Healthy Ways to Celebrate Easter with Your Kids

Easter is on its way, and the countdown has begun for the March 27^th holiday. Easter is an occasion rife with temptation; from chocolate bunnies to packed Easter feasting tables, it can be hard for parents and children alike to make healthy decisions. If you’re looking for ways to make this Easter holiday a bit healthier than those in the past, consider these tips and tricks.

Healthy Dessert Ideas

The dessert table is a source of great joy, but it’s also the place where the unhealthiest of decisions become the norm. Easter candy is filled with artificial sugars, unpronounceable ingredients, and increasingly large serving sizes. If you want your kids (and yourself) to make healthier dessert choices, make sure you provide offerings that will allow them a better alternative. Chocolate dipped fruit is a good way to solve those chocolate cravings while also incorporating health benefits. Fruit salad is a bright and cheery way to get your kids to get that sweet fix and more vitamins in one fell swoop. Don’t cut out the sweet treats completely; this is one occasion a year that definitely deserves some candy.

Encourage Activity

If you’re blessed with bright sunshine and warm temperatures on Easter, make sure you and the kids take advantage of it. It can be something as simple as a family walk before the feast to work up an appetite or outdoor games that get the whole family in on the competition, spending time outdoors taking in nature’s best during the season of renewal is sure to become a cherished memory. If you’d like to make family games a tradition, invest in personalized outdoor games for a sentimental touch that will make the game a family treasure for years to come. You can choose from ladder golf, cornhole, and pretty much any other game you can think of. The best part of this idea is that it’s family-inclusive, as members of all ages will want to join in on the fun. The more time spent outside and active, the less time spent in front of the television—that’s something we could all benefit from these days.

Inside the Basket

The Easter egg hunt is arguably the most anticipated event for little ones, so make sure you’re incorporating healthy surprises. When it comes time to fill those Easter baskets for your kids, consider including little gifts beyond the normal chocolate and marshmallow treats. Instead of, or in addition to dyed eggs, use hollow eggs filled with healthy treats as hunt-able treasure. You can include dried fruit, trail mix, or delicious nuts to make sure the egg-finders have some healthy snack options in addition to the day’s various candy finds. Incorporate items that encourage physical activity. Whether it’s jump ropes or chalk for some hopscotch fun, once your little ones are presented with fun game options, they won’t be able to put them down (and might even forget all about that candy waiting in their basket).

A Planting Day

Spring is a time of renewal and blooming plants, so use that to your advantage for an alternative Easter Day activity that gets the focus away from sweet treats. Give each little one a pot, and provide soil and seeds of all types. They’ll be excited to care for their plant in the weeks and months following Easter and learn a lesson about responsibility.

The Leftover Easter Eggs

Hardboiled eggs are an excellent source of protein, Omega-3 fatty acids, and Vitamin A. Enlist your kids’ help in the kitchen and have them help you brainstorm ways you can use the hardboiled eggs for the week. Whether it’s healthy egg salad with Greek yogurt instead of mayonnaise, or deviled eggs with a similar swap, you can teach your kids about being resourceful and to make healthy decisions in one fell swoop. As the food dye often seeps into the egg, colorful egg salads will make upcoming meals more enticing for kids.

If you have extended family that will also be attending your celebrations, let them in on your plans for a healthier occasion. From outdoor games to more nutritious dessert options, giving your kids a healthier Easter is a gift you can all be happy with.