Believe it or not, there are only 16 days until Christmas. How’s your shopping coming along? I’m a list maker, so I like nothing better than to write down all of the people I need to buy for, make note of something they mentioned wanting, and cross their name off once I find the perfect gift. Ahhhhhh . . . what sweet satisfaction for us list makers.
The thing is, there are always those people who either have everything they could possibly need or are a tad particular and hard to shop for—you know who you are. When I come to those names on my list, I always think to myself, Well, we all gotta’ eat. That’s when I start pondering some clever food-related gifts.
Some of the most well-received gifts from my Christmases past include fair trade, organic coffee, the right kind of chocolate, or a big ol’ jar of local, raw honey. Delicious! This year, I have some other real food gift ideas bouncing around in my head. One of these might be just the thing for someone on your list too:
- Community Supported Agriculture (CSA): Is there someone on your list who continually talks about wanting to buy local but could use some help getting started? Or who makes comments about wanting to eat more organic veggies but is stuck in the rut of eating the same old, same old? Enter the CSA share. Follow the link above to find a farmer in the area and make a gift of a share for the next season. Most farmers also offer half shares if that seems like the better choice. If you live nearby, you could even split a share and offer to pick up the weekly box during the growing season.
- Bulk meat: Buying grass-fed (and finished) meats can be pricey. A more affordable way to include it on your table is to buy in bulk. While purchasing half a beef share for the meat-eating folks on your list might be unrealistic, many farmers sell smaller packages with a variety of cuts as sort of a “taster.” Or why not put together a package with a variety of cuts from your own bulk meat stash? Eatwild offers a directory where you can search for a local farmer who offers anything your recipient might want—beef, pork, turkeys, lamb, etc. Choose something new or stick with the familiar—either way it’s sure to be a hit.
- Gift certificates: Want to let the people on your list decide exactly what real foods to try? One way to give them the option of exploring a wide variety of local products is to check if local veggie or meat farmers offer gift certificates, which are pretty common these days. Many local farmers’ markets will also gladly sell them.
- Books: If the real food products I recommend above are new to anyone on your list, chances are they may not know what to do with them. SRP offers a variety of real food cookbooks that will help anyone get started down the path of the self-healther.
I’m always on the lookout for fun, new gift ideas for the people on my list. What are your favorite real food gifts?
Photo from iStock/PumpizoldA
Paula Widish, author of Trophia: Simple Steps to Everyday Self-Health, is a freelance writer and self-healther. She loves nothing more than sharing tidbits of information she discovers with others. (Actually, she loves her family more than that—and probably bacon too.) Paula has a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Public Relations and is a Certified Professional Life Coach through International Coach Academy.
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