Friday, April 18, 2014

What To Do If Your Child Doesn’t Like Easter Candy

Easter Candy Alternatives

Easter’s coming. And that means chocolate bunnies, candied eggs and an all around sugar high. That’s all fine and good. I mean, everything in moderation is my motto. But what if your child didn’t like Easter candy. Yes, you heard me correctly.

What if your Child doesn’t like Easter Candy?

For as far back as I can remember, I never liked candy, chocolate, pop or anything sweet. For my birthday, I’d have a slice of ice cream cake and that’s where my sweetness ended. Don’t hate me.

For the first few years, I’m sure my parents wondered. I mean, what child doesn’t like candy? But, it wasn’t much of an issue because candy rich holidays are few and well staggered; Easter and Halloween.

For Halloween, I would go out trick or treating in the hopes of collecting as much candy as possible. I remember returning home mid-evening to drop off my three pillowcases full of candy and head back out with three empty ones. My goal was to gather enough candy so that I could “pay” my brother to do my chores. My Halloween stash usually lasted me until Easter came around. Uncle Andrew never got any food poisoning from six month old candy… that they can blame me for.

When Easter came around, the same thing would happen. I’d find 93% of the eggs and then dole them out slowly until Halloween came along again. Repeat.

However, somewhere along the way my parents caught on to my antics felt sorry for me. They realized that I wasn’t enjoying the fruits of my labour. So they came up with a plan.

Give me treats instead of sweets.

I remember thinking that this was a brilliant idea. I mean, a girl can never have enough stuffed rabbits to play with. Unless of course when said girl goes to move out and 329 rabbits come with her. The great thing about their idea was that Uncle Andrew could care less because that meant he got two times the candy.

Looking back now, I realize that I was hypoglycemic from the very beginning*. Before I even knew that I was. My body just knew that sugar and I didn’t get along. Turns out that Max doesn’t like sweets at all either. He’ll eat the odd chocolate and ice cream cone but rarely. I can probably count the number of times on two hands. As for Artemis, lets just say that she likes candy. A lot.

If you know a child that doesn’t like candy, here are a few things that you can do to make Easter fun for them too:


  • Stuff the eggs with things that the child does enjoy like; nuts, cheese cubes, blueberries, raisins (watch out because they’re packed with natural sugar), yoghurt puffs, and of course MONEY! Check out this Easter Egg Hunt Craft and make your own eggs and bunny ears like we did!

  • Have the child exchange candies for toys such as stuffed animals, coloring books, puzzles, dollar items**,

  • Avoid the easter egg hunt altogether and do something as a family like making pancakes, doing a puzzle or watching a movie.

What Would You Do If Your Child Didn’t Like Easter Candy?

*I’m not saying that if your child doesn’t like candy that they are hypoglycemic. I’m just saying what I believe happened in our case.

** This might be so popular that all the kids want to participate.

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50 thoughts on “What To Do If Your Child Doesn’t Like Easter Candy”

  1. Soozle

    Huh! Not something I have come across with any kids I know – but very valid point… I like the idea of subbing in other treats like small toys in its place. You can buy those plastic easter eggs that can be filled any store these days – so perfect for that need 🙂

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      1. Soozle

        Special is not a bad thing 🙂 I would almost rather have a disdain to chocolate verses having those darn mini eggs calling me the second I open my eyes in the morning :))

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  2. Rene

    At 3.5 the hunt for eggs (even empty) is the main fun of the day anyways. I never want to overdo it with candy – books are always my go-to (and are always well received, and last a lot longer)!

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  3. Kayla @ TheEclecticElement

    Now see, I WISH I had an aversion to sugar. Unfortunately, I have a sugar addiction and the first step to recovery is admittance! LOL

    I don’t think not enjoying sugar is a bad thing by any means though; I would be so much better off if I steered clear of the stuff because it causes my body inflammation like no other o.O

    I love these tips!! People don’t realize that there ARE kids that don’t like sugar and having an alternative plan for them is definitely smart 🙂

    BTW, your childhood plan to dole out the sweets in exchange for chores….GENIUS!
    Kayla @ TheEclecticElement recently posted…2014 Gluten Free Allergen Free Expo: The Recap #GFAFExpoMy Profile

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    1. Sarah Post author

      Dear Kayla,

      I really feel for people that crave candy and can’t eat it. Sorry to hear that you love it but can’t really eat it.

      I have to admit, doing chores (after a 10 year hiatus) was a major adjustment.

      Besos, Sarah
      Sarah recently posted…Easter Egg Hunt Crafts for KidsMy Profile

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  5. Debbie S.

    My kids weren’t big fans of chocolate , but did like the some candy, not a lot though. The bunny still brought chocolate bunnies, which later got melted into chocolate fondue, which with fruit involved was much loved, and maybe some of that was because of the novelty of fondue. I guiltily write that it was mostly consumed by me, I have a huge compassion for chocolate! Sometimes a few small toys or movie and games were brought by the bunny, and and egg hunt and playing outside made Easter fun.
    Wishing you and your family a very Happy Easter!

