Healthy Easter Egg
Hunting
6 Ways to Make Your Little Hoppers
Happy—and Healthy
By Jordana Haspel
From the Million Dollar Body Club - Join Today and Workout to
Win!
 They're filled with colored boiled eggs, little chocolate
footballs, and brightly colored marshmallow peeps, and kids think they're the
best thing since Halloween. But Easter baskets also pack a fattening,
sugar-filled punch. With childhood obesity on the rise, it may be time for us
to rethink these bountiful baskets. So here are some ideas for healthier Easter
goodies that will still have your kids brimming with excitement:
 Stuffed bunny. Instead of
chocolate, make it a plush bunny. It will last longer, won't rot your child's
teeth, and could be their new best friend.
 Go dark. You probably can't
totally eliminate chocolate from the basket without screams of protest, but
that's not necessarily a bad thing. Chocolate—especially dark
chocolate—contains flavonoids, which have antioxidant powers, and can
contribute to cardiovascular health. This doesn't mean go gorge on Cadbury
eggs, however; chocolate still has a lot of fat and sugar. But some small, dark
chocolate candies on a special occasion like Easter won't do a lot of harm.
Better yet, give dark chocolate—covered raisins or almonds.
 Bubbles. These soapy suds
delight everyone, young and old. Your children will have as much fun chasing
them as they have hunting for those elusive Easter eggs. Just make sure to
remind them—this is one holiday treat that doesn't go in their
mouths!
- Colored
chalk. It's finally spring and time to get those
kids out of doors. They'll love making a mess on the sidewalk, and you'll love
that they're not in front of the TV. Being outside will give them a chance to
run around, plus sunlight helps increase vitamin D. Just make sure to give them
sunblock!
 Pretzels. A small bag of
pretzels isn't exactly good for you (high in sodium and carbs), but it's not
horrible either. They're junky enough to make your children feel like they're
getting away with something by eating them, but are low in fat and sugar
compared to other snacks. And they can burn off these carbs running
around.
 Healthy snacks. Nuts and
fruit are great additions, or even a box of 100% juice (make sure it has no
added sugar). Try baking healthier versions of muffins or cookies.
Check
out one of our articles on healthy food substitutions for ideas. Even some
more candy is OK, just not too much, and keep the portions small.
Easter baskets may never be very
healthy—like Halloween trick-or-treating, that's kind of the point. But
following these tips will help you minimize the damage. Even better, try
feeding your kids so little junk food every day that these baskets seem like a
huge treat. They'll enjoy the holiday even more, and will thank you when they
become adults who live and eat healthily. |
