What’s Happening: Easter Eggs

As we covered in our holiday survival article in November, food-centric festivities can be a serious Paleo challenge. Think of the Easter Bunny for a minute or two, and candy inevitably comes to mind. Candy hidden in baskets, nestled in mounds of plastic Easter grass, or even molded into the shape of miniature carrots and eggs (as if the shape would make it better for you!). Jelly beans, chocolate bunnies, and little marshmallow chicks are seasonal staples.

It’s tough to break the sugary tradition, but it’s not impossible. One way to celebrate a Paleo Easter is to create a special Easter menu, like this delicious spread from last year. We also just recently posted this egg and smoked salmon sandwich that incorporates three traditional Easter colors (pink, yellow, and green); it would make a beautiful centerpiece for an Easter brunch, and a great way to introduce friends or relatives to the idea of Paleo.

Of course, a major obstacle in avoiding sugar is kids’ activities, but even here there are plenty of options. Getting a little creative with eggs and carrots can be just as much fun as a candy feast, without the health consequences.

• Fill plastic eggs with small toys or other treats (homemade granola?) instead of candy.
• Experiment with these all-natural egg dye recipes for colorful fun that you can eat afterwards without worrying about the food colorings and preservatives.
• Try an egg race with your newly colorful eggs. Each contestant gets an egg to balance on a wooden spoon, and the goal is to make it all the way to the finish line without dropping the egg.
• Lay out a snack table with dyed eggs, some multicolored carrots (they come in yellow, white, and purple, too!) for the Easter bunny and a variety of colorful and exciting dips. This red pepper dip is a good place to start. Candy is appealing to kids because it’s bright and colorful, but there’s no reason why real food can’t look like that too!

As an Easter treat for the grownups in the audience, Bill and Hayley at The Primal Palate also have a special offer for Paleo holiday chefs: if you order their new cookbook now, you’ll get the Easter section right away, so you can use it to plan your holiday menu.

If you need a break from the approaching candy apocalypse, take a look at the exciting schedule for the 2013 Ancestral Health Symposium. Registration is now open to non-members, and it’s expected to sell out, so get your tickets fast if you want them (a better use for all that money you won’t be spending on Peeps this year). If you can make it, this is a great way to learn a lot about nutrition and health, and also meet some new Paleo friends.