Say "bye" to overindulging on Easter candy. Here are 5 healthy and fun Easter ideas!

Sue Heikkinen, MS, RDN, CDCES, BC-ADM, ACE-PT - Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist

We have you (and the Easter Bunny) covered with ideas for healthy Easter treats and egg fillers.

Enjoy a healthy Easter with these 5 tips:

1. Go for quality over quantity

Do you feel the basket isn't complete without a chocolate bunny and jelly beans? When choosing chocolate, darker means more antioxidants and less sugar. In general, look for chocolates with 60 percent cocoa or more.

Select a small number of quality treats rather than a cartful of candies. Choose individually wrapped treats to help with portion control.

2. Fill eggs with non-candy items

If an Easter egg hunt is part of your tradition, fill the plastic eggs with various fun, non-candy items. For example, fill eggs with Silly Putty, stickers, bouncy balls, temporary tattoos, chewing gum, hair ties, or coupons for a special activity.

3. Create a themed basket

Choose a basket theme to inspire the fillings, steering the focus away from candy. Here are some theme ideas to get you started:

• Gardening: seed packets, gardening gloves, and a trowel
• Art: paints, paintbrushes, markers, a coloring book, and sculpting clay
• Home spa: bath bombs, lip balm, face masks, lotion, and herbal tea
• Fun and games: a jump rope, a kite, sidewalk chalk (for a game of hopscotch), a frisbee, and a mini-golf gift certificate
• Cooking: spices, measuring spoons, a cookbook, and a cheerful dish towel

4. Delight in a healthy Easter brunch

A satisfying brunch will reduce the desire to fill up on candy. Try one of these Premium recipes featuring the flavors of spring: Fresh Fritatta, Carrot Orange Smoothie, Asparagus Leek Soup, or this beautiful Layered Berry Dessert. It's ok to leave room for a small portion of your favorite Easter treat after the meal!

5. Keep leftover candy out of sight

It is wise to hide that Easter candy again-from yourself! Don't leave a colorful, candy-filled basket out in the busy kitchen. Instead, put the candy out of sight to avoid the temptation. If you do grab a treat, remember to log it, whether a few jelly beans, some Peeps, or a Cadbury Egg.

Getting creative and making Easter less about the candy helps you and your "peeps" enjoy a healthy Easter.

Original contributions from Ryan Newhouse.

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