Okay parents, Easter is just around the corner and you know what that means, right? CANDY BLIZZARD! It's snowing jelly beans, chocolate bunnies, Peeps. And even if you're not worried about the juvenile diabetes epidemic sweeping the country, you're at least not looking forward to Easter basket o' sugar crashes and gummy bear-induced tantrums.
Personally, I'm okay with some Easter candy in moderation. But I don't like the holiday to turn into a week-long candy orgy. So -- what can I use to balance out the serious sugar action in my son's Easter basket this year? Here are a few ideas.
Actual hard-boiled eggs: You've already dyed them. Might as well slip a few in. (Does your kid only eat the whites? Mine too. Here are some ideas for those yolks.)
Fresh berries: Put a handful of blueberries or blackberries inside a few plastic eggs for a sweet treat that's all natural.
Popcorn balls: These do have a bit of sugar from the marshmallows, but otherwise these are a high-fiber, low-sugar snack. Here's Martha Stewart's recipe for popcorn balls.
Dried fruit or nuts: For something different, try dried apricots, dates, yogurt-covered raisins, toasted hazelnuts, or macadamia nuts.
Annie's Cheddar Bunnies: My son loves these. They're basically Goldfish crackers, only made with real cheese and, hello, they're BUNNIES! They also make Bunny Grahams.
Clementines: These are wee relatives of the orange with super-thin skin most kids over 3 can peel themselves. They're usually a less tart than oranges, too.
Squeezable yogurt: Most brands with cartoon characters on the package are still loaded with sugar, but they're still less sugar than candy. We like freezing ours first.
Home-baked treats: Just about any homemade cookie or muffin is still going to be less sweet than candy.
And how about a few non-edible options?
Cascarones: These are colored eggs filled with confetti -- so fun! I was thrilled when my mom sent my son some last year. Just remember to crack them outdoors unless you love vacuuming.
Polished rocks or crystals
Legos
Bouncy balls
Stickers
Play Dough
Bubbles
Egg-shaped sidewalk chalk
More from The Stir:
Red Raspberry Custard Tart for a Super Easy Easter Brunch
5 Tasty Easter Treats You Can Make at Home
Peeps Sushi: The Perfect Easter Treat
What other non-sugary treats do you put in your kids' Easter baskets?
Hungry? Need dinner ideas? Just love anything and everything food and recipes? Then you'll totally want to follow us on Pinterest! Our virtual pin boards on Kid Friendly Recipes , Sweet Treats and Easter 2012 are pure eye candy. Yum!
Image via drewfer/Flickr
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Comments 59
My daughter was (well, I guess IS, still) in dire need of warm weather clothes. So I bought her a bunch of clothes. I did buy a little bit of candy to slip in there, though. I'm lucky she likes getting clothes as gifts!
I always put Annie's Chocolate Bunnies in the basket :)
Gotta love Organic !
Coins, little novelty toys, stickers. The only candy I do is a dark chocolate bunny.
Instead of hunting Easter Eggs, my 2 year old sons hunted brightly colored wiffle balls last Easter. They were too young to appreciate the eggs and what would be in them, and they loved playing with the balls! This year we are having them hunt mega blocks. I suppose when they are older we will get the big eggs and put matchbox cars and other small toys in them, but there's no reason why Easter has to be all about candy.
We do a lot of books- the kids love to read.
I don't have that problem. My daughter's Easter candy lasts FOREVER. We cleaned out her closet this past winter and found easter chocolate that she'd stashed from LAST YEAR. Halloween candy, the same thing. Mom usually gets into her stash to help her eat it.