Slowly, I took another bite and let the sugary center ooze into my mouth. As I ate the egg and experienced it after a month of eating little to no processed foods and minimal white sugar or flour- with desert being a piece of fruit or a small square of very dark chocolate- I had the oddest experience....

The Cadbury Creme Egg which I had so been looking forward to did not taste nearly as good as I had remembered it. It was too sweet, too sugary. It tasted plasticky, rubbery and somewhat fake. In a word, it was disappointing.

This, of course, did not stop me from eating it, though it does NOT make me want another. I'm thinking when my sweet tooth calls out, I would much rather have some strawberries or mango then experience the commercial sweetness of the Cadbury Creme Egg. This is something I never thought I would say, believing that I would be victim to my sweet tooth forever.

Today I have experienced proof that for those of us with cravings for sweets that seem out of control, we can change things! By staying away from sugary and processed foods, you can stop your body from craving these things, experience the intricate flavors of foods and begin to enjoy a life that is sweeter in a different kind of way- without any need for a Cadbury Creme Egg.

Happy Easter!