Candy-Less Easter Basket Ideas

Anyone who has ever seen Mrs. Obama’s arms knows that she’s serious about health and fitness. In great shape herself, Michelle Obama has been tackling the issue of obesity and targeting America’s high fat, high carb, high fake food diets. At a White House Easter gathering for children in 2010, the First Lady gifted the guests with Easter Baskets with…fruit!

Instead of chocolate bunnies, jelly beans, Easter cookies and other sugary treats, kids got the natural sweetness of healthy fruit. While it is reported that a small chocolate bunny and a few small peeps were hidden at the bottom of the baskets, this is certainly a bold step. Cutting back on candy? On Easter? You can do it too! Here are some ideas for candy-less Easter baskets and a healthier holiday.

All parents have their own views on nutrition and their own methods of instilling good eating habits in their children. Having a candy-less Easter tells children that they can have fun and enjoy holidays without chocolate bunnies, cream-filled eggs, and jelly beans. Most children actually prefer a treat and then real food anyway, so use that to your advantage. It may be most helpful to not make a big deal of your candy-less Easter. Your children may not even notice that their Easter baskets are light on sugar if they are filled with other great things. Here are some ideas that will light up your children’s faces:

• Movies. Who doesn’t like a new movie? Instead of candy or another plush bunny, get your child his favorite video.
• Coloring books, crayons, markers.
• Sidewalk chalk.
• Flashlight.
• Paint and paintbrushes.
• Velcro ball and catch game.
• Frisbees.
• Playground or sports balls.
• Bubble solution and bubble wands.
• Craft supplies. This can include beads and string for making necklaces, a wooden airplane kit, or paint-your-own birdhouses, jewelry boxes, and other fun activities.
• Art supplies, including coloring supplies, paper, glitter, glue, fun edged scissors, construction paper, and other fun materials.
• Books.
• Fruit.
• Plastic eggs filled with popcorn, trail mix, or pretzels.
• Nail polish.
• Coins.
• Sand toys or bath toys.
• Play food and utensils for your little chef.

There is an endless list of great items that you can fill your gift baskets with. It may be helpful to have a theme to help. For instance, if your child likes great outdoors, you could fill her basket with items that might come in handy while camping, including a flashlight, compass, pocketknife (depending on age), whistle, bandanna, magnifying glass, and other fun things. If your child loves farm animals, you can add a few plastic animals from a dollar or discount store, some farm-themed books, some bath squirters, and other fun animal items. Having a theme is certainly not a necessity, but it can help you focus your shopping. Anything that helps get you out of the store quicker and less expensively is helpful!

Many people adopt a compromise between the traditional candy-filled Easter basket and a completely candy-less one.  Like Mrs. Obama, they may place just a few small pieces of candy in the basket.  Instead of having the focus on and expectation for candy, candy, candy, the focus is on other fun items.  A cream-filled egg, then, is just a nice treat along with the other great treats in the basket. 

Going candy-less for Easter may be bold, but it is a tremendous example for your children.  Start a new, healthy tradition – you’ll see that your kids don’t miss candy as much as you thought.