Q. What's the best way to deal with all the Easter eggs kids get?

Dr Pat's answer:
Grandparents bring them. Uncles and aunts send them. A friend has an Easter treasure hunt and the next thing you know your house looks like a chocolate factory. The kids are happily prepared to chomp their way through all it but you are definitely not going to let them. So how do you handle this tricky situation?

Hide them
Make sure you put chocolate eggs somewhere cool and out of reach. Don't put them in an obvious place where the children can guess but don’t hide them so well that you’ll have to move to find them – especially as chocolate doesn't last for ever.

Ration them
Collect up all the chocolate eggs except the one your children are going to eat there and then. Tell them that you intend to ration them to a limited amount per day or per week. Explain that a little bit of chocolate every day is more enjoyable than a one day ‘blow out’ and they will enjoy their chocolate eggs for longer.

Share them
Not everyone will get Easter eggs at Easter. Encourage your children’s generosity and suggest that they share with friends and neighbours who don’t have any. Give spare chocolate eggs away to a friend whose family does ‘do’ Easter (check first that their parents won’t mind) or to an elderly neighbour.

Melt them
Why not having a baking day with the kids on Easter Monday. Melt down some of the Easter eggs and use them as chocolate icing on biscuits. For more adventurous recipes check out our chef’s ideas by clicking here.

Got a question for Dr Pat? Click here.

Click here to read more expert questions and answers.