This article has been medically reviewed by Dr. Charles Penick, MD 

 

 

Easter is fast approaching, and many people are looking for fun Easter basket ideas. Unfortunately, we associate Easter baskets with chocolates and other sweets, but Easter candy is not the healthiest of treats. Fortunately, there are many ways to easter baskets that are fun and healthy.

Here are some of the most popular Easter basket ideas and top candy alternatives

Top Candy Alternatives

Easter is the second largest candy-selling holiday next to Halloween. While children love sweets, many parents want to limit their children’s candy consumption. So here are a few popular (and tasty) candy alternatives:

• Dried fruit (banana chips, dried pineapple, dried sliced mango, raisins, etc.) 
• Nuts (almonds, walnuts, pistachios, pecans, etc.)

Another option is to create a trail mix for the kids with peanuts, almonds, sunflower seeds, raisins, and dark chocolate (which is healthier than milk chocolate). These items contain antioxidants, vitamins, healthy fats, and other nutrients, making them an excellent replacement for traditional Easter candy.

Easter Basket Ideas

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Instead of the traditional sweets, consider adding nontraditional items to your Easter gift baskets that are fun and encourage kids to play. Here are a few ideas:  

• Holy/devotional cards
• Puzzles
• Gift cards
• Stuffed animals
• Coloring books
• Stickers
• Kites
• Card games
• Sports items (baseball, football, etc.)
• Outdoor games
• Legos
• Materials for arts and crafts

Assorted Easter Basket Themes:

Here are a few specific Easter basket themes to try:

Craft Easter Baskets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Craft-themed Easter baskets contain assorted craft supplies, such as scissors, construction paper, glue, stickers, and markers. 

Make Craft Easter Bunnies:

 

• Paper plates  
• Empty Towel paper rolls 
• Scissors (child-safe)
• Hole punch
• Cotton balls
• Construction paper
• Pompons
• Hot glue and hot glue gun
• Pink ribbon
• Googly eyes

Art Easter Basket

Art-themed Easter baskets are great for those who like to draw:

• Paintbrushes
• Ink pads
• Colored pencils
• Markers
• Scissors (child-safe)
• Water-based paint

Sports Easter Basket

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sports-themed Easter baskets are fun all year long. These baskets can contain various items, ranging from sports accessories like hats, baseball cards, or tickets to various sporting events.

Movie Night Easter Basket

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Whether at home or the movies, movie night is fun for the entire family. Add a couple of DVDs and/or movie passes to the Easter basket and a few healthy snacks for the whole family to enjoy.

Gardening Easter Basket

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A gardening-themed Easter basket is an excellent way to get kids interested in gardening and nature. Garden-related items to include in the basket could consist of the following:

• Gardening gloves for kids
• Small gardening tools (shovel, rake, etc.)
• Plant labels with stickers
• Dirt
• Small pots
• Gardening gloves (kid-sized)
• Gardening hat (kid-sized)
• Assorted seeds

Camping Easter Baskets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Camping is another event the entire family can enjoy. Add the following favorites to your camping-themed Easter basket:

• Sleeping bags
• Flashlights
• Glow sticks
• Bubbles
• Healthy snacks
• Board games

Easter Eggs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One of the most popular Easter traditions is the Easter egg hunt with real or plastic eggs. Here is a natural way to color your eggs and fun items that can be added to plastic eggs.  

Plastic Eggs

 

Instead of putting candy in the plastic eggs, consider some of the healthy treats listed previously or any of the following items:

• Stickers
• Coins
• Squishy toys
• Temporary tattoos
• Pencil erasers
• Toy cars
• Finger puppets
• Costume jewelry/bracelets/rings
• Figurines

Dyeing Easter Eggs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Instead of using artificial colors to dye Easter Eggs try the following instead:

• 1 tsp natural food coloring
• 2 tbsp white vinegar
• 2 tbsp water

Dip eggs in mixture and let dry.

Summary

Easter is a holiday that brings the entire family together. Instead of having the traditional gift baskets with sweets, this year, try something new! The whole family may thank you. Do you have any healthy Easter basket ideas? Please share in the comments below!

 

Medical Disclaimer: This article is based upon the opinions of Revelation Health. The information on this website is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. It is intended as a sharing of knowledge and information from the research and experience of Revelation Health and associates. This article has been medically reviewed by Dr. Charles Penick, MD for accuracy of the information provided, but Revelation Health encourages you to make your own health care decisions based upon your research and in partnership with a qualified health care professional.