Healthy Easter Basket Ideas

Healthy Easter baskets? It sounds like an oxymoron. The Easter bunny has long been the bearer of all things sweet and delicious, like chocolate bunnies, marshmallow chicks, and jelly beans. But this Holiday doesn’t have to induce the same sugar high and hyperactivity as Halloween. 

Instead, fill those Easter baskets with some healthy alternatives. Yet, you don’t want to be the neighbor who hands out plain apples at Halloween or plain eggs at Easter – you still want to make it fun and exciting. Here are some healthy Easter basket ideas for kids and adults alike. 

Edible Options

Instead of the usual sweet treats people give during Easter, opt for these healthier versions:

Chocolate nut butter and fruit

To keep the carrots company, add a few bananas and apples in that Easter basket. Pair them with a couple of Justin’s Chocolate Hazelnut & Almond Butter packets for a healthy and yummy protein-filled and fiber-filled snack.

Chocolate-covered fruit 

Strawberries covered in dipping chocolate are not just for lovers on Valentine’s Day. It’s a great way to entice children to eat their fruit. Try decorating chocolate-dipped strawberries with strategically-placed sprinkles, or switch it up with white chocolate and decorate. Besides strawberries, you can also dip cherries, grapes, and bananas. Place it in cupcake liners so the chocolate won’t smear all over the rest of the baskets’ contents

Hard boiled eggs

While chocolate eggs and crème eggs take center stage at Easter, why not give real eggs? This cheap superfood-in-a-shell offers about 6 grams of protein and 70 calories per piece. Plus, they are full of omega-3 fatty acids which is vital for heart health. Boil your eggs and dye them to make them pretty and enticing. Use Chefmaster food color as it is made from plant-based ingredients. 

Dried fruit

Dried fruit are like candies – only better. Dried mangoes and dried pineapples are yummy and nice to gobble up. Banana chips are a sweet and crunchy alternative to junk food. 

Lollipops and gummies

Holidays are fun because it’s a time to occasionally splurge on goodies, and you don’t have to skip on lollipops and gummies in order to be healthier. Simply choose sweets that use natural juices for flavor and color, like YumEarth Organic Vegan Fruit Snacks,  Trader Joe’s Organic Pops LollipopsSurf Sweets Organic Fruity Bears, and Black Forest Organic Gummy Bears Candy

Annie’s Organic bunnies

You won’t take the fun out of the Easter basket by offering treats from Annie’s Homegrown store. Snacks make an Easter-appropriate basket filler when they’re shaped like bunnies! It’s a better alternative, since it’s made of organic ingredients. Fill your Easter baskets with bunny grahams and cheddar bunnies and bunny fruit snacks for the kids to enjoy. 

Healthy treat-filled plastic eggs

On Easter, colorful plastic Easter eggs are normally filled with Hershey’s Kisses and other small treats. You can also fill them with other things better for kids but are still appealing like this trail mix  that contains peanuts, raisins, chocolates, almonds, and cashews. Place them in small treat bags to keep them safe for eating. 

Healthy sweet treats

Let the children satisfy their sweet tooth with Kind Kids Granola Bar in chocolate chip and peanut butter chocolate chip flavors, which boast healthy ingredients like whole grain oats. Bare Baked Fuji and Red Apple Chips makes for a naturally sweet snack that kids will love. Also try  Plum Organics Strawberry Snack bars and Plum Organics Mighty Nut Butter Bar – they have cleaner ingredients than most snack bars.

Healthy crackers and chips 

Annie’s Hidden Veggie Cheesy Cheddar crackers is a clever treat to give for Easter. Simply Brand Organic Chips offer a cleaner and healthier alternative to Cheetos, Lays and Doritos

Non-Edible Options

Not all Easter basket fillings must be edible. Sometimes, it’s better to give something that will last beyond Easter season. Here are some non-edible options for Easter baskets that would encourage a healthier lifestyle:

Lunch tote bag 

Instead of giving out one-time use basket, let the Easter bunny deliver the goodies in a bag that can be reused again and again. Place your goodies in an cute bunny lunch bag. This way, anyone who will receive it will be motivated to pack their lunch and eat healthier. 

Creative kits

Painting, coloring, and designing are a great way to encourage children’s creativity. Give toddlers an easy Easter egg coloring book or buy an 18-pack Easter coloring books to give away with a goodie bag. For kids ages six and above, they will delight in painting kits like this Squishy Egg Painting Kit or a Rock Painting Kit . As a fun Easter activity for a party, you can provide this Easter Craft Kit for children to enjoy. 

Board games

Instead of devouring lots and lots of candy, why not play a board game with your family to enhance the mind? At Easter, give your little kids the Count Your Chickens Board Game, which is an adorable counting game perfectly themed for the day. If your kids are older, play Hasbro’s Speak Out Game with them and buckle up for a day filled with lots of laughter. You may also want to try a Blank Slate game for a whole new way to have word fun for the whole family! 

Bunnies and chicks

No Easter basket for kids is complete without a cute stuffed animal or two. For babies and toddlers, this squishy Easter basket filled with plushies are a great gift to welcome them to the Easter tradition! This wind-up chicks and bunnies are also great for kids to play with. 

Kitchen tools

Older kids may not be excited about a squishy bunny. If they are busy at the kitchen, a bunny cookie cutter, a pair of cute bunny kitchen towels or an Easter bunny spatula can excite them when they see it in the basket. 

Workout accessories

Instead of a basket, pack the Bunny’s offerings in a drawstring gym bag  or yoga bag. Give your girls a headscarf or resistance bands along with sweets. 

Drink bottles

Remind the kids to keep hydrated and drink water after eating their Easter treats! Give them a double-wall insulated bunny bottle or this cute travel mug. This stylish bunny tumbler is also a great give away for this season. Better yet, put your small candies and trail mix inside these bottles to make a double-purpose Easter basket! 

Comfy things

Don’t forget to give the Easter hostess or the mothers of your kids’ friends a basket as well. Wrap up this plush, hooded bunny bathrobe for their bath for the night, and let them snuggle up to a movie with this Easter-themed plush blanket. These fuzzy bunny socks are also great to keep their feet nice and warm when it’s chilly outside.