If you have family and friends with allergies, special diets or just not massive chocolate fans, finding an appropriate gift for the season can be difficult. So, shopping challenge accepted! I was delighted to discover some inspired options for healthy Easter eating and festivities.
I started thinking about the recipients of my gifts and I decided to add a little inspiration to make it much more fun, healthy and ethical too. Need I add that providing healthy eggs options to your Easter hunt will guarantee the kids won’t be bouncing off the walls on a sugar high?
Although I love traditional Easter classics, Easter gifts can also have some elegant additions to elevate and customise the gift-giving. I decided to make the gifts lighter on the sugar and add something personal to the gift. Some mini eggs with a bottle of champagne are still festive but a more ‘grown up’ gift for champagne lovers.
Low Sugar Inspiration
Whether your loved ones have a medical condition, are on a diet or just managing their sugar intake, Easter Eggs can be an issue. Some chocolate treats are more than 70 per cent sugar. Never fear, I headed to health shops and thoughtfully stocked stores where I found some great options to still deliver that festive feel without the sugar load.
- Carob Kitchen Mini Easter Eggs
Carob Kitchen’s all-natural carob products are 100 per cent Australian owned and grown, and free from added sugars, dairy, caffeine and preservatives. Carob is also a great source of dietary fibre and is rich in calcium, iron, and Vitamins A, B2, B3, B6 and D.
- Low sugar without all the chocolate
A delicious Easter need not be only about chocolate. Double D’s Aussie made Aussie owned lollies are low sugar, high fibre, natural ingredients and low calorie … so how do they make them taste so good? They have a range of delicious goodies perfect to give to those who are not chocoholics.
These sort of creative Easter lollies are a great addition to a gift like a stunning china teacup for the tea lovers in your life. Kmart has some gorgeous cups for a couple of dollars, perfect to pop some eggs, lollies, a gift or even Kmart Easter crackers $2 (filled with festive stickers – just the thing to minimise the chocolate frenzy). Wrap with some clear cellophane and a bow and voila!
Gluten-Free Gingerbread Bunnies
There’s something for everybunny with mini Bunny Folk… The cutest little snackable gluten free choc-gingerbread cookies -A gorgeous addition to Easter baskets and a fun treat for school.
Ethical Gifts
Why not vote with your dollars and support Aussie businesses that are going the extra mile to make great products without sacrificing the planet. Not only are the goodies delicious, they also have the great back-story on how Loving Earth is supporting national parks.
Loving Earth Boobook Eggs
Loving Earth makes certified organic, plant-based chocolate that is dairy-free, gluten-free, soy-free and cane sugar-free. The Australian company has direct trade and environmental standards, including compostable wrapping. Fifty per cent of the profits from Boobook Eggs – cashew ‘mylk’ eggs filled with a soft caramel centre – will be donated to the Great Forest National Park campaign.
So let your imagination run wild, think of what fun additions to your healthy and ethical Easter purchases will delight your friends and family.
Happy shopping and have a very happy, healthy and delicious Easter.
Jo Munro
Joseph Vargetto’s Easter Pignolata
