Eggs Too Expensive to Dye This Easter? Think Outside of the Carton

OK, so is anyone else thinking ahead to Easter yet? With how expensive eggs are right now, are you making other plans for your egg-dying traditions? I have a few ideas for alternatives if you want to dye something a little cheaper. Why do we even dye hard-boiled eggs to begin with?

Why Do We Decorate Eggs For Easter?

Decorating eggs has been a tradition for centuries. Did you know that archeologists have found elaborate examples dating back as old as 5,000 years? We actually have Ukrainians to thank as their style of pysanky became part of the Christian celebration of Easter back in the 10th century. Using hot wax, designs are drawn onto eggs before they are dipped into various color dyes.

A symbol of spring and rebirth, eggs are easy to hide and fun to hunt! They also just so happen to be good snacks. Especially in deviled form!  But, let's be real, the bird flu is gonna continue to make it painful to buy eggs. I just checked my Kroger App and here in Owensboro a dozen large eggs (just regular, not organic or anything special) were listed for $5.49.

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Alternatives to Dying Easter Eggs

Egg prices tend to spike around Easter anyway because they're in higher demand, so what if you don't want to spend that much for your annual craft project? I have some ideas for alternatives to dye and decorate that you may find useful. Some of them could be pretty hilarious. You could even have family members bring different items and see which is best.

Here are some things you can dye instead of eggs:

• potatoes
• marshmallows
• onions

Just use your typical vinegar-based dye kit or whatever you prefer.

Another way to celebrate spring in a crafty way would be to paint paper mache eggs from places like Michael's, Target, or Hobby Lobby. I found a dozen dyeable Easter eggs for $1.98 on Walmart's website.

If you're looking for something to hide in the yard, some people make a tradition of painting rocks. They use them for the hunt and keep them as a collection in the garden. You could always really jazz things up and paint egg-shaped canvases or make cute cards to send to family and friends.

If you decide to suck it up and purchase the regular eggs to dye, you can still safely consume them as long as you refrigerate them after their makeover.