The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
6 tips for a healthier basket
Focusing on the fun instead of the sweets can keep it festive.
Easter baskets can be so much fun to put together for the kiddos. And while the Easter Bunny is not going to fill up a basket with broccoli and Brussels sprouts, there’s no reason for the basket to be loaded with sugar either.
Sugary candies may be easy to buy, but did you know that one pre-filled plastic egg can contain more than 30 grams of sugar? That is the same amount of sugar as what’s in two ice cream sandwiches. By mixing toys, coins and books into the mix, the Easter Bunny can dial back the sugar — and amp up the fun.
Dr. Dyan Hes, medical director of Gramercy Pediatrics in New York City, suggests modifying the Easter basket to fill it with a balance of sweets and other healthier treats. Include chocolate bunnies and jelly beans alongside other snacks such as nuts and dried fruits or any healthier options your child enjoys, she recommends.
Hes also said leaving a basket
full of candy unattended is an open invitation for children to eat as much as they want. Instead, monitor the amount of candy your child consumes each day, by taking out all the candy from the basket and letting your child separate it into little storage baggies. If there is a large chocolate bunny, have your child break off the pieces and separate them into baggies with other smaller candies. Label each baggie with a day of the week. Each day, put one of the baggies into their lunch bag.
Here are some fun and easy tips provided by Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta’s Strong4Life for a healthier Easter basket: 1. Get creative with the plastic eggs. Fill your own colorful plastic eggs with non-candy items such as Easter erasers, rings and toy cars. These little items are fun and cost only a couple of dollars. 2. Dial back the chocolate. Chocolate bunnies may be a staple around this time of year, but this springtime favorite can actually contain over 100 grams of sugar. Trade the chocolate bunny for something special like a kite. Kites can be inexpensive, even as low as $7, plus your kids will love running around and watching them fly high. 3. Skip the cookies. Candy might be the common sweet around this time of year, but remember to shy away from other Easter goodies such as cookies with icing. These kid-favorite treats can be loaded with almost 19 grams of sugar per cookie. 4. Opt for toys. Try swapping the cookies for a set of self-stick toss and catch targets. At only $5, this fun toy is a great price and will give hours of family fun. 5. Pass on gummies. A gummy twist on a kid-favorite treat is another Easter candy
culprit. Swap the gummy bunny for some sidewalk chalk. Sidewalk chalk is a bright idea for families who want to head outside without leaving home. 6. Say no to Peeps (or at
least some of them). Those little marshmallow treats might look harmless, but a package of 15 is actually packing more than 100 grams of sugar, which is equal to almost 30 cream-filled cookies. And at around $3 a package, the price quickly adds up. Trade those sugar-coated marshmallows in for a fun, small book your kids will love.