Skip the Candy: Try These Creative Ways to Fill Easter Eggs Instead

Easter is right around the corner, meaning plastic eggs take center stage. Whether you're hiding them or filling a basket, they're a must for Easter Sunday. Candy is the traditional prize for finding one of these eggs, but are there healthier options? We've created a list of everything egg-sized that brings just as much joy – if not more – without the risk of a cavity.

Temporary Tattoos or Stickers

Plastic eggs are the perfect size for temporary tattoos. These are also an incredibly affordable option and are often cheaper than candy. You can buy them in bulk, cut the tattoos to fit each egg, and even cut larger designs into smaller ones. These temporary tattoos by FreaulineElvira are less than $10 and feature hand-drawn animal designs. They're perfect for little wildlife lovers, and kids will love searching for their favorite animal!

Stickers are a great alternative to temporary tattoos. You can find them in various designs, colors, and themes, but these stickers by ShopEmilyM are too cute to pass up. They're on-trend and perfect for decorating notebooks or water bottles, featuring designs like tacos, avocados, succulents, ramen, and corgis. You can get seven stickers for $10, with other sticker packs varying in price.

Seeds For Spring

Gardening is a great activity for kids. Seed packets are great egg-stuffers, with Easter conveniently falling just a few weeks short of the gardening season. You can get creative with this and put a few seeds into a small bag, tie it with a fun ribbon, and label the bags. Or you can add the seed packet and a customized garden sign so kids know what they're planting. Either way, it's a fun surprise when kids open their eggs, giving them something to look forward to!

If you want to take this a step further, you can even buy seed paper like this one from SeedandPaper. This way, all kids need to do is plant the paper in the ground and watch their seedlings grow! This paper is cut to fit an Easter egg perfectly, taking the extra work out of filling the eggs. These come in six-packs for $4.75, making them another affordable and healthy alternative to candy.

Miniature Toy Figurines

Everything is now available in miniature sizes, including toys and figurines. You can find anything from Disney characters to professional athletes and even cars. Tiny LEGO figurines like these from HarperColoringCorner are the perfect size for Easter eggs. This is a pricier option but one that kids will absolutely adore. They'll love hunting for their favorite figurines and can trade with their friends, leveling up Easter Sunday to make it one big game!

These figurines start at $3, making them a great option for smaller groups of kids or one family. If your kids are fans of LEGOs and already have some sets, this is sure to be a hit. For toddler-aged children, consider swapping out figurines for large blocks like Duplo. They can build something with all the scavenged pieces when all the eggs have been found! Mini animals such as these from theartifactworkshop are another cute option if your kids have a favorite. These start at just over $3 but offer the option of customized Easter eggs.

Easter Art Supplies

If you have creative little ones, art supplies are another wonderful alternative to candy. Regular crayons won't fit inside an egg, but these Easter-themed crayons by heidikuz will! These adorable crayons come in different shapes, including bunnies, baskets, carrots, and eggs. They fit perfectly in a plastic egg and come in mixed colors, so no two are the same. These are $12 for 20, a great deal compared to several bags of candy.

Silly Putty, Play-Doh, and tiny plastic watercolor paints are additional options for an art-themed egg hunt. Kids will be thrilled to play with their findings after the hunt and continue using their prizes long after Easter ends. If you make Easter craft baskets, you can add brushes, coloring books, or anything else that wouldn't fit in an egg to complete the experience!

Fun Accessories

Accessories are another fun egg-sized item for Easter egg hunts. Small nail polishes such as these by HANDSOMEkiddo fit perfectly. They're also non-toxic and water-based, making them entirely kid-friendly. Each of these units includes your choice of two colors for just under $6, making them another great choice for family egg hunts.

If you're not keen on nail polish, hair accessories such as berets, clips, and scrunchies are customizable and easily fit into an egg. You can even get Easter-themed hair accessories, like these hair clips from MamaBunnyBows. They're a fun way to celebrate Easter while gifting your kids with accessories they'll use all year round!

Cute Collectables

Nothing brings more joy to a child than having something to play with on Easter morning. Bouncy balls are somewhat traditional but still tons of fun for kids. They're small enough to fit several into one egg and are a great way to keep kids active during the holiday.

In keeping with the theme of round objects, marbles are another fun game to fit inside one or several plastic eggs. It's easy to make a game of this by placing marbles in some eggs and Jacks in others. When all the eggs are collected, your kids will have enough pieces to play a game of Marbles and Jacks.

For slightly older kids, adding crystals or polished stones is a fun way to add to any collection. Most crystals and polished stones are already small enough to fit into Easter eggs. However, you can also find fun, egg-shaped crystals to stay in theme with the holiday. These quartz eggs from HandBeadsjewelry are a great option, but many are out there at similar prices.

Healthy Snacks

Just because candy isn't an option doesn't mean eliminating food as a prize. Healthier options include Goldfish, pretzels, and all-natural fruit snacks. A handful of these fit perfectly inside a plastic egg and are also a great way to hold kids over until dinner! If you want to get even more creative, you can make flavored popcorn or healthy chips, like apple or zucchini chips. (Just remember to limit the popcorn to children four and over!)

If you're still looking for something sweet to fill eggs with, consider making homemade candy. Instead of Reese's eggs, you can use all-natural peanut butter and dark or semi-sweet chocolate for a lower-sugar option. You can even make fruit bars or cookies with honey or agave instead of cane sugar to keep things healthy. Checking the health food section at stores such as Trader Joe's is also a good way to find candy alternatives!

The image featured at the top of this post is ©Africa Studio/Shutterstock.com.