The Green Parent

Easter is just around the corner and store shelves are overflowing with plastic trinkets, sugar laden bounty, and nasty chemicals dyes to help put you in the festive spirit. If you’re looking for something a bit greener this year, celebrate an Eco-Friendly Easter with these easy ideas:

A Greener Easter Basket

• Reuse It: Don’t waste money on a new basket every year; use a reusable basket, tote bag, or gift box instead.
• Roll Some Grass: For the basket, that is! Shred scratch paper or old magazines to use as “grass” in your basket in place of the plastic variety. After the holiday, reuse the grass again for packing material or compost.
• Make It Sweet: Like many holidays, Easter has somehow become all about the candy. And while some candy is a good thing (think fair trade chocolate and organic lollipops) there is also room for “sweeter” gifts like stickers, crayons, chalk, books, and art supplies.

Eco-Easter Eggs

• Go Local: Buy eggs at your local farmer’s market, or purchase organic eggs from the store.
• Use It All: No need to waste the eggs just to dye the shell. Poke a small hole in both side of an egg with a needle and blow the egg out into a bowl. Use it right then and there in your favorite recipe or store in the fridge or freezer to use another day.
• DIY Your DYE: Use natural ingredients to dye your eggs instead of those garish store bought varieties. Simply boil the ingredient in some water, allow to cool, and pour into cups for dipping. Add a little oil for a marbled effect. Here’s a guide to the colors in your kitchen:

Yellow: Onion skins, turmeric, lemon peels, saffron

Red: Beets, cranberries, paprika, raspberries

Purple: Red wine

Green: Spinach

Blue: Blueberries, red cabbage

Brown: Coffee, tea