Alternatives to Candy in Plastic Easter Eggs: Money, Legos, Makeup and More Ideas

As a parent, I try to limit the amount of sugar that my kids consume. This is especially difficult around the holidays: Christmas, Valentine's Day, Easter and Halloween. I usually cave and let them have what they want from the candy stash during these times just because we have it in the house and they know it.

They receive a very large amount of candy for Easter from the grandparents and other relatives. They used to get candy from us in their Easter baskets, but now I give them minimal candy along with other items that I know they will enjoy: DVD, coloring book, markers, stickers, etc. I also like to fill the plastic Easter eggs with unusual and different items. I have found two different sizes of Easter eggs: the regular size or small and then a larger size that can fit an item about the size of a Hot Wheels car.

Here is a list of items that can be placed inside plastic Easter eggs that have nothing to do with candy! It is actually fun to go to the store and search for items that could fit inside of plastic Easter eggs. You will have your own little Easter Egg Hunt!

Plastic Easter Egg Item #1: Money - Coins are a perfect size and you can fit many inside of one egg. You can even fold up a paper bill for an even bigger surprise. What kid wouldn't love getting money?

Plastic Easter Egg Item #2: Stickers & Tattoos - You can find stickers that the kids will love and them cut them a part and place a few in each egg. Both of my kids love tattoos so this is always a favorite item to receive.

Plastic Easter Egg Item #3: Jewelry - All girls love jewelry! You can find just the right necklace or ring for an older girl and play jewelry for little princesses! What fun to open up an egg and a pretty jewel falls out.

Plastic Easter Egg Item #4: Hot Wheels Cars - These items are inexpensive and will fit into the larger size Easter eggs. Hot Wheels come in just about every car imaginable and can be purchased at Walmart, Target, KMart, you name it!

Plastic Easter Egg Item #5: Trading Cards - Baseball cards, Pokemon cards, any other trading cards that boys and girls collect would be a great Easter egg filler. They will only fit in the larger sized eggs though.

Plastic Easter Egg Item #6: Plastic Animals - Toddlers and preschool aged children love to play with animals, dinosaurs, insects, and snakes - I'm talking about the little plastic ones that you can buy in a package. Just open the package and fill the eggs with these little creatures.

Plastic Easter Egg Item #7: Legos - My son absolutely loves Legos! Why not purchase a Lego set, open it, and put the smaller Legos inside of plastic Easter Eggs? Then put a clue in one of the eggs showing him where to find the rest of the set with the larger pieces. Don't leave the girls out if they love Legos too.

Plastic Easter Egg Item #8: Make-Up - Whether it be real or play, make-up such as lip gloss and finger nail polish will make great Easter egg stuffers. There are so many brands available that make mini versions of these items. I've even purchased these for myself since they are so cute!

Plastic Easter Egg Item #9: Video Game - Depending on how much you spend on your kids at Easter, a video game for Nintendo DS, Nintendo Game Boy, or any other hand held gaming system will fit nicely inside of a larger plastic Easter Egg. This is definitely better than candy in any kid's book!

Plastic Easter Egg Item #10: Food Items (other than candy) - Yogurt covered raisins or peanuts, fruit snacks, colored fruited marshmallows, nuts, mini raisin boxes, and trail mix are some of the snack items that would be good for Easter eggs. Be sure to give them a Ziploc to pour it all into when they open the eggs.