Healthy Easter Basket Tips

The fuzzy and fluffy white Easter bunny, the mascot of this coming Sunday morning, represents varying degrees of significance to different people. To me, it is a time of renewal, of shedding off the old unused and outdated parts of our selves, and bringing in the new to bloom. But to my daughter, the Easter bunny represents CHOCOLATE, and nothing else.

Holidays can be hard for parents who want to focus on eating healthy, individually and as a family. But they are also the best time to get festive, and figure out how to create an awesome memory for our child, free from the singular sweetness of commercial candy. Surprisingly, kids actually have many motivators outside the realm of junk food and sweets. 

Here are some simple tips and ideas for making your Easter basket, or Easter egg hunt, more healthy and in line with the true nature of this holiday. Use some or all of the below to make a unique basket stuffed full of goodies that will not send your child into a drunken sugar binge.

• Art Supplies - New crayons, markers, paint, glitter and glue sticks. All art supply stores are wonderous in their inventory, and stuffing a basket full of these creative items will provide hours of fun throughout the day.
• Stickers
• Stuffed Animals
• Tickets - Buy your child a ticket (or make one yourself if you do not have time to stop by the theater) for a movie, the local ice skating rink, or bowling alley. 
• Books
• Music - My 7 year old loves receiving new, odd music from me that lasts her for days as she discovers new songs.
• Soap, Lotions, or Chapstick
• Bubble Bath
• Socks with cool designs
• Home Made Gift Certificates - Make coupons (with the help of the Easter bunny) that you know will excite your child. Here are some ideas: room cleaning by mom and dad, pick your favorite dinner, breakfast in bed, 1 hour playtime, slumber party, etc.
• Treats - Add something sweet, but only as a sideline (think small). A small organic dark chocolate egg, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries (your child's favorite fruit will brighten up that basket!), carob chips in a baggie.
• Flowers - If we love receiving flowers, why wouldn't our children? Just choose a couple stems to enliven the basket. You could even make homemade potpourri with it after!
• Board Games or Card Games
• An Itinerary for the Day - Make a list of all the activities that you will do in the day together. You may want to include art time, play time, craft projects, or events that you will be attending. This is emphasizing experiences, rather than things.

Kids want more than candy, toys, and new gadgets. They want attention, love, and warm experiences. Use Easter as an opportunity to come together as a family, and enjoy the day. Think about those things that you can do, every year around this time, to celebrate the end of the darkness of winter, and the illumination that comes from spring. Family traditions start outside the box of conventional standards, and provide richness and stability that will be held for a lifetime.

I am starting a tradition this year that I am excited about. Every year the Easter bunny is bringing a recipe basket. This basket will be for the whole family, and it will be chalked full of fresh wholesome ingredients, along with a recipe card, for a yummy lunch or dinner. We will read the card, look at each fresh vegetable, herb, and spice and identify it, and make it together. You can even do another basket with the dessert of the day (and forgo the treat in the basket if you would like). I would recommend a raw dessert, made from wholesome ingredients. Rawfoodists are outstanding bloggers, so search away and experiment with their recipes!

A happy, wholesome Easter is just a few steps away with a little preparation. Be creative, make new traditions, and do not forget to add things that fulfill you, inside and out.