When you receive an email with a subject line that includes the words “bunny poop” — as a blogger, you have to open it. Well, maybe that’s just the key to my heart, or at least the key to getting a guest post with me!
Anyways, today I am excited to have an awesome local Registered Dietitian Grace Derocha from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan chatting about some simple ways to make Easter healthier. I so appreciate these tips since I am on my own health journey and know I need to avoid those Reeses Eggs like the plague. {I wish they would just keep them in the candy aisle so I could steer clear, but NO! they are everywhere!}
I’m also excited because these ideas are so much fun for kids and I can’t wait to try them with Kinley. Because, what kid doesn’t like the idea of eating bunny poop?
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By Grace Derocha, BCBSM registered dietitian
Easter is not only a celebrated religious holiday; it’s also a time for chocolate, candy, jelly beans and Easter basket treats. Trust me, I am not against chocolate or treats, but you want to be careful when overdoing it, especially for the kids.
With a little creativity, you can come up with some healthy holiday treats.
Healthy Easter Basket Alternatives:
- Bunny poop: Combine dried raisins, cranberries and blueberries, drizzle with chocolate.
- Rice Krispies® treat eggs: Shape marshmallow Rice Krispies® treats (using melted Peeps®) into egg-shaped balls and add dried fruits or nuts.
- Peeps® s’mores: Melt chocolate on Peeps® and put between slices of apple.
- Bunny ears: Take a persimmon, pear or mango slices to look like bunny ears and dipped in chocolate.
- Cottage cheese bunnies: Shape cottage cheese and a half of a canned pear into a bunny shape. Use fruit to make its face and decorate it.
- Fruit snacks: Dried fruit is best, but fruit snacks are an easy alternative to candy make sure they are made with 100% fruit juice to reduce the amount of sugar.
- Golden eggs: Mix in some kumquats (a citrus fruit the size of a grape tomato), grapes or grape tomatoes with your chocolate eggs.
Think outside of the box with fun gifts or better yet active treats that don’t involve chocolate or candy:
- Movies
- Socks
- Little toys
- Balls
- Chalk
- Jump ropes
- New tennis shoes
- Music
- Activity or coloring books
- Crayons, pens or markers
- Jewelry
- Games – include an Easter egg hunt with fun physical activities inside a plastic egg for the kids to do (like 10 jumping jacks or hop on each foot eight times), have some field day activities, like a bunny hop race or walk an egg on a spoon race.
Grace Derocha is a registered dietitian and certified diabetes educator at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. Mrs. Derocha is a featured blogger at A Healthier Michigan. Grace is also a certified health coach, teaches group fitness classes and has a certification in weight management. She graduated from Michigan State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in dietetics and a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology. Grace has also earned a Master of Business Administration specializing in marketing from Wayne State University.
Grace is a lover of food and a lover of life. She is a wife, a mommy and loves dancing and music. She is very passionate about helping the world become a healthier and happier place.
Grace A. Derocha RD, CDE, MBA
Photos by Helen Battersby, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan
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Thanks for the ideas, Grace! What are your favorite healthier Easter basket alternatives? Leave me a tip!