Creating the Perfect Easter Basket 

If you have children, then you need to be prepared to create an Easter basket.  One of the biggest challenges is choosing the right items for the basket.  After all, chocolate Easter eggs and bunnies are the most popular food items but not necessarily the healthiest.  Of course, every Easter basket needs to have some chocolate but we wanted to give you some options on how to create a basket that balances out the calories with healthy items. 

For starters, your child’s Easter basket does not have to be filled with only food.  For instance, if your children are younger, consider adding a coloring book and new box of Crayons.  For teenagers, you could throw in movie coupons, a picture frame, or something similar that is less than $10.  Of course, just consider the age and interest of the child, choosing items accordingly. 

In addition to chocolate, you might think about adding granola bars, fruit roll-ups, nuts, etc.  If you want the flavor of chocolate, you could choose a few pieces of rich chocolate, along with carob food items.  With this, you cut down on high calorie content and fat while still giving your child the sweet flavor they crave.  Remember, carob is much more delicious than it was years ago.  In fact, many children cannot tell the difference between carob and real chocolate. 

Games such as card games or miniature electronic games are also great for Easter baskets.  These games can be purchased at retail stores, again usually less than $10.  Books are another excellent addition to an Easter basket.  Your child will love receiving a new book, not even minding that a few chocolate eggs have been replaced.  Keep in mind that to create the perfect Easter basket, you do not have to spend a fortune, just shop wisely. 

Candied or dried fruits are also great choices for the Easter basket.  If you want to provide your child with a chocolate Easter bunny, choose a hollow one instead of solid.  That way, your child gets the joy of receiving a chocolate bunny in the basket but with 50% less.  To the child, they really do not care if the bunny is solid or hollow, as long as they have one! 

For the basket itself, we suggest you buy something that can grow with the child for several Easters to come, getting more for your money.  This would involve choosing the right size that can accommodate items for several years, as well as choosing a design that is not too young or too old.  For instance, while the stuffed Easter bunny that is designed with the basket being the belly is cute, it also limits the number of years it could be used.  However, if you choose a regular pink, blue, green, or yellow basket without much frill, the basket would grow with your child.