Dietitian reveals the eight Easter candies you should buy if you're on a diet to keep you on track

Easter egg hunts, Easter egg baskets and dyed Easter eggs. The holiday is full of egg-themed activities and food, which makes sticking to a diet hard when constantly surrounded by jelly beans and bunny-shaped chocolates. 

If you sticking to a meal plan, you might be inclined to forgo these simple pleasures. But that's not a realistic or healthy way of living, experts say.

'Moderation, not deprivation, is at the heart of my nutrition philosophy, which certainly carries over into how to handle holiday treats, like Easter candy,' registered dietitian Elizabeth Shaw said.

To help those sticking to a healthy eating plan still enjoy Easter's little treats, Ms Shaw, along with Christine Byrne, a registered dietitian with a private practice in North Carolina, recommended the sweets you can indulge in without feeling guilty.

Each of these candies have slightly less calories and sugar than other alternatives

Lindt milk chocolate mini gold bunny 

These baby bunnies are almost as cute as the real thing. And they're Byrne's favorite candy, she told TODAY - perfect for snacking on over the course of a couple days. 

'It’s made from high-quality chocolate that has a perfect, velvety texture,' she said. 

In addition, it only contains 21grams of sugar and 290 calories for the whole bunny.

 That's substantially less than this candy's big brother, which has 440 calories and 52 grams of sugar.

Reese's peanut butter eggs

Not only are these candies a delicious combination of the classic peanut butter and chocolate, but they also have more nutrients than other candies, Shaw said. 

The peanut butter is chock full of fats and proteins, which will help you stay full for  longer.

There's only 150 calories and 18grams of sugar in three of the brightly wrapped treats.

YumEarth Jelly Beans

A full bag of the 'beans' contains 50 calories and 13grams of sugar. For comparison, there's about about 12grams of sugar in one tablespoon. 

In addition to being low in sugar, Shaw is a fan of this brand because they make candies free of allergens like dairy, nuts and soy. 

Cadbury Mini Eggs

There are 160 calories per nine Cadbury mini eggs, which makes for a comfortable handful, Byrne said. 

She compares the nutrients and calories in the product as similar 'to what you’d get in the same amount of any milk chocolate treat.' 

Byrne also enjoys these because they contain a more complex formulation than other candies. 

'With chocolate, the benefit is getting a combination of sugar and fat, which can lead to less of a blood sugar spike than a more sugar-heavy candy like jelly beans,' she added. 

Hershey's Cookies'N'Cream Polka Dot Easter Eggs  

These colorful morsels contain only 150 calories and 19 grams of sugar per serving, which is about six candies. 

Shaw said the joy that she gets from these is emblematic of how you should be thinking about your food.

'Part of having a healthy relationship with food, Easter candy included, means you can keep them in your house, enjoy them on occasion, and savor the memories,' she said.

 Ferrero Collection Crispy Eggs

The key to this candy is it's size, Byrne said.  'Because each egg is pretty small, these are great for when you just want a little something sweet.'

For only 170 calories and 11grams of added sugar you can enjoy three eggs, filled with that classic Ferrero hazelnut mouse and coated in chocolate.

York Dark Chocolate Peppermint Pattie Eggs

If you're looking for a more refreshing Easter treat, you might dig some peppermint patties out of the Easter basket. 

Per two eggs, you'll only be consuming 100 calories, which is much less than other candy bars like Twix, which has 250 calories per serving. 

Twizzlers Eater Bunnies Cherry Candy

These sweet bunnies are a great chocolate alternative for Easter. You can eat a total of 16 pieces and only stack up 100 calories and 13 grams of sugar. 

So you can eat a whole family without feeling guilty.