Sat. Nov 2nd, 2024
Occasional Digest - a story for you

EASTER is no longer about a simple chocolate egg.

Take a good look at supermarket shelves and you might find the odd unicorn, robot or monster-themed egg.

Lynsey Hope and her three kids put Easter eggs for children to the test11

Lynsey Hope and her three kids put Easter eggs for children to the testCredit: Gary Stone

You’ll want to make sure you buy an Easter egg that puts a smile on their face without breaking the bank.

We asked Lynsey Hope to try out some of the best eggs with her three children Jacob, nine, Olive, six, and Ivy, aged three.

Here they reveal their favourite…

Crayola Decorate Your Own Easter Egg

Crayola's egg offers colouring in activities too

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Crayola’s egg offers colouring in activities tooCredit: Gary Stone

If your child loves drawing and colouring in, what could be better than an egg they decorate themselves?

This comes with two tubes of coloured icing so kids can create whatever design they like on this milk chocolate egg.

It’s not the cheapest and the chocolate wasn’t my favourite, but the box looks appealing and there is no doubt this would make a lovely gift.

  • Taste: 6/10
  • Kids score: 9/10
  • Value: 8/10
  • Overall: 8/10

Thorntons Milk Chocolate Unicorn Egg

  • £3, asda.com
  • £1.99 per 100g
Kids will be drawn to the classic character

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Kids will be drawn to the classic characterCredit: Gary Stone
I’m a money saving pro – mums can get everything from Lego to Barbie free over Easter, you just need to check the day

Beautifully decorated with a white chocolate unicorn with a pink horn and hair, this is a must have for unicorn fans.

Ivy, three, picked this one out first.

The chocolate is rich and creamy and I was surprised at how good value it is at just £1.99 per 100g of chocolate.

  • Taste: 9/10
  • Kids score: 10/10
  • Value: 10/10
  • Overall rating: 10/10

Nomo Little Monsters Egg and Lolly

  • £3.50, nomochoc.com
  • £3.80 per 100g
Kids with alternative food needs can still enjoy a treat at Easter

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Kids with alternative food needs can still enjoy a treat at EasterCredit: Gary Stone

Not only is this egg vegan, it’s also free from dairy, gluten, eggs, nuts and palm oil so it ticks a lot of boxes if you have a child with any intolerance.

You do have to pay a bit more for it, but it tastes delicious and comes with a cute monster lolly.

When you open the box there are lots of activities on the inside, too. This was a real hit.

  • Taste: 7/10
  • Kids score: 7/10
  • Value: 8/10
  • Overall rating: 8/10

M&S The Chocbot

  • £6, ocado.com
  • £3.87 per 100g
M&S has gone beyond eggs with a root design

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M&S has gone beyond eggs with a root designCredit: Gary Stone

M&S have a lovely range of designs this year, none of which are quite eggs but all are incredibly appealing to kids especially Coco the Kitten and this adorable Chocbot.

The chocolate was rich and flavoursome and the packaging is 100% cent plastic-free, as an added bonus.

  • Taste: 9/10
  • Kids score: 8/10
  • Value: 7/10
  • Overall rating: 8/10

Lidl Mini Eggs Blast

  • £2.79, Lidl stores
  • £1.39 per 100g
Lidl's Easter egg is an  absolute steal

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Lidl’s Easter egg is an absolute stealCredit: Gary Stone

Hats off to Lidl for this brilliant looking egg.

Jacob and Olive both wanted this one to themselves as it looked so appealing with mini eggs crumbled into the white chocolate shell.

It tasted great and was an absolutely steal at just £2.79 and £1.39 per 100g of chocolate.

There was a fudge biscuit blast flavour too.

I’d stock up on these to keep them happy for the rest of the year. Such good value.

