Aside from the obvious meaning behind Easter, this Sunday also signifies a day full of soothing pastels, perfectly baked ham, brightly colored eggs, and a basket filled with candy for the kids.

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It’s sort of like another Halloween in regards to candy, which is brought to you by the one and only, Mr. Peter Cottontail.

I’m all for regulation Easter candy. Cadbury mini’s and crème filled eggs happen to be some of my favorite seasonal treats of all time.

On the other hand, do I really need a whole basket filled with these dangerously delicious chocolates for future days to come? And do I really want to clean up a pile of rappers, along with my dignity, after I return from my short-lived vacation on a Cadbury cloud?

Negative.

When it comes to choosing your kids candy, this same mindset should also apply. Of course make their Easter morning memorable and fill their baskets with the traditional treats that we all grew up loving, but also try to sneak in a few healthy snacks as well.

I mean, if the Easter Bunny brought it, then it must be good, right?

right.

Here are some healthier options that your kids will eat without question.

Brown Rice Crispy Treats (use sunflower butter for nut allergies)

Dark Chocolate

Cliff Kid Twisted Fruit Rope

Annie’s Bunny Graham Cracker or Fruit Snacks

Archer Farms Fruit Bars

Glee All Natural Gum

Nut Free Sunflower Butter Cups

Whole Wheat Pretzels or Pirate Booty snack bags

You can also do what my parents did, and give a gift that your kids can use instead.

Crayons and sidewalk chalk, a baseball and bat, roller skates, a new jump rope, or a few new books to read are all great examples. No video games, computer stuff, and things that will keep them cooped up in the house.

They need to be outside, having fun and being a kid.

You can join in on the fun as well.

A healthy lifestyle should be a family affair. Set a good example, introduce better snack alternatives, and schedule at least an hour a day of activity that you can all do together.

Be proud to say; “Do as I say, and what I do”

And in case you haven’t heard,

According to current research by New York University School of Medicine, the obesity epidemic in America may actually be worse than we thought.

“Body mass index–a rough estimate of body fat using a person’s height and weight–may be missing nearly 40 percent of obesity cases.

These so-called “false negatives” are caused because BMI simply estimates body fat and does not directly measure it. People who have lost a lot of muscle mass–often older women–may be classified as “overweight” by BMI, when they are actually obese, says Eric Braverman, one of the authors of the study.”

“BMI is the least accurate test in medicine,” he says. “It’s been around since 1832 and hasn’t changed. People are being told their BMI is [a healthy] 24, when their body fat is actually at 34 percent, which is obese.”

“The number of missed diagnoses jumped to nearly 50 percent in women, who often begin losing muscle mass as they age.”

“Patients are being misinformed that they are fit and thin, and then they bump into heart attacks and diabetes as they age,” Braverman says. “If they were told the truth when they were young, they could do something about it.”

source.

Well then..

All the more reason to fill those baskets with natural treats and gifts that aid in a healthy future.