What's in your egg?

We all know that Easter eggs are packed with sugar and fat, but the truth is that some are less unhealthy than others - and some elements of chocolate are actually good for you. Here, dietician Amanda Ursell investigates the content of nine favourites and rates them out of five for overall goodness...

Celebrations

Celebrations Giant Milk Chocolate Egg and Celebrations Chocolates, 700g, £9.99. 3,480 calories, 195g fat.

This weighs 400g and will supply 2,080 calories and 123g of fat, while the 300g bag of assorted Celebration chocolates inside supply a further 1,400 calories and 72g of fat. That adds up to a total of almost 3,500 calories - almost two days' worth of calories in one go (the average woman needs 1,900 calories a day).

As for the fat, it provides 195g, almost three days' worth (the average woman needs 70g a day) - along with 450g of sugar, the equivalent to 30 tablespoons. Egg rating: 2/5

Terry’s

Terry's Orange Milk Chocolate Easter Egg with a Terry's Chocolate Orange, 310g, £4.99. 1,634 calories, 92g fat.

Even though this egg is flavoured with real orange, do not fool yourself that you will be getting any of the vitamin C that is present in the fruit. The main ingredient is sugar - of which you will find the equivalent to 35 teaspoons if you eat the egg and the chocolate orange segments.

With the second highest ingredient being skimmed milk powder, it redeems itself, however, by supplying about 25 per cent of a woman's muscle-building protein requirements for the day. Egg rating: 3/5

Lord of the Rings

Lord Of The Rings Hollow Milk Chocolate Egg with bars of Dairy Milk, Crunchie, Caramel and Twirl, 307g, £4.99. 1,340 calories, 140g fat.

The over-sized, highly branded packaging belies a smaller content than you might imagine, making it a dramaticlooking option for children that is not too worrying nutritionally.

The egg weighs 100g, giving 525 calories and 29g of fat. If the bars can be kept for later in the week, this is a good compromise for parents not wanting their offspring to over-indulge. Egg rating: 2/5

Toblerone

Toblerone Milk Chocolate Egg with Three Toblerone Bars, 285g £4.99. 2,023 calories, 114g fat.

With the milk chocolate egg weighing 235g, this provides 1,234 calories and 69g of fat. If a woman were to eat the egg, it would take up her entire fat allowance for the day bar one gram.

Each 50g Toblerone bar provides another 263 calories and 15g of fat plus the equivalent of six teaspoons of sugar. Toblerone bars also contain nuts and egg white, which should be noted by those who are allergic or intolerant to these foods. Egg rating: 2/5

Duchy

Organic Duchy Originals Milk Chocolate Easter Egg Filled with Milk Chocolate Thins 227g, £8.99. 789 calories, 44g fat.

The cocoa beans used were grown to organic standards. It contains 44 per cent cocoa solids, higher than many milk chocolate eggs, which means it has a larger than normal supply of protective, bloodthinning antioxidants, plus tannins which may reduce activity of bacteria in the mouth and thus fight tooth decay. The presence of milk powder means this milk chocolate egg supplies about 220mg of phosphorus, a third of our daily needs for this bone-building mineral. Egg rating: 5/5

Green & Black

Dark Green & Black's Organic Egg with six praline mini eggs, 200g, £4.99. 1,152 calories, 81g fat.

With 70 per cent cocoa solids, this egg is the richest in protective antioxidants found in cocoa beans.

Its high cocoa content accounts for its intense flavour coming from more than 300 complex aromas. These move quickly to the brain and trigger 'I'm full' centres, which explains why small quantities of dark chocolate seem to satisfy cravings. Dark chocolate also supplies the highest levels of 'methylxanthines', the stimulating chemicals that include caffeine and theobromine.

Eating the whole egg supplies 140mg of caffeine - about that found in two cups of coffee, which is capable of reducing fatigue. Egg Rating 4/5

Vegan

Vegan Booja-Booja Easter Egg with Hazelnut Crunch Rochers, 230g, £10.99. 1,157 calories, 59g fat.

Carrying both the vegan and Soil Association symbols, this vegetarian organic egg is made from 56 per cent cocoa solids, cane sugar and vanilla. It contains no added milk and is therefore guaranteed to be dairy-free.

It's also free from wheat, gluten and genetically modified ingredients. The egg weighs 150g and supplies 789 calories and 44g of fat. It is not suitable for those with nut allergies since the 80g pack of cluster crunch chocolates inside the egg contain hazelnuts. These provide a further 368 calories and 15g of fat.

For a lower calorie option, go for the Booja-Booja Vegan Organic Champagne Truffles which come in a nonchocolate egg. These supply 750 calories and 40g of fat. Egg rating: 3/5

Sugar Free

Sugar Free - The Stamp Collection Sugar Free Bunny, 100g, £3.49. 530 calories, 25g fat.

The Stamp Collection Bunny uses the fruit sugar fructose to replace the standard sugar (sucrose). Fructose has a low 'glycaemic index' compared with sugar's medium one, which means it is digested more slowly and so raises blood sugar more gently.

This makes it a better option for people with diabetes who are trying to maintain steady blood sugar levels. The egg is made from 70 per cent cocoa solids, which have been organically grown, and contains no milk, making it suitable for people on a milk-free diet.

Cocoa solids are rich in supernutrients called 'polyphenols', which are antioxidant and are believed to help reduce the build up of cholesterol on artery walls. Egg rating: 4/5

Nestle

Nestle Double Cream Egg, 229g, £4.99 1,215 calories, 70.7g fat.

This milk chocolate egg with two bars of Nestle Double Cream chocolate is made from cocoa beans from the rainforests of Ecuador and real double cream.

It contains a minimum 26 per cent cocoa solids and a minimum 20 per cent milk solids. It's quite high in calories, but you are getting a lot of chocolate for your money. It's also quite high in fat at 70.7 grams. On the plus side, the chocolate provides you with 19.4 grams of protein and 1.3 grams of fibre. Egg rating: 3/5