Creative Egg Alternatives Emerge Amid Rising Prices Ahead of Easter

LOS ANGELES, CA — As Easter approaches, families are seeking creative ways to preserve traditions while grappling with soaring egg prices. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, wholesale egg prices are about 60% higher than a year ago, although prices have recently begun to decline. With costs still high, parents are exploring alternatives to traditional egg dyeing.

“I just thought, ‘Who’s gonna wanna waste eggs on dyeing this year?'” said Jennifer Needham, the founder of the children’s party planning site The Party Teacher. She raised concerns about the financial burden egg dyeing poses for families. “You still want to have the tradition with your kids, but it’s just gotten too expensive.”

Social media is buzzing with alternatives as well. Rachel Anderson, who operates the account Created at Home, has garnered significant attention with her suggestion to dye marshmallows instead of eggs. “Since egg prices have gone up tremendously, I found a fun (and way cheaper) alternative!” she wrote in a post that received over 50,000 likes. Anderson detailed a simple method using a package of jumbo marshmallows and food coloring, asserting that dyeing marshmallows is even more enjoyable than traditional eggs.

Crafters are also turning to potatoes, according to the blog Rose Bakes. “Skip the expensive price of eggs this year and try dyed potatoes for Easter eggs instead!” the blog declared, emphasizing that small potatoes can resemble eggs and require no cooking. This method not only saves money but also adds a unique twist to holiday festivities.

Needham has experimented with alternatives like plastic and wooden eggs, which offer their own set of creative opportunities. “Craft egg kits are always an Easter favorite at Michaels,” said Melissa Mills, senior vice president and general merchandising manager at the craft store. “We’re seeing strong demand much earlier than usual, suggesting more customers are seeking creative egg alternatives this year.”

While plastic eggs are an inexpensive option, they usually do not hold dye well. However, they can be decorated with various materials, as Needham shared, stating, “I did decoupage with tissue paper and fabric scraps… it’s a fun way to engage creatively.”

Wooden eggs, on the other hand, are dye-friendly, especially those with a matte finish. Although they tend to be pricier, they offer the advantage of longevity, allowing families to create keepsake pieces. “If your child created a precious egg that you want to keep forever, you can do that with a wooden egg,” Needham explained.

Egg prices have been volatile over the past year, particularly due to factors like the avian flu outbreak, which has severely affected supply and driven up prices. David Anderson, an economist at Texas A&M University, noted that prices peaked around Easter as demand surged. “For the most part, egg prices have been going down,” he said. “However, the recent decline is due in part to decreased consumer demand amid lower laying hen numbers.”

With the Easter holiday traditionally viewed as a time for family gatherings and celebrations that often include decorated eggs and baked goods, many parents are now considering how to adapt. “The question is, are people going to put out more plastic eggs for the Easter egg hunt and maybe skip the deviled eggs this year because of high prices?” Anderson pondered. As holiday festivities approach, families are finding that creativity can indeed be the key to celebrating amid financial challenges.