Create an Easter basket high on fun and low on sugar -- great activities too!

Easter is just a few days away, and I'm encouraging you to encourage your Easter bunny to consider each child's health while creating a basket. Baskets are a blast and so much fun. They don't have to be filled with sugar, fat, and junk like traditional baskets of the past though.

My kids have never even heard of a Peep and they've always been thrilled with Easter. We fill their baskets with tons of fun, and usually just one small hollow chocolate bunny. They love it and your kids will too. Here are some ideas for both healthy theme baskets and Easter morning fun. Have fun with it, and enjoy the fact that you're putting personal effort into their day. Don't cower to the advertisers pressure to shove junk into the little ones you love the most. Have a day that's exciting, fun, and happy in every way.

Choose a theme such as:

Sports: Balls, mini bats, shin guards, a sports team t-shirt or hat, new sneakers, jump rope, Sports Illustrated for Kids, water bottles, whistle, cones, sweat bands, sports watch, game tickets

Arts & Crafts: Paint, pencil, crayons, brushes, stamps, glue, pom-poms, googly eyes, construction paper, kid scissors, glitter, coloring books, paper bags for puppets

Beach fun: swimsuit, colorful kid sun-block, visor, shovel, pail, mini umbrella, summer Barbie, books, a personalized voucher for a trip to the beach, water park or pool, slip and slide, make a kiddie pool the basket, water bottles

Their favorite cartoon: Shirts, dolls, coloring books & crayons, cups, dishes, utensils, DVD, music, bath toy, sports toy, a pinata, all featuring their favorite characters

Music: MP3 player, CDs, music specialty magazine, concert tickets

Princess:Tiara, wand, dress-up clothes, nail polish, fake jewelery, princess stickers, books, CDs, DVDs, doll, clear lip gloss, barrettes, coloring books

Baby: Rattles, teethers, sleepers, stuffed animals, blankets, board books,

Easter Morning Activities:

Fill plastic eggs with: goldfish, yogurt raisins, tiny toys, stickers, stamps, temporary tattoos, mini bubble bottles, necklaces, rings, bracelets.

Hide the eggs, and have your child hop like the Easter bunny to find them.

Pinata: Fill with the same cool treats you put in the plastic eggs. Granola bars and sunglasses will work too!

Easter dance party: Hop, Hop, Hop!

Die eggs.

Go with a theme or don't. It's up to you. Just shop around or create something neat at home. My kids are still loving every minute of the crazy little 'pooping chicken' toy that releases goldfish as it walks around. It originally came with M & M's, but I replaced the candy with something good and they love it nonetheless. I wish you a happy and healthy Easter!