Another Sweets-Packed Holiday is Here!
For some, Easter means a big meal with family. For others, Easter means going to church and celebrating the season. For others, Easter means chocolate bunnies and Easter egg hunts. For many more, Easter is all of the above!
Whether you’re young or old, Easter candy can be incredibly tempting. Who doesn’t love a little chocolate bunny (ears or feet first?), colorful jelly beans, a Cadbury Creme Egg, or Peeps when Spring is in the air? But as with most things, too much of a good thing can be bad. Ninety two percent (92%) of adults age 20-64 have had cavities in their permanent teeth. In fact, according to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, adults in that age group have an average of 3.28 decayed or missing permanent teeth and 13.65 decayed and/or missing permanent surfaces. Oh. But it’s not just grown ups! According to the Pew Center on the States, almost 60% of children have dental decay.
Moderation is key to any diet, especially when it comes to your oral health and sugary treats and snacks. Abstaining from Easter candy is no fun for anybody. Making children watch their friends search for candy and then eat said candy while they’re left to munch on a celery stick is just plain cruel. So we’re here to help and give a few simple tips that allow you and your children to enjoy fun treats while protecting your teeth. Here are some ideas you can try:
Trade a Chocolate Bunny for a Stuffed One
Who wouldn’t love a new friend to hug and cuddle?
How About Something to Keep Your Child Busy?
Fill a basket with puzzles, board, or travel games. Games will keep your child’s mind sharp. Best of all, they’re fun for every age.
Celebrate Spring with Sidewalk Chalk
Encourage your kids to get outside; after all, the weather’s beautiful. But be sure to check with your city. Some areas don’t allow for sidewalk chalk due to water conservation efforts.
Books, CDs and DVDs
These are great gifts for young kids and teens. Is there a movie or music your child wants to see or hear?
Boil Real Eggs Instead of Using Plastic Eggs
Historically, people would boil eggs and then paint or decorate them. This can be a fun activity to do with the kids as they get to select their favorite colors, add glitter, stickers, and become incredibly creative with it. Truly, this can be a fun weekend activity for you to do with them.
Hide Your Boiled Eggs
Instead of hiding candy-filled eggs, hide the ones that you decorated with your kids. They will have just as much fun finding them and their baskets will be sugar-free. It is important to note, however, that the FDA advises that no one should eat a hardboiled egg that remains outside for more than two hours.
Designate a Special Egg
Since you will not be hiding candy, make one or two of your eggs special (golden egg, anyone?). If your child finds them, give a prize that is not related to sweets. Perhaps you can give them a new book or a small toy that they have been wanting. Prizes are something kids of all ages get excited about.
Trade Candy for Prizes
After the egg hunt, you can always incentivize them to give up their candy. If they have been wanting a special toy, trade them for the candy. If they want to have a sleepover or get to stay up late, trade them for the candy. It is actually fairly easy to find something that your children like more than candy. It only seems that they love it the most because of how exciting it is to find the candy in the first place.
No matter what Easter basket you choose to create, remember that holidays are best spent with family and friends. Happy Easter!
