A Healthy Outlook on Easter 2021
Shanthi Appelo, MS, RD
| 2 min read
Easter competes with Halloween for the biggest candy-consuming holiday. This year, Americans are expected to spend $21.6 billion on all things Easter. Jelly beans, chocolate eggs and Peeps are among the top purchased candies during the holiday – so much that the factory that produces Peeps makes 4 million per day to keep up with the demand. Though it’s okay to have some candy, follow along for healthier basket fillers and activities:
Easter baskets. Easter baskets, like the holiday itself, represent new life. An excellent way to reinforce the idea of new life is through gardening. It may spark your child’s interest in science, growing their own healthy food and getting outdoors. Here are some items to include in an Easter basket that could get your child started:
- A child-friendly book about gardening
- Biodegradable pots
- A variety of herb and flower seeds
- Popsicle sticks for markers
- Gardening tools
- Watering can
For another healthy alternative to a candy-filled basket, consider inexpensive items that encourage your child to get outdoors and moving:
- Binoculars
- Paint-your-own-kite kit
- Street chalk
- Jump rope
- Frisbee
Whether at home or at the park, these items can fuel kids’ outdoor exploration by discovering interesting birds with binoculars or combining creativity and movement with the kite-decorating kit.
Leftover eggs. Painting eggs is a fun way to boost your child’s creativity and doubles as a family-bonding activity. Here are some healthy ways to utilize your leftover boiled eggs.
- Egg breakfast casserole
- Egg or tuna salad
- Sliced eggs on toasts with avocado and herbs
- Deviled eggs
Recipe highlight. Here’s a foolproof deviled egg recipe using half of the yolks and protein-rich Greek yogurt:
Serving Amount
Ingredients
6 eggs
2 tbsp Greek yogurt
1 tsp Dijon mustard
1 tbsp light mayonnaise
Salt and pepper to taste
Garnish: shrimp, dill, small lemon wedge
Instructions
Step 1
Cover eggs in saucepan plus one inch of cold water. Bring to a rolling boil, then remove from heat, cover and let sit for 10 minutes.
Step 2
Peel eggs and cut in half, keeping half of the yolks in a mixing bowl and smashing them.
Step 3
To the yolks, add Greek yogurt, Dijon mustard, light mayonnaise, and salt and pepper to taste.
Step 4
Garnish with a sprig of dill, one shrimp and lemon wedge.
