How to Plan a Healthy and Festive Easter

Spring has sprung! Grass Valley days are getting longer, grass is growing, and the sun is starting to break through the clouds. Springtime is a wonderful time to start fresh. Typically, we decide to make changes January 1, but there is something about spring that feels like a better time to clean up bad habits and reevaluate goals. One goal we have this spring is to have a mouth-healthy Easter. If you have kids, or are a kid at heart, you know Easter is almost as bad as Halloween when it comes to sugary treats. Candy eggs, pastel frosted cookies, and goodie baskets filled to the brim with chocolate and jellybeans means a major sugar assault on your kids’ teeth. Caring Tree Children’s Dentistry wanted to provide some healthier options for your Easter celebration that might help you stay on track with your springtime goals! 

Healthier Easter Egg Hunt Options

Hunt for Real Eggs

Hunting for eggs is a staple on Easter morning. Many families hide both hard-boiled eggs and plastic eggs full of treats to be found. If you are trying to be healthier this year, try hiding only hard-boiled eggs and then a ‘golden’ plastic egg with a few treats for each child to find. This will keep the hunt fun but decrease the amount of sugar they get. 

 Fill plastic eggs with coins 

Another option if your children don’t like hard-boiled eggs, is to fill plastic eggs with coins. Quarters, dimes, and a few dollars here and there will keep your kids entertained and excited! Perhaps they each get a little coin bank to keep their treasure and they can pick out a toy with their own money. 

Fill plastic eggs with toys instead of treats!

There are tons of tiny toys that can fit inside Easter eggs. Rings, tops, stickers, and Legos can be just as fun (and healthier) to find. Often you can find pre-filled eggs with toys! 

Healthier Easter Basket Ideas

Instead of filling your kids’ Easter baskets full of candy (that, let’s be honest, you will be eating from as well) why not fill it with fun, useful items your kids will love? Here are a few options based on age.

Age 0-3	Age 4-6	Age 7-10	Age 11-13	13+
Stuffed animals	Coloring books	Clothes	Money	Money
Board books	Stuffed animals	Jump rope	New clothes	New clothes
Easter PJ’s	Hula hoop	Books	Book	Video game
Ball	Bubbles	Easter socks	Video game	Gift card to the movies
My first Easter bib	Play dough	Bunny slippers	Puzzles	Disposable camera
Socks	Easter craft	Glow in the dark toys	Brain teasers	Brain teasers

 

Once the chocolate eggs are eaten, they are gone forever! Fill your Easter baskets with items your kids can enjoy for days and weeks to come. You can also add a toothbrush and toothpaste! Make an appointment today and we will be sure you and your kids leave with one! 

Healthier Easter Desert Ideas

Easter dinner is a time for families to join around the table and enjoy each other. It’s also a time for indulging in Easter treats. Sugary cocktails, cookies, cakes, and other pastel-frosted things will fill kitchens across the country. This Easter, why not go with some healthier (but still festive!) ideas? 

Appetizer

Instead of loading up on cookies before the big meal, why not start off with some veggies and dip? 

For 50 more brilliant starter ideas, check out The Prudent Penny Pincher. 

Main Course

Usually the main meal is pretty darn healthy. Ham, turkey, or Tofurkey are great and healthy options. However, sugar can sneak into side dishes easily! Like snickers salad or grandma’s Jell-O in the shape of a bunny. This Easter, give one of these recipe’s a try!

Slow Cooker Lemon Thyme Carrots, Pineapple Casserole , or these Loaded Mashed Potato Puffs. 

There are so many amazing options! A quick stroll through the internet will give you hundreds of festive and healthy ideas in no time! We are excited to hear how you made your Easter healthier this year! Remember, if you do indulge in tasty treats, be sure to come see us for your regular check up!