Easter Candy Alternatives

It seems like every holiday is another excuse to give kids candy. Cookies for Christmas, chocolate for Valentines Day and now jelly beans and chocolate bunnies for Easter.  I won’t give Annabelle a basket revolving around highly processed sugar filled treats made with refined flour and high fructose corn syrup.  There are plenty of other fun ideas to put in this years Easter baskets to round out a healthy basket. Here is a list of great things that kids will love without the added sugar high and then inevitable crash.

• Bubbles
• Sidewalk chalk, egg shaped if you can find it
• crayons and a new coloring book
• tub crayons
• bath toys
• pencils, erasers and notepads
• board books
• bathing suit, hat, bathing suit and floaters
• a new spring outfit and cute shoes

Here are a few things that are going into Annabelle’s basket

When I was a kid I our Easter egg hunts were for real eggs that we hand painted and dyed the night before. That was also our breakfast, brightly colored, hard boiled eggs. I’m going to do the same thing with Annabelle, I already have our egg dye and I happen to be a craft junky with not enough time on my hands so I have to seize the day!

Nowadays plastic eggs filled with treats seem to be all the rage, and why not, they’re quick and simple and don’t make a mess. You can buy them pre-filled with candy and chocolate or you can fill them yourself and use some healthier options. Here are some fun ideas that kids, and toddlers, love:

• stickers
• washable tattoos
• plastic jewlery
• puffs
• yogurt melts
• your child’s favorite cereal (Annabelle loves whole grain cinnamon Kashi cereal)
• raisins or goji berries
• yogurt or chocolate covered raisins
• Annies Organic snack bunnies
• freeze dried organic fruit

These are some of the things Annabelle will be finding in her plastic eggs

What are some fun, healthy things you’re going to put in your basket? I’d love to hear your Easter menu ideas as well, I haven’t decided what I’ll be ccooking up yet!