68 Easter treats to give instead of sugar-filled candies

Ban the Easter bunny?

So I suggest that we just ban the Easter bunny! Of course, I'm joking, but let's tame this cute, candy-toting creature for the sake of our children's moods, health and waistlines.

Because, let's face it, eating a bunch of candies and soft drinks -- what most kids do -- could turn your mild-mannered kids into "Sugar Brats." In other words, they could become moody, spaced out, confrontational, depressed, quarrelsome, hyperactive, rowdy, raging and tantrum throwing.

And that's not all. Over time, that typical American child, who consumes a lot of candies, cookies, cakes, chips, soda and other fast-acting, refined culprit carbs could become obese or overweight -- and develop blood sugar problems such as hypoglycemia, insulin resistance or even type 2 diabetes.

Consider fun & healthy alternatives to candy

So this Easter -- the second biggest candy-eating holiday, falling just behind Halloween -- take positive action. Don't ply your kids with sweets to please them. Don't set in motion a sugar habit that could lead to hypoglycemia, insulin resistance or type 2 diabetes. Just ditch the marshmallow treats. Dump the jelly beans. Say no to those chocolate bunnies. Instead, give your kids Easter fun by having them hunt for small, fun, non-edible treats, many of which you can place inside colorful, plastic eggs.

Here are 68 non-edible ideas, most of them low priced, to usher in Easter joy.

1. Tiny Frisbees
2. Small slinkee
3. Small bottle of bubbles
4. Movie pass
5. Video rental coupon
6. Bunny-themed finger puppets
7. Jump rope
8. Kazoos
9. Whistles
10. Play Doh™
11. Silly puddy (or get some adorable, pastel-colored egg-shaped Easter puddy)
12. Baseball cards
13. Tiny, stuffed, squeaking chicks
14. Small stuffed bunnies
15. Action figures (Indians, cowboys or your kids' favorite characters)
16. Trading cards
17. Pedometer
18. Marbles
19. Balloons
20. Plastic rings
21. Plastic bracelets
22. Small notebooks
23. Lip gloss Sample perfume
24. Fun bookmarks
25. Crayons
26. Colored pencils
27. Chalk
28. Small tube of hand lotion
29. Magic markers
30. Colorful erasers
31. Dice
32. Squeeze balls or other balls
33. Toy cars or planes
34. Marbles
35. Game of jacks
36. A pack of cards
37. Card games
38. Hair scrunchies
39. Hair clips
40. Packet of flower or vegetable seeds
41. Decorative shoelaces
42. Small water pistols
43. Temporary tattoos
44. Yo-yo
45. Foreign coins
46. Stickers and Stencils
47. Novelty key chains
48. Fun-shaped magnets
49. Paperback books
50. Tiny gift books
51. Small bike lights
52. Friendship bracelets
53. Fun coupons. This is your chance to show some imagination and create special "gifts" or coupons for a trip to the zoo, movies or mall; a morning of sleeping in; a day of not having to clean the room; or a weekend night in which your child can come home an hour later than usual.
54. Mini Tape 4-pack (Scotch tape)
55. Toothbrush with a cartoon character on top (This is your chance to spoof the way Easter is now celebrated with candies that could rot your teeth!)
56. Small coloring book
57. Plastic snakes and other creatures
58. Collapsible cups
59. Puzzle
60. Bean bags
61. Glow-in-the-dark insects, balls, earrings
62. Bendable toys
63. Bath bubbles (small packet)
64. Plastic animals (dinosaurs, fish, etc.)
65. Fans
66. Play sunglasses
67. Floating bath toys

And No. 68? Choose healthy treats

If you still want to put a little food into your children's Easter baskets, you can select healthy treats such as:

• Baby carrots (After all, bunnies like to nibble on them.)
• Small apples
• Almonds
• Sunflower seeds
• Pumpkin seeds
• Soy nuts
• Raisins
• Colored hard-boiled eggs

Make it a gradual change

Parents, even if you're nervous about bumping those blood-sugar bouncing candies entirely from your kids' Easter baskets, then at least begin to introduce some non-edible alternatives this year. Then, you could phase out candies and bring on healthier, non-edible treats next year or the year afterwards.

Think about it: Don't you feel like a better parent -- one who's much more loving, caring and forward-thinking -- by arranging for a fun Easter time for your kids that won't trigger obesity and blood sugar problems such as hypoglycemia and type 2 diabetes?

I'm willing to bet that planning for Easter will be a lot more fun than usual.