14 Ideas for a Healthier Easter Basket

The Easter Bunny is often synonymous with chocolate bunnies, marshmallow chicks, and sticky-sweet jellybeans. That’s not exactly the healthiest reputation, but there are still plenty of ways to have a happy basket of goodies while also skipping the mid-morning sugar spike. This year, the Bunny can deliver some healthier alternatives that are still fun (yes, there’s even chocolate).

Try some out-of-the-chocolate-box gifts this year. Sure, candy is traditional, but there’s no rule. Try filling the basket with toys, games, or crafting supplies. Board games are a gift that lasts so much longer than a sugar crash, and books can be returned to again and again. An outdoor game is almost the exact opposite of a handful of jellybeans: It’s calorie-free, and encourages kids to get outside and move their bodies.

If you decide that you do want to go edible, there are treats healthier than candy. Some fruit rollups or animal-shaped crackers might do the trick. Gummies and lollypops are a little sugary, but there do exist brands that are fruit-juice based and deliver a gentler sugar high without the traditional Easter afternoon crash.

And if you really think the kids can’t abide a basket with no candy, remember that not all candy is created equal. To justify an indulgence, make sure the treats you’re giving the little ones are as natural and unprocessed as possible. Yes, there is such a thing as organic chocolate and while it’s not low in sugar or calories, it’s at least made from good clean ingredients.

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Bunny Treats

We’re not taking the fun out of the basket. We’re just making the choices better.

Dried fruit. Banana chips, dried pineapple slices, dried mango pieces and more are naturally sweet treats the Bunny can bring. Look for no-sugar-added options. Mango is vibrantly colorful, as is pineapple.

Fruit leather. Make your own fruit leather, roll it in beautiful parchment paper, and tie with ribbon for a healthy treat. You can buy your own, like Trader Joe’s, or you can make a homemade version. Try this One-Ingredient Apple Fruit Leather.

Crackers and chips. Annie’s Organic Cheddar Bunnies are a clever option for Easter, but we also like Plum Organics Mighty Dinos.

Lollipops and gummies. Don’t even try to skip the sweet treats. Holidays are so fun precisely because they’re the occasional time to splurge on goodies you only get to have once a year. We prefer treats that use natural juices for flavor and color, including YumEarth Organic Gummy Fruits, Trader Joe’s Organic Pops, Black Forest Organic Jelly Beans, and Surf Sweets Organic Fruity Bears.

Fun & Games

Just because the basket won’t be full of candy doesn’t mean the basket won’t be full. The Easter bunny can bring an assortment of non-edible options that encourage everyone to play a game or get outside and run around once the baskets have been explored.

Board games. Quite adorable and perfectly themed for the day, Count Your Chickens! Board Game is a fun option. For slightly older kids, Hasbro’s Speak Out Game is sure to cause lots and lots of laughs , but the popular Pie Face Showdown is worth a look for any family that has a competitive streak .

Delicious reads. Introduce a young reader to a fun read with books like Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, E.B. White’s Charlotte’s Web, or Betty MacDonald’s Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle.

Family games. Once the baskets have been opened, and you’ve all had a serving of Stuffed French Toast, head outdoors to enjoy the beautiful day. The Easter Bunny can gift games like Majik Catch Set, Wooden Yard Dominoes, or Lasso Golf Game.

Easter Basket Ideas for Older Kids (and Adults!)

Young bunnies aren’t the only one getting a basket Easter morning. Sometimes older kids (and adults, too) are visited by the happy hopper. The basket can still be packed with plenty of sweet treats, but we’re sneaking in a few other great items for the gym, kitchen, or school/office.

Splurge-worthy candy. Instead of filling the basket with cheap candy pieces, make a bit of a splurge with good chocolate that’s worth every bite. We love Justin’s Mini Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups, Compartes Cereal Bowl Chocolate Bar , and barkTHINS Dark Chocolate Coconut with Almonds.

Cute kitchen tools. An older kid might not be excited by a stuffed bunny, but a cute Easter Bunny spatula might be a different story.

Creative kits. Coloring, painting, and designing are a great way to encourage creativity and downtime. If you’ve ever thought about knitting or cross stitching, kits like the ones from RedBear Design are a fun way to try a different skill and make something adorable in the process.

Drink and dine. For a fun pop of color, Lilly Pulitzer’s Tumbler with Straw is a fun gift.