  • Taste: 10/10
  • Kids score: 10/10
  • Value: 10/10
  • Overall rating:10/10

Asda Charli the Belgian White Chocolate Chick

  • £4.50, asda.com
  • £3 per 100g
Cute and well priced was Lynsey's verdict on Asda

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Cute and well priced was Lynsey’s verdict on AsdaCredit: Gary Stone

Creamy and melt-in-the-mouth, Asda have done a great job with their Easter range this year.

This white chocolate chick is very sweet but a great option for little fans of white chocolate.

It’s cute and a good price, with plenty of chocolate for your money.

  • Taste: 7/10
  • Kids score: 7/10
  • Value: 8/10
  • Overall rating: 7/10

The best Easter eggs revealed

WE put a range of Easter eggs to the test:

Hotel Chocolat Big City Bunny

  • £9.95, hotelchocolat.com
  • £6.63 per 100g
Hotel Chocolat's bunny is on the expensive side but well-designed for kids11

Hotel Chocolat’s bunny is on the expensive side but well-designed for kidsCredit: Gary Stone

City Bunny from Hotel Chocolat was delicious. An ideal size and not too large so little ones, won’t over indulge.

He is very expensive though, which would put me off buying him again.

But this is a great option particularly if you have a child that prefers dark chocolate to milk.

  • Taste: 7/10
  • Kids score: 8/10
  • Value: 5/10
  • Overall rating: 6/10

Cadbury White Buttons Egg

  • £1.50, tesco.com
  • £1.53 per 100g 
Cadbury's classic egg is appealing in price and looks

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Cadbury’s classic egg is appealing in price and looksCredit: Gary Stone

There are no frills or whistles, but it’s a great tasting Cadbury egg.

Excluding Lidl’s egg, it’s the best price per 100g chocolate too and the penguin wrapping design was very appealing to all three of my kids (and me).

  • Taste: 10/10
  • Kids score: 7/10
  • Value: 8/10
  • Overall rating: 9/10

Milky Bar Egg and Buttons

  • £3, asda.com
  • £1.68 per 100g
Classic Milkybar failed to stand out against others

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Classic Milkybar failed to stand out against othersCredit: Gary Stone

Whilst delicious, this looked a little boring amongst the other kids’ eggs we tried.

It’s great value and if you’re child likes Milky Bar buttons then they’ll love it.

It’s good value and tastes as you’d expect, but it doesn’t stand out amongst the 2024 showstoppers.

  • Taste: 7/10
  • Kids score: 5/10
  • Value: 7/10
  • Overall rating: 6/10

Cocoba Sprinkles Milk Chocolate Drizzled Easter Egg

Kids will find Cocoba appealing but parents may find it pricey

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Kids will find Cocoba appealing but parents may find it priceyCredit: Gary Stone

This colourful Cocoba egg couldn’t be more appealing to a child.

It’s drizzed with multicoloured sprinkles and is the Easter egg of their dreams.

There’s a similar option covered in crunchy candy beans. The chocolate was melt-in-the-mouth delicious.

It is pricey at nearly £12 but beautiful if the Easter bunny is feeling generous this year.

  • Taste: 10/10
  • Kids score: 10/10
  • Value: 9/10
  • Overall rating: 9/10

THERE are plenty of ways to save on your grocery shop.

You can look out for yellow or red stickers on products, which show when they’ve been reduced.

If the food is fresh, you’ll have to eat it quickly or freeze it for another time.

Making a list should also save you money, as you’ll be less likely to make any rash purchases when you get to the supermarket.

Going own brand can be one easy way to save hundreds of pounds a year on your food bills too.

This means ditching “finest” or “luxury” products and instead going for “own” or value” type of lines.

Plenty of supermarkets run wonky veg and fruit schemes where you can get cheap prices if they’re misshapen or imperfect.

For example, Lidl runs its Waste Not scheme, offering boxes of 5kg of fruit and vegetables for just £1.50.

If you’re on a low income and a parent, you may be able to get up to £442 a year in Healthy Start vouchers to use at the supermarket too.

Plus, many councils offer supermarket vouchers as part of the Household Support Fund.

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