It’s that time of year again! Although it’s almost too late to start a batch of sauerkraut in order for it to be ready in time for gift-giving (or perhaps to mail a tea set to you niece in Amsterdam), it’s perfect timing to start thinking about most other gifts.
Last year we made bath salts for the people we love. The recipe is here along with a big list of other thoughtful ideas for people who may (or may not) be going through cancer treatment. We have a fresh new list of ideas this year too.
This savoury granola is a good place to start. Healthy, unexpected, not sweet at all and a great way to make even the most boring salad sing like the Tabernacle Choir. It’s crunchy, crunchy (not a typo, it’s that crunchy), a bit salty and tart and full of a good variety of healthy fats. Make a big batch, buy some nice jars (mason jars work too) and add a recipe for your favourite salad or your favourite recipe to sprinkle the granola on.
OR just make it for yourself to inspire you to eat your veggies over the holiday season, when cookies are actually easier to track down.
More Food Gift Ideas From Our 2017 Year of Recipes:
Dill Pickled Beets:
Classic stocking stuffer, am I right?
Lemon Truffles:
The perfect Host gift or addition to a holiday desert table.
Homemade BBQ Spice blend:
Plus your favourite recipe to use it in (we have you covered, here).
High-fiber Jam:
You can’t put a price on the gift of being regular. Include the recipe for or make them the Thumbprint Cookies too.
Homemade Fermented Hot Sauce:
This is definitely on my list (probably for me and from me, but it still counts if there’s ribbon on it).
Although last year’s gift ideas are still totally relevant (go check them out!) I also wanted to add a few more for this year (nothing is sponsored, we genuinely think these would make good gifts):
(Almost) Non-Food Gifts:
Technical Support
This one is relevant to anyone with parents/grandparents/friends/siblings/partners who somehow dropped the technical ball along the way. Go over to their house with all of your patience and teach them how to use their cell phone to send texts/take pictures/listen to music or podcasts or find them some apps that will be relevant to them. It will help them pass the time if they have lots of it to pass, or even just help them to enter the year 2011 (haha). This could of course backfire (my Dad quickly became addicted to Candy Crush once we taught him a few things) but for all of the negativity aimed towards time spent on our phones these days, demystifying the phone, computer or tablet can help someone who feels isolated join the party (and find recipes, meditations, a date…). Again, patience is key; be nice, you’re saving money.
Have you tried it? I can’t promise that you won’t get questions and/or funny looks from every visitor you have to your bathroom, but it’s worth it. It is basically a stool (they have everything from plastic to bamboo and even travel ones) that wraps around the base of your toilet. You are supposed to put your feet on it when you go number two, putting you in a squatting position. This position is apparently ideal for getting ‘everything’ out, leaving nothing behind to wait until the next time you have to go, like the garbage bags sitting by the back door. On the site, they promise that you’ll poop rainbows, but it’s false advertising. Really though, what could be more colourful than full elimination?
Often seen in the waiting rooms of acupuncture clinics or your naturopath’s office, these are those pink, rocky, lights. They are made of pure salt, the same mineral-rich Himalayan stuff that we use to cook with. They claim a whole list of health benefits including producing negative ions (which reduce electromagnetic radiation), sleep improvement, air purifier, stress reduction, improvement in asthma and allergy symptoms. I have no idea what they have or haven’t been proven capable of but even if none of it was true, they’re still pretty, give off a soft light and make a nice nightlight alternative. And you will never run out of salt again.
The lymphatic system is part of the circulatory system, which is an important part of the immune system, as it helps the body rid itself of toxins. It doesn’t have a heart muscle to keep the lymph fluid moving, it actually depends on our body movement to circulate (another reason to get your body moving!). Walking poles basically help move that lymphatic system, turning a walk into an immune-boosting extravaganza. Regular use of walking poles has also been shown to improve shoulder motility and upper body endurance, which is extra important for those recovering from breast cancer treatment.
Chia Pet
Quirky, retro and a ridiculous and fun way to turn your chia seeds into (totally edible) enzyme-rich sprouts. An alternative road to sprouting, but when the road less traveled is this fluffy and cute… Make sure you throw in bag of chia seeds to get the ball rolling.
Who doesn’t love a good puzzle session? It’s a great way to be still, unplugged and use your brain while taking your mind off of all of the other stuff. It’s also a good way to get through a zombie tv series without having to actually watch it. You can now turn photos and personalized messages into photos too; a nice way to make it more special.
House-cleaning
It would be a kind gesture to clean someone’s house for them, but that might get a little bit awkward (imagine your friend coming over to clean your toilet?), so what I actually mean is to pay for an (eco-friendly) cleaning service to go and clean a friends house. I can’t think of anything better than when feeling under the weather, having my house-cleaning taken care of (along with grocery delivery and meals…) Maybe pick them up for a few hours of relaxing Netflix (or a puzzle and tea afternoon) at your house, so that they have somewhere to go while the cleaning takes place.
As mentioned, we are not sponsored, these are just our honest opinions. Please add any more suggestions, thoughts or questions you might have in the comments below!
Happy December Everyone! Don’t forget to make time for yourself, to say no when you’re feeling overwhelmed and to ask for help when you need it. I also think it’s worth mentioning that a terrible downpour is a perfectly reasonable excuse to skip a party. xo
- 1 c (raw) Buckwheat Groats (replace with more seeds to make it ketogenic)
- 1 c Pumpkin Seeds
- ½ c Hemp Hearts
- ½ c Sesame Seeds (you can do half or all black sesame seeds too)
- ¼ c (whole) Flax Seeds
- 1 Tbsp Extra Virgin Coconut Oil
- 1 tsp Miso Paste
- ½ tsp Mustard
- ½ tsp dried Turmeric (1 tsp if using fresh)
- ½ tsp Garlic Powder
- 2 tsp Lemon Juice
- 1 Lemon, zested
- ½ tsp fresh Thyme (and/or Rosemary), chopped
- Several grinds of Black Pepper (to enhance turmeric absorption)
- Sea(weed) Salt, to taste (we added about ½ tsp)
- Preheat Oven to 275*F
- In a small pot, melt the coconut oil with the miso paste, mustard, turmeric, garlic powder, thyme, salt, and pepper.
- Toss in a bowl with the buckwheat, pumpkin seeds, lemon juice and lemon zest.
- Spread out on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake for about 15 minutes, just to dry it out. pull the baking sheet out and toss them around a couple of times during the fifteen minutes to ensure it dries evenly.
- Let cool slightly (not all of the way) and toss with the rest of the seeds until well combined.
- Once totally cooled, store in a jar in the fridge for two weeks (freezes well too).
- Sprinkle on salads, hummus, dip avocados into it, basically add to anything that needs a texture boost.
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