Dietitian Approved Healthy Gift Ideas for the Holidays [VIDEO]

Nutrition-minded gift certificates, healthy food baskets, gadgets, and more!

Looking for something different to bring as a hostess gift or holiday gift for a friend or family member that is a foodie or health geek?  If you or someone you know is on the path to healthy living, why not plan a thoughtful holiday gift that considers FUN and health? Try these Dietitian-approved healthy gift ideas!

What are some ideas for healthy gift certificates?

Cooking classes (basic, advanced or themed)

While not all cooking classes focus on healthy food, one of the single most important skills needed for health is a foundation of knowledge about basic cooking techniques. A great healthy gift idea and you can make it a date and plan to attend in-person or online with the friend or family member that you are purchasing the gift certificate for.

Knife skills training

Learning how to chop more efficiently and effectively makes spending more time in the kitchen enjoyable. Learn how to chop like a chef and sharpen your knives by attending knife skills training at a local knife shop or cooking school online.

Magazine subscription

My favourite magazines are those with an emphasis on recipes and fun. Some of my favourites: Canadian Living, Cooking Light, Food and Wine and Eating Well Magazine.

Local food and groceries

Besides a grocery store or farmers market gift certificate, consider supporting a local produce delivery service. You may also be interested in searching your local area for Community Supported Agriculture or locally sourced meat, poultry or seafood producers.

Registered Dietitian visits or online training

Registered Dietitians are the only regulated nutrition experts in the field of nutrition.  Working with a Registered Dietitian ensures you are receiving credible science-based advice. Registered Dietitians are highly skilled professionals that can provide customized individual or family help to suit your needs and health goals. Work with a Dietitian for personalized nutrition counseling or perhaps an online nutrition course.

What are some themes for healthy food baskets?

Healthy breakfast basket:

Steel-cut oats, dried fruit, nuts/seeds, chia seeds, hemp hearts, mandarin oranges and apples

Healthy appetizer basket:

Whole grain crackers, cheese, nuts/seeds, cherry/grape tomatoes, baby cucumbers, hummus, green and purple grapes

Olive oil & balsamic vinegar basket:

Fresh whole grain baguette, flavoured olive oil and flavoured balsamic vinegar

Tea time basket:

Reusable mug, loose tea, tea infuser, tea towels

Healthy cooking basket:

Wooden cutting board, good quality dried spices, flavoured olive oil, flavoured vinegar

Healthy grilling basket:

BBQ stir-fry grill basket, cherry/apple/maple wood chips, oven mitts, red wine

What are some ideas for gadgets that healthy eaters may enjoy?

Kitchen Gadgets

A few of my favourite tools include: Really good sharp knives (I like Japanese ones since they look sexy!), nice wooden cutting boards, lemon squeezer, citrus zester, muffin batter scooper, vegetable spiralizer (to make cucumber/zucchini noodles!), olive oil sprayer, homemade popsicle molds, mandolin, julienne peeler and BBQ grill basket.

Cookbooks

Any of the Dietitians of Canada cookbooks are great for healthy delicious recipes. My favourite basic cooking book is by Mark Bittman: How to Cook Everything.  For foodies I’d suggest any of the Whitewater Cooks series by Shelley Adams. For busy families, I’d suggest one of Claire Tansey’s books: Dinner Uncomplicated or Uncomplicated.

Kitchen tools

Soda stream carbonated water maker, frozen yogurt maker, immersion blender, food processor, Vitamix blender, air fryer, slow cooker or Instant Pot.

Also remember that the best thing you can give to a healthy eater is your time.  Consider homemade vouchers for meals from your kitchen.  A home cooked meal delivered on the weekend or a freezer stash of soup for busy weekdays is often better than anything you can buy.

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