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  8. Cheryl Grandy

    Growing up, the Easter Bunny was very generous and filled our baskets with candy, toys and books (I remember looking forward to Jack and Jill, and later, Teen, magazines). It was a good way to avoid having “tons” of candy. We’ve continued dong the same with our kids.

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  11. Peady

    I think it’s a great idea to shake it up anyway! Yup!

    We like chocolate and candy (in moderation), but always add a few items* that are not for bellies, anyway.

    This year the Easter Bunny brought bright sidewalk chalk, fedoras, jump ropes and sunglasses. All great not-at-all-sugary alternatives, plus they have the added bonus of instilling hope that the weather will warm up soon! 😀

    *There were also toothbrushes in the “baskets”. Yep. I’m that Mom and the EB knows how to make me happy!
    Peady recently posted…Happy Easter!My Profile

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  13. Brandi

    Great ideas Sarah! It’s so true that there actually ARE some children who aren’t as fond of treats, so having an alternative to place in their baskets, treat bags and eggs are a great alternative to sugared candies and chocolate. I actually thought about filling plastic eggs next year with pieces of Lego (from a small Lego kit), and when they collect all their eggs, all the Lego pieces that they collected will build something (like a small car). Have a great weekend Sarah! 🙂
    Brandi recently posted…Symptoms of Sleep Deprivation & How To Get A Good Night’s SleepMy Profile

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  14. Elva Roberts

    I have grandchildren who are not particularly fond of candy and the Hallowe’en stash was eaten by their Mother or given to others. I know that these rare children do exist. I love the idea of giving them other treats so they do not feel rather left out as they do not really enjoy the candy as other children do. Thank you for your tips.

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  17. HEIDI C.

    I gave my gang each an Easter bag with a few sweets but also colouring books, stickers, socks, etc. Just to keep the emphasis off of everything being about candy.

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  19. Amy Lovell

    Thanks, My daughter loves treats, but were trying to stay away from that, so I love these suggestions.

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  20. Debbie W

    Not liking candy is not a bad thing. When my daughter was little I used those plastic eggs and put raisin packs and money in them. She loved it.

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  21. Heidi c.

    My kids eat candy and chocolate but aren’t actually that big on them. They much prefer to receive little stuffies, art + craft supplies, books, small toys, etc as Easter treats.

    Reply ↓
  22. Wanda Tracey

    These are some really good ideas.We are a family of chocoholics so we don’t have this problem.The problem is we like sweets and treats too.I can however empathize with children that can’t eat chocolate though because my friend has a little one with diabetes and he can’t have either.I feel so bad for him.I hope you have a wonderful Easter!

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  26. Hazel JL

    I grew up in the tropical country of the Philippines and celebrating Easter was a different kind from the way it is celebrated here. It was more of religious back in the Philippines, so when my family moved here, we had a different celebration of Easter, my two boys loved the candies at first, they were very excited but the next Easter (and Halloween), they seemed to not like it anymore. I had to keep the candies in a bag and sent them back to the Philippines… hihihi… 🙂
    Hazel JL recently posted…Top Tips for Taking Your Infant Swimming for the First TimeMy Profile

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  27. PATTI SALINGER

    I know one Easter I gave my nieces and nephews Easter baskets with beach toys. We live in Florida, and it provided many fun days at the beach building sandcastles…

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  28. Fiona Whey

    My mom would make painted eggs and hide them for us with pieces of paper inside. My sisters and I would find them break them open and win the prizes listed on the eggs, like ballons, money, toys etc.

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  29. Laurie P

    I’ve only ever met one kid who didn’t like sweets….I used to think that was odd, but nowadays, I’m not big on them either. Play-doh and a couple other companies have items other than chocolate for easter and I love that. Books, puzzles, cars…..I try and use as much as I can before adding sweets. Kinder eggs are always great, the chocolate is minimal, and the surprise inside is usually a hit!

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  33. Wanda Tracey

    There are so many lovely things to buy besides all candy.There are even diabetic candies for children that can’t have sweets.Mine always got chocolate and new clothes.

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  34. Wanda Tracey

    I f your child doesn’t like or can’t have candy buy them a nice video movie or some little toy.Children always love so many other things that don’t have to cost a lot either.

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  36. Laurie P

    Now I wish my kid didn’t like chocolate. She had an obscene amount of it over the weekend (thanks grandma)…..and has learned to be sneaky about it. In the course of one phone call, she sat in the other room eating away. 7 eggs later she’s wondering why she can’t eat more.

    All that good work in avoiding most junk….sigh.

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  37. Susan Patterson

    My grandchildren got extra Easter eggs, so they unwrapped them and are going to use them in baking recipes! thank you!

    Reply ↓
  38. Robyn L

    good suggestions for the child who would rather have something other than candy. Or do a bit of both, candy/treats.

    Reply ↓

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