Still looking for gift ideas? Here are a few of my favorite healthy things to give:
Chelsea's Healthy Gift Ideas
Chelsea Blackbird, Certified Nutritional Therapist
1. For the stocking….
Chocolate! I’m addicted to these Dark Chocolate Honey Mints from Trader Joe’s. They taste just like peppermint patties but only have 3 ingredients: honey, chocolate, and peppermint. These are perfect little portion controlled goodies. One or two will help satisfy your holiday sweet tooth in a healthier way.
2. For the friend…
Books make a great gift for your health-conscious loved one. For someone who needs eye-opening dietary motivation, I recommend Wheat Belly. This is one I always suggest to new clients who tend to be “over-carbing.” For those who need cooking inspiration, I love the Against All Grain cookbook. It teaches how to cook delicious food without processed grains. My favorite recipes include chocolate granola, roasted butternut squash soup, honey-lime salmon tostadas, orange-cranberry muffins, strawberry cake, and homemade pizza crust.
3. For the kids…
Confession. I really wanted this Human Body toy for me. I gave it to my son for his 9th birthday thinking he might like it okay, but that it would eventually “disappear” to my office where I would use it as a teaching tool for my clients. Well, that plan tanked. The second my son opened it and all of his friends shouted “ewwwwww!!!!” and started pulling at the squishy intestines, I knew I would have to buy my own copy. It’s created the opportunity for lots of conversation about food and health with my kids (ages 3-9). For a learning toy, it’s still got a lot of cool factor.
4. For the family…
This kitchen appliance is just fun. This spiralizer helps turn vegetables into fun strands – zucchini into noodles, cucumber into ribbons, potatoes into curly fries, etc. My kids love to help transform the veggies and think “zoodles” are just as fun noodles.
5. For you…
A few years ago I had to decide which to spend my birthday money on: a new pair of Frye boots or a Vitamix. Boots or blender, boots or blender? Tough call, but I went for the blender and have no regrets. I use my Vitamix at least twice a day on everything from smoothies to soups (it obliterates the chunky veggies so your kids don’t even know they’re eating them!), sauces, nut butters, and as an all-around mixer! It is my most used appliance in the kitchen and was worth every penny. I’m still eyeing those boots, though. (BlendTec is an equally powerful megablender – a good choice, too!)
About the Author
Chelsea Blackbird is a certified nutritional therapist who uses a holistic approach to health and wellness. For more information or to schedule a personalized nutritional assessment, go to her blog www.dailynutritionist.com, contact Chelsea at 512/496-3083 or chelsea@thechristiannutritionist.com.