LAKEWOOD, Colo., March 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Natural Grocers is putting a healthier spin on the traditional Easter egg hunt. All Natural Grocers stores, company-wide, are hosting Easter egg hunts at 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Friday, March 25. Parents can feel good about these Easter festivities, knowing kids will find healthier treats.

Easter tends to be a sugar-filled holiday, which can be worrisome for parents. In its ongoing commitment to the community, one of the company's Five Founding Principles, Natural Grocers is doing things differently this Easter by hiding eggs containing coins kids can redeem for healthy snacks like string cheese and fresh, seasonal fruit. Just like all Natural Grocers' products, the Easter treats will not contain any artificial colors or flavors.

"Choosing healthier alternatives can help reduce the sugar-overload children experience from consuming traditional Easter candy. As a nutrition professional, I look for ways to help parents find healthier alternatives that their children will still enjoy," said Melissa Khoury, Nutritional Health Coach regional director of Natural Grocers. "Just because an Easter treat is healthy, does not mean it cannot also be tasty.  Natural Grocers Eggcellent Adventure is a great opportunity to explore healthier alternatives to the traditional highly processed Easter candy."

Other eggs will be filled with fun surprises, including stickers and bracelets. Also hidden in eggs, kids will find limited quantities of "golden tickets," redeemable for extra special prizes.

The Eggcellent Adventure event will also feature fun, sugar-free activities for kids including a coloring station, as well as other exciting events, varying from store to store, such as face painting, balloon art, live animals and natural Easter egg dying tips.

Additionally, as Easter is a time to focus on giving, Natural Grocers is sponsoring a "buy one, give one" promotion on all turkeys, called "Thanks & Giving for Easter." For each Mary's Turkey purchased by a customer, priced at just $1.99 per pound, Natural Grocers will match and donate a turkey to a local food bank in an effort to fight local hunger.

Natural Grocers will also run a weekend-long promotion on Natural Grocers brand and Blue Sky Family Farms eggs, with some varieties up to $1.00 off per dozen. This sale runs through Saturday, March 26.

As part of the March 25 event, parents can enter a drawing to win gift baskets and other prizes supplied by vendors, including: Plantlife, Dr. Bronner's, Goddess Garden, Nature's Gate, Out of Africa, Kiss My Face, Desert Essence, Weleda and Earth Mama Angel Baby.

For more information, visit the Natural Grocers website. Join the #NaturalGrocers social conversation on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

About Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage

Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Inc. (NYSE: NGVC; NaturalGrocers.com) is a rapidly expanding specialty retailer of organic and natural groceries, body care and dietary supplements. The company offers a flexible, neighborhood-store format, affordable prices and free, science-based nutrition education programs to help customers make informed health and nutrition choices. Founded in 1955 in Colorado, Natural Grocers has over 2,700 employees and operates more than 100 stores in 19 states.

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SOURCE Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage