There are few issues I really like more than a basket full of colourful Easter eggs. Easter is important in our family and one of our favourite instances of the 12 months. However, I typically discover myself irritated with the over-commercialization. I additionally get peeved when Easter will get become an excuse to let youngsters (and ourselves) over-indulge in treats stuffed with sugars, food dyes, and synthetic substances.
I’m glad to let the children get pleasure from some treats for a special day. I’m opting, although, to maintain some of our favourite traditions with healthy and natural twists.
Let me clarify why!
“Naturally Dyed Easter Eggs… Too Extreme?
I’ll admit I don’t actually perceive the Easter custom of a bunny (they don’t lay eggs) delivering plastic candy-filled eggs and baskets. I believe giving our children heaps of junk food at Easter (and other holidays) units a precedent that associates celebrations with unhealthy meals. To me, there are higher methods to develop good food habits for a lifetime.
This could sound excessive to some. Certainly, there’s nothing incorrect with an occasional indulgence in a food that’s much less than healthy. But I believe most involved mother and father would agree that children today are getting these indulgences a little too typically. From the birthdays of each child of their class at college to Valentine’s Day, Halloween, Easter, and so on., there are more than enough alternatives for youths to get the message that enjoyable and celebration = unhealthy tasty candy meals.
(Perhaps that’s simply a pet peeve of mine, although?!)
But let me get off my soapbox… on to Easter eggs!
How to Dye Easter Eggs Without Synthetic Colors
Eggs are one of our favourite meals, so I actually don’t have any issues with the eggs themselves. As you could guess, it’s the plastic, candy-filled versions I take difficulty with.)
It seems that the harmless-looking coloration tablets used to dye Easter eggs include dangerous dyes that may have a dangerous impact on some youngsters. Even simply this 12 months the FDA banned sure purple food dyes, but artificial colours are nonetheless allowed in food. True, we don’t eat the shells, however eggshells are permeable. Some youngsters are so delicate to the effects of artificial food dyes, that I believed it was price exploring more natural dyes.
There are a number of methods to make use of natural substances for coloring eggs. There are even dye kits made with natural colours from food now that come in numerous shades!
Option 1: Store-bought Natural Egg Dye
To dye Easter eggs naturally the simple method, use a secure, natural food coloring. Mix in accordance with the next ratios and soak your eggs within the dye tub till they’re the specified coloration. Or purchase premade natural dye tablets here and observe the bundle directions.
Option 2: Natural Egg Dye from Fruits and Veggies
If you don’t have natural food coloring round (we frequently don’t), you may also use fruits, veggies, and herbs to perform the identical factor. We tried this a few years in the past and can be doing it again this 12 months.
Below are the meals that may be added to boiling water whereas cooking eggs to make numerous colours. You may also juice or boil the substances, cool to room temperature, add vinegar, and use it as natural Easter egg dye.
- Blue Coloring: Add a cup of purple cabbage to the water when boiling the eggs.
- Purple – Add a cup of blueberries to the water. This could make a very deep, purple hue!
- Brown Coloring – Onion skins make a good, golden brown coloration. Spinach leaves create a yellowish brown.
- Green Coloring: Add a Tablespoon of spirulina to the boiling water. You may also juice greens, combine the juice with vinegar, and use it as a cool dye as soon as the eggs are cooked.
- Red/Pink Coloring: Pomegranate or beet juice is added to the boiling water. You may also put a couple of tablespoons of vinegar in pomegranate or beet juice and apply it to pre-cooked eggs as a cool dye.
- Purple Coloring: Add grape juice to boiling water or soak pre-cooked eggs in grape juice/vinegar combine. This makes for a speckled purple egg.
- Yellow/Orange Coloring: Add a few teaspoons of turmeric or saffron to the boiling water, or boil these spices in water, cool, and blend with vinegar for a cool dye.
Some notes: These natural variations make pastel-colored eggs which I believe are more lovely than the neon eggs created with synthetic colours. Just a warning, although, you gained’t be getting any florescent shades with these strategies!
DIY Natural Egg Dye Tutorial
These superbly coloured Easter eggs characteristic natural hues. A enjoyable project to do with the children!
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For every coloration you’ll need 1-2 cups of plant materials for each 2 cups of water. Use 2 cups for a more vibrant coloration. Since the turmeric is a dried powder you’ll solely need 1/4 cup of this to make yellow turmeric dye.
