Healthy Easter Basket Ideas

by Contributing Writer

Overview

Although Easter baskets are typically filled with an array of cavity-causing chocolate bunnies, animal-shaped marshmallows and rainbow-colored jellybeans, there's no reason you have to hike up your dentist bills. There are plenty of healthier items out there you can use to fill your children's Easter baskets.
Dried Fruit and Nuts

Dried fruit can often be just as sweet as candy. Some ideas include dried apple slices, dried pineapple cubes, boxes of raisins and chopped dates. Wrap up bunches of shelled walnuts in Easter-themed cellophane paper and tie them with a pastel-colored ribbon. When purchasing dried fruit, check the ingredients label---some "healthy" packages of dried fruit often include added sugars and artificial sweeteners.

Popcorn

Popcorn is cheap, healthy and easy to make. To ensure that the popcorn is truly healthy, stay away from packages with high saturated fats or that claim to have a lot of butter as a topping. For an added Easter touch, drizzle a bit of pastel-colored food coloring over the popped corn.
Jell-O Eggs

Prepare a box of Jell-O Jigglers according to the package instructions. Pour the Jell-O mixture into Easter egg-shaped Jell-O molds and refrigerate until they are solid. Once they are solid, you can put the two halves of the mold together. You can also use other Easter-themed molds, such as bunnies and chicks. Once solid, wrap the Jell-O Jigglers in Easter-themed cellophane paper and tie with a pastel ribbon.
Craft Projects

Stay away from sweets all together and stuff your child's Easter basket with arts and crafts supplies. If your children are a bit older and not into coloring books and finger paints, include school supplies instead. Chances are their school supplies have become depleted by the spring and could use some refreshing.
Money

This is an option that is sure to delight even preschoolers. Instead of spending money on items for the basket, simply purchase a dozen or so plastic eggs and put money inside of each one. The amount is up to you, but younger children will probably be delighted with quarters and dimes, while older children will appreciate $1 bills and maybe the odd $5 bill.

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