This post is in partnership with GIANT Food Stores. The opinions in this post are 100% mine. You can read my full disclosure policy here.
Spring is FINALLY here and Easter is just around the corner, April 16. I feel like we’re still getting through the Valentine’s Day candy and boom, Easter candy. Don’t get me wrong, I love me a Cadbury egg, but as the weather warms up, I’m thinking more about STOPPING the junk food train for both me and my kids.
I’ve partnered with GIANT Food Stores to share some tips and ideas on how to build a better Easter basket this year. And I have to tell you, I had SO much fun doing this and was so excited about the items I found to tuck inside my basket. So much so that the Easter Bunny might just be bringing me a basket this year, too!
Finding Easter Goodies in GIANT Food Stores
You’ll find all the traditional Easter candies at GIANT. Cadbury Creme Eggs and PEEPS are sort of a must for us. But that’s where we I stopped in that aisle. Let me show you the best places in the store to look for some creative goodies your kids will love!
If you don’t already have an Easter basket, you can find these near all that traditional Easter candy I mentioned above. The thing I like about some of these is that even when Easter is over, I think they could serve as a bin for toys. Double duty!
I started my Easter basket shopping in the natural foods aisles. There are some really tasty and unique goodies in this section! My kids LOVE these Vermont meat sticks.
You’ll also find candy here, but what I like is that instead of an entire bag of chocolate, you can grab one bar or one stick. It’s a treat without going overboard.
A ‘filler’ item is a good idea to build the basket around. My kids love the dried green beans so I used that, but trail mix is another great choice. We love the Nature’s Promise products at Giant. There’s tons of variety and it’s just food I feel better about giving my kids.
Grab a couple of bars to fill in the gaps. My kids like fruit bars, so I got a box of the Nature’s Promise fruit twists. Granola bars are a great option, too.
If you’ve got more than one basket to fill, a box of goodies might be more economical. You can open it and throw a couple in each basket. The Annie’s Really Peelys are yummy!
Finally, consider some non-food items. My daughter is at the age where she loves bath and body products. Etos brand is my go-to at GIANT, and you can find some really neat products in the natural products aisle, too. Toothbrushes, hair bowls, even fun Band-Aids are all unique ideas.
I threw in some sidewalk chalk because who doesn’t like that in the summertime? Check the seasonal items for a couple of toys to include.
And if the kids love their stuffed animals, you can likely find that at GIANT too! How cute are these bunnies?
Build a Better Easter Basket
Now it’s time to put it all together. This is the fun part, like an craft project for Mom!
I’m sure I don’t need to tell you how to put together an Easter basket. I literally dumped all my goodies out onto the kitchen table, stuck the larger items in first, and tucked the little things in around it. Done!
I put this basket together specifically for this blog post, but the kids were HOVERING the entire time. “Can we eat the basket yet?” They were thrilled with everything inside and I just felt so much better about handing it over!
This year, you can totally build a better Easter basket! It’s honestly so much fun to shop for these goodies and the kids reacted WAY more excitedly than they do when they see the usual chocolate bunny. A win all the way around!
(Also, you need these Justin’s Peanut Butter Cups. That’s kind of an aside but kind of me doing you a favor if you’ve never tried them. You’re welcome.)
Get some ideas for your Easter celebrations this year by following GIANT Food Stores’ Facebook and Twitter pages!
The Giveaway
The generous folks at GIANT Food Stores are offering my readers a chance to win a $25 GIANT gift card so you can get creative this year with your kids’ Easter baskets, too! This giveaway is open to US residents (please make sure you are in proximity to a GIANT so you can use the prize!) ages 18+ and will end at 11:59pm ET on March 30, 2017.
Melissa T says
I would add a few fresh flowers from the floral Deptford to add as decoration to the basket.
ann says
Annie’s organic really peely snacks & Natures Promise peanut butter trail mix are two of the favorites
Ashley says
I would get a cute little stuffed animal
Jessica Naca says
I would love to put the Justins Peanut Butter cups in my girls baskets! So many great ideas you have! I love the Odwalla and larabar options versus a candy!
Sharon Rooney says
My Giant always has some cute seasonal cookies and cakes that I always add to their Easter baskets.
Lori says
My favorite thing about Giant is their organic section. One of the best around. they have such a huge variety and I can do most of my shopping in just those isles. My kids love the meat sticks as well.
jeremy mclaughlin says
Would put a stuffed animal in the basket.
Kelly D says
My son loves the Justin’s almond butter snacks. It is a special treat for him, so he would love that in his basket.
elizabeth miller says
My daughter absolutely loved the Vermont Slim Jims. I have never seen them anywhere else that I occassionally shop. They ar a must have special for her and go great in an Easter Basket.
Kris I. says
I would love to put some peanut butter cups and a stuffed animal in my daughter’s easter basket.
Jessica To says
My Giant has iced Easter cookies that I would put in my son’s basket.
Chrissy says
My daughter loves the Giant brand of yogurt and would be thrilled if I put that in her Easter basket! Pretty sure she’d live on yogurt if she could. Now can we talk about an Easter basket for me please? Because Giant is THE ONLY store around me that carries Caribou Iced Mochas and seriously I spend so much money on those a week my husband has asked why our grocery bill has gone up! Must. Cut. Back!
Steve Weber says
Energy drinks and limited edition movie candies!
Gina M says
My son would love Jelly Belly jelly beans – his fave!
Thanks for the chance to win!
wildorchid985 at gmail dot com
Dan Dykstra says
My kids love chocolate so I’d buy the Limited Time Only – Twisted Chocolate Candy Bar.
Jennifer says
For us, it would definitely be the KIND bars. Baseball season is rapidly approaching, and they are perfect for a before-game snack!
Elle says
I could add organic animal crackers and Easter designed cookies.
Edye says
I love their big stuffed animal collection!
Nannypanpan says
They have a Mickey Mouse dried apple product that my girls love and I can’t find them elsewhere
BusyWorkingMama says
My daughter would LOVE to find stuffies in her Easter basket! Cute assortment you featured!
Angela Saver says
I can always stock up on Kind Cranberry Almond bars for our kids Easter baskets at Giant! They love those!
Catherine R says
My kids would love fresh strawberries, even though that’s not the most practical. Any fresh fruit would work.
KENNETH OHL says
my little niece loves stuffed animals so I would say that
Mike says
I really liked the site posts and also the tips congratulations because your site has gained another reader.
Sarah Hall says
My grandson loves blueberries so I could put a container of them and he would be thrilled.
Kathy says
I love the idea of adding some fresh flowers for my daughter too! I’d also look at the book section!
amber cheras says
Giant has chocolate covered fruit that my family would love!
laurie murley says
I think I would find some cookies for my kids to eat
Jennifer H. says
My daughter loves fruit and granola bars.
Mary Ryan says
I like,to do a combination of candy, snacks, maybe some beauty products, then a gift card. My daughters are 21 and 23. Never too old for Easter baskets! Everything I need I can get at Giant.
Fiona N says
I would love to win this awesome gift card for my sister. I think she would buy some organic drink or cookies for her students
Thank You