I always feel so torn when holidays get near. On one hand, I thrill in the joy that Lily gets from all the fun, treats, and surprises that the holidays, like Easter, bring. While on the other hand, I recognize that so many of our holidays have become fueled by smart corporations creating enticing ads and products to compel us to over-consume and over-indulge.

So I decided to look into ways to reduce the amount of plastic and unhealthy sugars that our family will consume this Easter and found some great ideas for eco-friendly Easter basket fillers that I wanted to share.

Easter Bunnies

First off, my mother had given me a ‘heads up’ about an adorable purple hand-knitted bunny that she bought for Lily and was mailing out to her for Easter. I pre-opened it (sorry Lily) so I could give you all a peek. Now if I knew how to knit, I might attempt to make a bunny such as this! For those of you who don’t have the time or inclination to knit your own, I found this equally adorable, organic friend.

Plastic Grass Alternatives
I also learned that an easy first step to reducing extra waste on Easter is to do away with that stringy, plastic grass that we have traditionally used to line Easter baskets. Some fun, alternative ideas that I came across included shredding newspapers, cutting outdated artwork or construction paper; or using wheat grass, real lawn grass, green t-shirts, or socks - all equally good ideas! And if you think are more inclined to purchase a paper filler, try to consider a more environmentally-friendly choice like natural raffia fiber.

"Healthy" Candy
And finally onto the subject of Candy! Some good ideas I came across were to use toys, crayons, or art supplies to replace candy, or to opt for organic candy to support earth-friendly, organic manufacturers. One great candy supplier is the Natural Candy Store that offers organic, vegan, gluten-free, and others types of candy.

Activities & Toys

While I am a bit biased on this one, I do think the Storyland Yoga DVD would be a great Easter basket filler! It will give kids (and the whole family) a fun Easter activity to enjoy, and will help burn off some of the kids' post-candy energy while they’re at it. I also came across some other great eco-friendly toys that are worth checking out.

Hey, I figure that if Michelle Obama can commit to an eco-friendly Easter, I think I can too. What small changes do you plan to make for Easter this year?