The Easter holiday is celebrated around the world as a religious tradition and also as just a fun treat for the kids. But as with many holidays, it has become overly commercialized in the U.S. and focused on excess, waste, and unhealthy habits. Yet it’s still a wonderful time of the year to embrace the spring season and enjoy the company of loved ones.
To transform your Easter into something more positive and sustainable, here are some healthy and eco-friendly Easter tips to consider.
Enjoy a Healthy Version of Eggs
Eggs often get a bad reputation for being high in cholesterol, but there are healthier ways to enjoy eggs around the Easter season. After all, eggs are high in protein and have vitamins and minerals that are beneficial to the body.
Poached and boiled eggs are lower in calories, compared to other preparation methods. It’s also easy to combine eggs with vegetables to boost your nutrient intake. Vegetables that work well with eggs include bell peppers, onions, asparagus, mushrooms, and spinach. Use extra-virgin olive oil when cooking your egg dishes for an extra health boost.
Choose Quality Dark Chocolate
Chocolate is an Easter tradition, but not all chocolate is created equal. Instead of calorie-rich, nutrient-low milk chocolate and white chocolate eggs and bunnies, choose dark chocolate with a high cacao percentage. Also, try to buy locally made or fair-trade chocolate to reduce your Easter’s environmental footprint.
Skip or Reuse Plastic Eggs
Cheap plastic eggs are everywhere around Easter, but they aren’t often recyclable and end up in landfills after breaking easily. For your Easter egg hunt, consider using real eggs or wooden eggs instead. If you must use plastic eggs, plan to reuse them year after year.
Make Your Own Easter Decorations
Easter season is a great time to get crafty and plan some fun activities with the kids. Instead of stocking up on cheap store-bought decorations, plan a craft day to make a few of your own. You can use paper towel rolls, pipe cleaners, construction paper, clothespins, and other items around the house to make bunnies, lambs, and eggs that are cute and creative.
Color Eggs with Natural Dyes
Many families look forward to the tradition of dying Easter eggs each year, but you can take a more natural approach to this beloved activity. Instead of chemically synthesized and petroleum-based dyes you find at the store, you can choose natural dyes that are easier on the environment and don’t make you feel uncertain about eating the dyed eggs. You can even make your own homemade dyes using natural ingredients like spinach leaves, blueberries, red onion skins, and ground turmeric.
Play Active Games Outside
Whether you celebrate the Easter holiday or not, springtime is a great time to get outside and play. To keep kids entertained and everyone active, schedule in time for outdoor games, such as horseshoes, croquet, or badminton.
Fill Easter Baskets with Seeds to Plant
Another way to have a healthier and eco-friendlier Easter is to fill up your Easter basket gifts with seed packets rather than plastic eggs or unhealthy candy. This gift turns into a fun family activity of planting flower seeds and tree seeds in the yard.
Put Egg Shells in the Compost Pile
During your Easter celebration, make a point to set aside egg shells so that they end up in the compost pile rather than the trash. Putting egg shells in your compost adds calcium to the pile’s composition to help your plants grow. Wash your eggshells before adding them to the compost pile to prevent attracting animals, and crush them to speed up the decomposition process.