Healthy Easter Basket Treats
Visit any supermarket around Easter and you're sure to see candy in abundance, but with a little creativity you can find healthy Easter basket treats. Between marshmallows shaped like furry friends, half-pound chocolate rabbit molds and cream-filled candy eggs, kids have all sorts of opportunities to load up on unhealthy sugars and empty calories, but only if you let them. You don't have to spoil all of their fun, though. There are plenty of healthy Easter basket treats you can provide that are both tasty and nutritious. Some options aren't edible, but inspire healthy activity and play.
Trail Mix
High in fiber and protein, trail mix is a healthy alternative to candy. Though you can purchase ready-made trail mix from the store, it's easy to make your own. Choose varieties with nuts, raisins and granola clusters to pack the highest nutritional punch. Pretzels are another favorite snack among kids, and these make a great addition as well. If you're feeling generous, purchase or make a trail mix with a small amount of hard chocolate candies mixed in. This adds to the overall flavor of the mix, but isn't as guilt-inducing as giving your child a giant chocolate rabbit.
Bunny Cheddars and Grahams
If your little ones love Goldfish crackers, give them a serving of bunny-shaped cheddar crackers. These cute snacks are available at most supermarkets, and usually come in cinnamon and graham flavors as well. Relatively low in calories, cheddar and graham crackers are favored among most kids, and they're sure to be a hit in any Easter basket. For a fun presentation, consider putting individual servings inside of plastic eggs.
All Natural Fruit Snacks
Many fruit snacks and wraps are loaded with fructose and artificial colors, but there are several kinds on the market that are made with little sugar and all-natural ingredients. Look for these in your grocer's organic section. Available in fun packaging and flavors like raspberry, blueberry, strawberry and lime, your kids probably won't care that these snacks are packed with Vitamin C, but they will enjoy their delicious taste. Tie a pastel-colored bow around a bundle of these to spruce up the basket even more.
Jump Rope
A good jump rope can keep a child busy for hours, and they're bound to come up with plenty of games involving this toy. Buy a pink, blue, green or yellow rope for extra Easter flair, and wrap it around the basket's handle for an interesting display. If your child will be playing with several friends during Easter, consider buying an extra long rope or two so they can play Double Dutch.
Butterfly Net or Bug Catcher
These toys inspire kids to get outside and learn about wildlife. Adventurous kids will love playing with bug catcher kits, which usually come with a net and a magnified holding chamber for the insect or small amphibian. For kids who are averse to "yucky" bugs, butterfly nets allow them to catch and observe the beauty of winged creatures up close. Be sure to let your kids know to stay away from harmful insects such as wasps and bees.