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Add 1-2 cups of one fruit or veggie of option to the pot together with 2 cups of water and convey to a boil. Reduce warmth and simmer for 20-Half-hour with the lid on. You can add the uncooked eggs and vinegar to the water and fruit/veg because it simmers, however cut back the simmer time to fifteen minutes or they’ll be exhausting and overcooked.
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Allow the liquid to chill to room temperature, then pressure out the fruit/veg and compost. Squeeze the plants to extract as a lot coloration as doable. If you’re boiling the eggs with the dye liquid, then merely take away the eggs from the liquid as soon as it’s cooled and so they’re carried out.
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Place undyed, hardboiled eggs into the natural dye liquid and add 2 TBSP vinegar. Let them soak for a number of hours or in a single day within the fridge.
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For a stronger dye impact, dry the eggs off after a few hours with a paper towel or cloth towel/clean previous shirt you don’t thoughts getting stains on, then put them back within the dye for a number of more hours.
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Remove the eggs from the liquid as soon as they’re dyed and pat dry. Rub the shell with a little oil to make them shiny if desired.
- You can dye brown eggs, however the colours can be barely completely different and a little more muted than white eggs.
- Making the dye first, then soaking hardboiled eggs within the water makes the colours more vibrant than boiling the eggs within the water.
- Before dying you should use a white crayon to make designs on the egg. The patterns will show up as soon as it’s dyed!
Strategies for Easter Egg Hunts
I’ve by no means been a enormous fan of Easter egg hunts and would forgo them utterly, however the youngsters actually stay up for them. Unfortunately, they normally lead to a giant bag of sweet that in some way disappears when my youngsters are sleeping (possibly the Easter Bunny stole it!)
In the previous, I’ve additionally hidden hard-boiled eggs for them to search out (the canines discovered those they missed!). Or we simply have a household day outdoors that entails a lot of different actions. Last 12 months, we did a treasure hunt with clues that led to a higher prize (seeds for them to plant of their own little corners of the garden).
Healthy Candy-free Easter Basket Ideas
I don’t have any downside with Easter being a time of festivity and small presents. As I discussed earlier than (in all probability an excessive amount of!), it’s the plastic, candy-filled elements of this celebration I take difficulty with. That being mentioned, I really like baskets and retailer the whole lot in them, so my youngsters get a (reusable) basket every year stuffed with (non-sugary) goodies.
Here are some concepts we’ve tried over time which have been a hit!
Grow Your Own Grass
Grow grass with wheat, alfalfa, or clover seeds in a small dish that may match within the backside of your basket. Use this as an alternative of the plastic Easter grass that you just discover below the sofa in September. Kids love the novelty of rising grass indoors. As a bonus, grass is meant to be great at cleansing indoor air. You may even plant it outdoors with the children after Easter. If you aren’t up for rising your own grass, shred paper in a shredder and use it as an alternative. Recyclable when carried out!
Instead of a Basket, Give Your Child a Flower Pot
In the pot, put a small pair of gloves, a pack of heirloom seeds, and a small shovel, and let your youngster grow their own container garden. There are even pre-made totes for this. Herbs are one simple option, and children can use them in the kitchen! This is assured to supply enjoyable longer than plastic toys and pixie sticks.
Check Out Thrift Stores
We’re on a price range, and doing Easter baskets for every child sure provides up! Check out native thrift shops for some enjoyable presents for Easter baskets. For occasion, for one 12 months, every of the children obtained a film, a guide, and a few sneakers, and I spent much less than $10 in complete.
Adopt a Family Pet
If you’re courageous, take into account a small pet. This reinforces the “new life” focus of Easter and can be a lot more thrilling than sweet and toys. Just be humane! Only undertake a pet in the event you plan to maintain it and look after it, as many child chickens, geese, and rabbits are deserted after Easter.
Give Healthy Foods Instead of Junk
If your youngsters are wanting ahead to edible treats, substitute some treats with ones which are healthy and enjoyable. Consider beef jerky, fruit, nuts, or homemade energy bars. Really courageous? Make some home made “peeps” with my probiotic marshmallow recipe.
Check out this post for another Easter basket ideas! Happy Easter!
What are your favourite methods to dye your Easter eggs? When it involves sweet, do you follow healthy variations of the same old treats or simply let the children benefit from the unhealthy variations for a day? I’d love to listen to your suggestions and tips beneath!