Is it just me, or do Hot Cross Buns and Easter Eggs start to hit the shelves earlier and earlier every single year??  I’m sure I saw Easter Bunnies on the shelves New Years Day.  Crazy!!

So which eggs are the best when you live an additive-free lifestyle?   We’ve been on the hunt, let us share our favs.

But first…

As with anything DIY is the best, that way you’ll know exactly what you’re eating…  #dontstressit though, we have store-bought options below.

Grab a big chunk of organic chocolate from the health food store and melt it down.  Super simple.

  

Pick up a cute little easter box from the $2 store, some pretty serviettes and you’re done.  I know that my kids are happy with a box full of DIY chocolates, a new set of PJ’s, a sticker book and a toy sitting at the end of their bed Easter Sunday morning.

Easter Bunny may also put in a block of Loving Earth, or Alter Ego Chocolate in the basket – or leave a trail of it along the floor with his footprints…

 

 

But, what if you don’t want to make your own? 

Ingredients to look out for:

160b –  This is a ‘natural’ additive, but one linked to all sorts of behavioural issues, headaches, headbanging and more.
150/caramel – This additive is also classed as ‘natural’ because it’s derived from cane sugar.  However, it’s heavily processed and anyone with allergies should avoid it as it’s not likely you’ll ever know what they put into it.
Vegetable oil/Palm oil – Heavily processed and inflammatory to the body.
Artificial colours – Linked to behavioural issues, learning difficulties, insomnia and asthmatics should avoid.
Flavours and/or Natural Flavours – Who knows what’s in these two ingredients.  Sometimes it’s a chemical cocktail to create that ‘flavour’, but then sometimes it could be a vanilla bean.  You just won’t know and if you contact the company to ask, they’ll probably tell you it’s a copyrighted ingredient.

Our favourite brands as of Feb 2022… (remember, ingredients do change so still always check!!)

Organic Times have pretty clean ingredients and use rapadura sugar as their sweetener.  They have a range of bunnies, eggs and a mix between white, milk and dark chocolate.

Loving Earth Boobook Chocolate Eggs are dairy-free and filled with a soft caramel centre.  Super clean ingredients but not great if you’re allergic to nuts as these do contain nuts.

Banjo The Carob Bunny have pretty clean ingredients.  The ‘natural vanilla flavour’ is questionable but geez, these are still far better than anything you’ll find in the supermarket.

Pana Organic are dairy-free, refined sugar-free and certified organic.  We love the Pana Organic range of products.

Moo Free are dairy-free and although probably not as many clean ingredients as the Loving Earth brand, they’re still pretty clean and contain no nuts.

Easter cookies by Gingerbread Folk.  Another option is these really yummy ginger cookies.  Mix up some additive-free icing and let the kids decorate them as a special Easter treat.

Make sure you look around for your local chocolatier to see what they have.  We all know how important it is to support local.

And it wouldn’t be an Easter blog without hot cross buns.  This is our recipe which you can find here.

So as you can see, you can have your chocolate and eat it too, but you can’t leave it until the last minute.

You’ll need to get in soon and order some online, or call your local organic store and see if they’re stocking any this year.

These might be a little more expensive than you’re used too, so give less.  Still spend the same amount of money, but lower the quantity of sugar.  Fill the basket with pencils, colouring-in books, craft or a puzzle.  Does it all need to be chocolate?

Trust me, it’s harder to deal with behavioural issues, tummy upsets and emotional meltdowns than it is to get a little prepared, and shop a little earlier.

But if your family do overindulge, run an Epsom salt bath, pop on all the calming essential oils and ride the wave until it’s out of everyone’s system.

Hoppy Easter!

Jo (& Tracey) x