My kids do get full Easter Baskets and Stockings though. They get fun stuff that they need. For Easter they get Crocs, which are their summer go to shoes. They live in them, and get excited about the fun colors. They also get gardening stuff, whether it's new tools, or seeds. This year they also got sunglasses. In their Christmas Stocking they get their favorite fruit at that time. They also get underwear and socks. Colin got Phineas and Ferb undies and Ainsley got Ballerina's. I guess they are still young enough to get excited about the characters. They also got character Band-Aids. All stuff that is needed for them, but that they could get excited about.
I'm not saying that my way is better by any means. It's better for our family because the less I have to battle with the children about eating the candy, the happier I am. When candy is in the house, the kids want it, and ask for it constantly. As soon as it's gone there is no mention of it at all, and they are back to just grabbing bananas, grapes and apples when they are hungry for a snack. It's a battle I don't like to have, so why tempt my self and them.
My guess is also that I spend about the same, if not less on my baskets, than if I put candy in them.
It's probably not for every family, but I think that if some looked at the price comparison they would consider changing. I grew up in a family that our Easter Baskets were full of candy. The whole bottom would be lined with jelly beans, which I didn't, and still don't like. Then there would be candy of all sorts, it was always a little disappointing to me, to not get something I could remember the holiday by.
My kids remember Easter all year long, they probably should remember for just the summer, but love their Crocs so much they want to wear them in the winter as well. They don't get to wear them outside, but they do just wear them around the house for fun sometimes.
