10 Healthy Ingredients that Make Great Gifts
Looking for holiday gifts? Here are 10 healthy ingredients that make great gifts, from sweetly satisfying organic vanilla powder, to coconut butter so good you can eat it straight out of the jar, to gourmet olives that will knock your socks off during cocktail hour. These healthy ingredients are fantastic for everyone from folks following a gluten-free diet, to CrossFit friends that have gone full on Paleo, to that special neighbor who simply likes to cook with real food.
During the holidays I’m often asked about good gifts to give friends, family and loved ones. I’m partial to giving things that are useful –so what could be better than ingredients? And when I saw a wonderful post from The Kitchn called 10 Ingredients That Make Great Gifts, I knew I’d have to do one of my own. While their gift ideas are focused on beautiful items to give to the gourmands in your life, the ones you will find here are geared towards those looking into leading a healthy lifestyle.
Whether you are giving a Christmas gift, holiday gift or a birthday present to someone special, these delightful ingredients are quick and easy to find online, order and send so that you can go for a hike this holiday season instead of hiking through crowds at the mall.
- Coconut Flour
If nuts aren’t your thing, or you’re just trying to limit your Omega-6’s, coconut flour is rich in dietary fiber, which helps support your digestion, heart health, immune system, and weight. Here’s a link to my coconut flour recipes which you can print out and give along with the coconut flour. - Almond Flour
This superfood is a staple in a lot of my gluten-free baked goods. It’s nutritious, easy to use, high in protein, low in carbohydrates, and low in sugars. Give this as a gift in a 32 ounce jar and store it your freezer to keep it fresh. You can bake cookies with only five ingredients when you use almond flour; no more 16 ingredient gluten-free cookie recipes! - Coconut Oil
Boost your energy, support your heart, and experience other coconut oil benefits by consuming a pure coconut oil like Spectrum Unrefined Coconut Oil. - Coconut Butter
Enjoy all the benefits of coconut oil, in the form of a buttery treat! DIY tip: You can make your own coconut butter by blending a bag of shredded coconut in a [vitamix] for 3-5 minutes (or a food processor for about 10 minutes). - Organic Vanilla Extract
If I had to choose between vanilla and chocolate I’d go with vanilla. I know, surprising, right? Using a high quality vanilla extract can take your recipes to another level. Vanilla makes a wonderful gift for experienced and novice bakers alike. - Vanilla Powder
My friend Jessica turned me on to Vanilla Bean Powder when she gave it to me for my birthday last summer. It’s one of the best gifts I’ve ever received! Vanilla Bean Powder has taken my cooking game up a notch. I use it in hot drinks and baked good. - Olive Oil
I think giving a fabulous bottle of olive oil is like giving a fantastic bottle of wine, except it can be enjoyed by the whole family. - Cacao Powder
Cacao powder (or cocoa powder) is 100% cacao and contains no sugar. Along with its high level of flavonoids (from a powerful group of antioxidants called polyphenols), cacao is high in fiber, calcium, potassium, iron, and magnesium. In addition to these health benefits, cacao may also help with lowering your “bad” cholesterol (LDL) levels, reduce the risk of blot clots, increase blood flow, lower blood pressure, and boost brain power. - Celtic Sea Salt
Using a high quality salt in cooking and baking is a must for me and makes a great gift for friends and family. Celtic sea salt contains live minerals and trace elements that provide health benefits for enhanced digestion, resistance to bad bacteria, infections, and increasing your level of alkalinity. - Olives
I’ve been purchasing these raw organic olives for years, they’re salty and bitter and make a great snack or appetizer for a party.
When I give fun healthy ingredients to local loved ones I often transfer them to a glass jar and attach a pretty piece of ribbon to make the gift even more festive.
What great healthy ingredient gift ideas do have in mind for your special someones this year?
