Healthy Easter Treats

Easter is right around the corner, and that of course means plenty of candy and treats for the kids. Not only does the Easter bunny bring sweets in the form of chocolate bunnies and eggs and of course the always popular marshmallow peeps, but the kids also receive plenty of candy at school and from grandparents. As parents, we want to provide
our kids with some healthy alternatives to all this candy for Easter. Not only is it better for our little ones, it also eliminates the constant whining for candy, or the stack of sweets that lasts until Halloween.

What can you do as a parent to switch out some of the sugary treats with healthier alternatives? Quite a bit and we have compiled some of our favorite ideas to get you started. Read through the suggestions below and feel free to adapt and change things around to make it work for your family.

Treasure Hunt

Start by making an Easter basket that you fill with inexpensive outdoor toys. These could include jump ropes, bubbles, sidewalk chalk, gardening tools and various balls or Frisbees. Other ideas are water bottles, bike accessories (like a basket or a new helmet) and new sandbox toys. Of course you can also include a few markers or crayons to use inside for rainy days.

Now it’s time to hide the Easter basket and set up a treasure hunt for the kids. You can draw a map where x marks the spot where you hid the basket, or set up a series of hidden clues for the kids to follow. The hunt itself will be just as much fun as receiving all the fun outdoor ifts.

Egg Filler Ideas

Plastic Easter eggs that you can fill yourself are another great idea for healthy Easter treats. You can fill these eggs with small toys, a few coins or even a couple of crayons. A pack of stickers is another favorite in our house. Of course you can also fill these plastic eggs with some edible treats. Add a handful of nuts, or some dried fruit. One of our favorites is some homemade trail mix from dry cereal, nuts,
dried fruits and a few M&Ms.

Party Treats

If you are having a family get together or a party this Easter, try some of these healthy Easter treats and desserts. Make some egg shaped jello jigglers using egg shaped molds that you can find at most grocery stores
this time of the year. Fill Easter themed bags with plain popcorn and of course set out some baby carrots that the kids can nibble on. They’ll love eating “just like bunnies”.

The Easy Way Out.
 
Even if you don’t have much time to prepare homemade treats, you can keep Easter healthy by making the right choices. Even retail stores are catching on to the idea that parents want healthy treats. Our local Wal-Mart carries plastic eggs prefilled with healthy treats, along with
alternatives such as matchbox cars, silly putty and bracelets. In the Easter Basket provide a stuffed animal, toy, clothing, hair clips, coloring books or other fun items that you know your child will enjoy.

Make a tradition

Ask the grandparents and other relatives who usually bring a treat, to bring an Easter-themed book instead that your kids can enjoy for years to come. Our family has a stash for both Christmas and Easter that we pull out for the designated season and the kids always look forward to it.

Of course Easter isn’t the only time to eat healthy. Cook a healthy meal for your family every single day and enjoy more time with your kids instead of planning what you will cook that night. Join the Healthy Menu Mailer  and receive 7 healthy dinner recipes a week with a grocery list to go along with it. We make healthy menu planning easy and save you time and money along the way.

Fun Cardio Exercises for Kids

With all the T.V. shows, computer programs, and video games available now, it’s hard to get kids up and moving anymore.  That’s one big reason why childhood obesity is becoming more and more prevalent.  Getting your child in shape doesn’t have to be a fight; you just have to find activities they enjoy that are good for them as well.  Here are some great workouts that will entertain your kids at the same time.

Tennis.  If your child isn’t into traditional team sport, then tennis is a great alternative.  It gives a great cardio workout while also working various muscle groups and improving hand-eye and overall coordination.  Plus, even though your child isn’t necessarily working on a team, tennis is a great way to meet and socialize with other kids.

Hacky sack.  This is a simple cheap way to get your kids up and moving.  It also teaches coordination, balance, and helps your kids socialize and work together in a group to accomplish something.  Plus, unlike most group sports, there are no teams so children are trying to beat their old records instead of trying to win.   

Dance.  Sure, you can enroll your child in dance classes, or you could just turn on the radio a couple times a week and make up silly dances to go along with the songs.  This not only encourages movement, balance, and coordination, it also work out kid’s brains by getting them to be imaginative. 

Video games.  These have gotten a bad rap in the past few years, physical video games have come a long way since the original Nintendo.  Now there are tons of products available that get your child to stand up and move.  One popular game series is Dance Dance Revolution . There are also games on the new Nintendo Wii system that encourage physical movement.  These are a fun entertaining way for your kids to get a workout while they play video games.  And trust me; these are just as addictive as other video games.    

Soccer.  There’s a reason there are so many soccer mom’s around; because these moms know that soccer is a great way for children to get their heart rate up, improve their footwork skills, learn teamwork, and have fun at the same time.  Plus, if you’re worried about the problem of intense competition, there are many areas with leagues that don’t keep score.  This has been and still is a great way for your kids to stay in shape. 

Swimming.  Doing laps is a great way to get an aerobic workout without causing a lot of wear and tear on your child’s growing bones and joints.  It’s fantastic and increasing endurance and stamina.  Plus, a pool is a great place for them to hang out, play, and meet new kids in the neighborhood during the summer.

Jumping rope.  This is a great workout whether it’s done the traditional way, or the newer more faced paced version.  This can help your child meet new people, and some areas even have it as a competitive sport. 

So why not get your child involved in one of these great activities?  You could even get a workout yourself by joining them or just helping them practice regularly.

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