A trip down the colourful foil-filled aisles of the supermarket is all we need to remind ourselves that Easter is now upon us. But with all these delicious offerings at our fingertips, how can we pick the eggs and hot-cross buns that will satisfy our taste buds and our values, without the hassle? We’ve brought together the advice from a handful of good eggs – you’ll be pleased to know there’s many options for a ‘better choice’ Easter at your local store.
Fairtrade tastes fabulous
According to the Fairtrade Foundation: “Life is tough for cocoa farmers. The price of cocoa beans has slumped in recent years despite high demand. Disease and age are damaging cocoa trees and few young people are becoming cocoa farmers because of the poor prospects. Fairtrade helps to make cocoa farming in places like Ivory Coast and Ghana more sustainable by guaranteeing minimum prices and providing a premium to invest in local communities, so farmers can provide a better future for themselves and their families.”
When you buy fair trade chocolate, you’re making a positive difference in the lives of cocoa farmers and their families. Fairtrade Australia have compiled a shopping list of certified fair trade eggs. You can check it out here.
Other important certifications to look out for in Australia are the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO), Rainforest Alliance and UTZ Certified.
Does the Easter Bunny have to think about food allergies when delivering eggs to your place?
KidSpot Kitchen have some great Easter recipes to help keep you and your kids safe this Easter. Choose from such goodies as Iced Bunny Biscuits and Easter Bunny Tails!
Dairy-free Easter eggs. That’s not possible, right?
Wrong! In a pinch, pick an egg that’s at least 70% cocoa. Most 70% cocoa chocolate is dairy-free (but make sure you check the ingredients on the back of your egg). Or let Animals Australia pick an egg for you, with this dairy-free Easter guide. Peta also has a list of delicious vegan Easter chocolate for you to hunt down. You can even make your own!
Make sure your chocolate is palm oil free or uses sustainable palm oil!
Most of us know that palm oil is bad news for people, the planet, and especially animals. One of the simplest thing you can do to minimise harm this Easter is to choose chocolate products that either use 100% Certified Sustainable Palm Oil (CSPO) or that are palm oil free. Brands which use unsustainable palm oil are causing damage to otherwise pristine environments in South East Asia.
Here’s a great list of palm oil free and CSPO chocolate.
Find out which egg is right for you
Shop Ethical ranks chocolate brands and you can personalise the ratings by indicating which ethical issues are of most concern to you. It’s a great way to find a chocolate egg that really reflect your values.
And if your Easter chocolate need not be spherical …
Let’s face it – you get more bang for your buck with a block of chocolate. If you’re feeling a bit creative, why not use blocks of chocolate to make your own ethical Easter egg cake?! Or use them to whip up some vegan hot cross buns. Or, if you’re really into the idea, try Jamie Oliver’s non-cook chocolate, pecan and meringue cake for your Easter morning tea.
What to do with the shiny wrappers after all the chocolate is gone?
Unless you’re a really lucky bunny, the foil wrappers from Easter Eggs are usually too small and light to make it through the kerbside recycling process. To get around this, Planet Ark recommend bunching them all into a ball so they’ll have another life.
However, if you’ve got kids at home or visiting you over the holidays, washed and dried wrappers make a great material for craft sessions, which will keep their eyes off your stash!
Happy Easter!
