Easter is almost here which means the aisles of supermarkets are lined with endless options of sweet treats. From chocolate Easter Eggs to sweets and candy, it’s hard to turn a blind eye to the temptations of Easter. Whilst there’s nothing wrong with indulging a little bit every now and then, lots of people who are making a conscious effort to cut out things like chocolate from their diets will be seeking healthier Easter gift alternatives.
Not only this, not everyone can enjoy chocolate or sweets, leaving them somewhat limited on what they can eat come Easter. If you or someone you know is one of the above types of people, we’ve put together a list of healthy Easter gift ideas for you to consider.
1. Carrot Sticks and Hummus
Carrots aren’t exactly a top-tier gift, but they can definitely come close. Take two carrot sticks or batons and cut the edges so that they look like bunny ears. Tie the batons together side by side with a pretty ribbon so that they look like bunny ears. Make a few pairs of bunny ears and add some homemade hummus in a plastic egg. Secure the lid of the egg with a ribbon and voila! You’ve got a healthy Easter-themed snack that takes less than five minutes to make.
For those who don’t like hummus, try peanut butter instead.
2. Shaped Oatmeal Cookies
For a more personalized Easter treat alternative, why not bake some shaped oatmeal cookies? You’ll need some instant oats, maple syrup, white whole wheat flour, an egg, baking powder, and coconut oil. The maple syrup is a more natural alternative to brown sugar, and the coconut oil is a low-calorie alternative to butter. Simply mix all the ingredients together in a bowl and add in any hydrated raisins or nuts. If you still want to enjoy a bit of chocolate this Easter, add some chocolate chips instead.
When you’ve got your mixture, cut them into the shape of a rabbit or a chick using a cookie cutter. Put them on a baking tray and bake for 12-15 minutes. Once cooled, individually wrap each cookie in some cellophane and secure with a ribbon. Pop them into a basket and there you have it, some exceedingly tasty and guilt-free cookies to enjoy on Easter weekend.
3. Apple Crisps/Chips
Everyone likes snacking on crisps/chips, but this moreish snack can often be highly calorific and packed full of unhealthy oil. For a healthier alternative, try apple crisps/chips. Get a couple of large apples (not cooking apples) and de-core them. Thinly slice them and place them on a baking tray. Sprinkle some cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and cloves over the top and bake them for 90 minutes. Take them out and turn them over, once again sprinkling them with the spice mix and place them back in the oven for another hour. After this, let them cool and put them into cellophane bags and tie with a ribbon.
You could add some nuts and raisins into the cellophane bags, as well as other pieces of dried fruit for a truly healthy snack that’s packed full of flavor.
You can give each of these gifts with an Easter card separately, or you could buy a wicket basket and line it with gingham cloth. Add some shredded tissue paper and plastic eggs, placing a bag of each of the snacks above into the basket for a wholesome Easter hamper that’s perfect for the health conscious person in your life. You could even add in solitary squares of chocolate for a sweet treat that’s in a controlled portion.