Easter baskets are full of treats — jelly beans, of course, but also chocolate bunnies, marshmallow Peeps.
But Easter baskets don’t have to just be about sweet treats and candy. Kristen Smith, registered dietitian based in Atlanta, suggests loading up baskets with toys and activities that will get the kiddos outside — such as bubbles, sidewalk chalk, fruit and veggie plant seeds. Fresh fruit and nuts are also good options, she said.
And the plastic eggs can also be filled with healthy snacks such as nuts, dried fruits, small crackers, raisins and popcorn. Smith, a dietitian at Atlanta Medical Center, likes Annie’s brand cracker products as a good option for being low-fat and cute.
Other ideas for the plastic eggs include little hair bows, cute little erasers and stickers.
Smith and other experts agree there there’s no need to completely avoid the candy treats, but including healthy treats and non-food surprises can help round out the basket so it’s not dominated by sugary eats.
Other ideas for the basket include gardening essentials such as seeds and gardening tools.
Children's Healthcare of Atlanta's Strong4Life program has a nifty photo gallery with loads of ideas and tips for ditching the jelly beans and chocolate pieces and filling those colorful plastic eggs with everything from rings to toy cars. And for the basket, they also offer up plenty of ideas. One of them is a kite, perfect for this time of year.
Don't forget about boiled eggs for Easter. Eggs are fun to color and decorate, and are nutritious (Just make sure they are properly refrigerated. Don't eat hard-boiled eggs that have been out of refrigeration more than two hours. For other safety tips on eggs, go to http://www.fda.gov)
