Photo illustration by Mike Salsbury/The Olympian
While marshmallow bunnies provide variety, nothing quite replaces the taste of chocolate in the form of an Easter bunny.

Familiar favorites

Kids rank chocolate, jelly beans and Peeps among their favorite Easter treats

SARAH JACKSON THE OLYMPIAN

LACEY -- So Easter's just days away.

Do you know what your children want in the way of candy?

The number of choices at stores can be daunting -- from the Cadbury Cream Eggs (regular and miniature) to the oh-so-marshmallowy Peeps (available in four colors and two species) to the classic chocolate bunny (hollow or solid).

If you're in a proverbial pre-Easter pickle, we've got good news.

We found a cadre of kids at Mountain View Elementary School in Lacey who were more than willing to ponder the topic of Easter sweets.

Ultimately, of course, you have to know your kids.

But, generally speaking, you'll win kudos with varieties of chocolate (of course), peanut butter, jelly beans and the ever-popular Peeps.

That's according to the kids at Mountain View's Y-Care -- a before- and after-school program at many area schools -- supervised by site director Carolyn Mullins and group leader Brandi Cummins.

Leah Carlson, a 10-year-old fourth-grader at Mountain View, said blue and yellow Peeps -- marshmallow shapes of rabbits and baby chicks, coated in colored sugar -- are her favorites, along with M&M candies served inside plastic eggs on Easter Sunday.

"They're cute," Leah said of Peeps. "I like marshmallows. I like sugar a lot."

Every Easter Sunday Leah finds an almost-empty Easter basket outside her door right away in the morning.

There's usually one piece of candy and a note that says something like, "Go to the fireplace." There she finds more candy and another note -- and on and on.

"It fills up," Leah said, "when you go around the house."

Sarah Jally, a 10-year-old fourth-grader, said if she had to choose just one kind of Easter candy, it would have to be chocolate eggs -- or, no, wait, chocolate bunnies because they're just so, so Easter.

"It's a part of the celebration of the holiday that we're doing," Sarah said, "and it tastes good."

Easter ranks high with some students who put the holiday before other candy-coated holidays such as Halloween.

"I think it's better than Halloween but not better than Christmas and also better than Valentine's Day," Sarah said. "You celebrate with your family; you have some fun with them looking for Easter eggs."

Malika Garoui, a 9-year-old third-grader, prefers a more traditional, non-chocolatey Easter choice.

"Jelly beans," Malika said, adding that her favorite flavor is cherry. "They make me hyper."

Chelsey Buchmann, a 10-year-old fourth-grader, resides in the peanut butter and Peeps camp.

Peeps, Chelsey said, are always awesome and cool.

"They're soft, and they're like really cute to eat," Chelsey said. "They're fun to play with, and I love the colors of Easter."

Peanut butter in Easter eggs -- on sandwiches or anywhere, really -- also is a sure hit with Chelsey.

Nick Huld, a 7-year-old first-grader, said blueberry jelly beans are hard to beat.

"I went on an Easter egg hunt," Nick said, "and I got some jelly beans that were all different flavors."

Lainey Holcomb, an 8-year-old second-grader, struggled with the question of her favorite Easter candy.

"There's so many kinds of candy I like," Lainey said, and then giggled at the prospect. "I like chocolate."

The king of Easter candy, Lainey ultimately decided, is solid chocolate eggs.

Travis Martin, an 8-year-old third-grader, said Easter variations of his favorite candy bar beat everything.

"Butterfinger! I love Butterfinger," Travis said, adding another favorite treat: "Cookie dough bites. They sell them at the movies."

Bob Jally, a 9-year-old fourth-grader, said SweetTarts win for him.

"There's not just one of them," Bob said, "They're sweet and they're tiny. They're just good to eat."

Sarah Jackson writes for The Olympian and can be reached at 360-704-6871 or sajackso@olympia.gannett.com.

For more local news go to the South Sound Living section.

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