News flash: can you believe that next week is Christmas?!
I feel like I’ve been going at high-speed the past couple of weeks trying to balance long work hours, preparing for the holidays, and hoping to rest enough to beat this dang cold.
Since we’re getting down to the wire here, I thought I’d stop and take a minute to share my top 7 holiday gifts this year for foodies in your life (or fun things for yourself… wink, wink). I included a variety of options at different price points, but the best part is that they can all be ordered online!
1. Raw Spice Bar – $6/month
I’ve been a Raw Spice Bar subscriber since April and in that time I’ve received spices from Ethiopia, Malaysia, Istanbul, Memphis, Jamaica, Peru, Japan, and India, just to name a few.
Raw Spice Bar is a monthly subscription box delivering small batch, freshly-ground spice blends directly to your door.
Each month the subscriber gets:
- 3-4 freshly ground spice blends from one geography or region (enough to create 3 dishes serving 8-12 people)
- 3 kitchen-tested recipe cards (plus additional recipes online)
- Spice blend tasting notes, origin & history
- Surprises! (like bonus spices, toasting tips, discounts and other fun stuff!)
I love the creativity and inspiration I get from my monthly Raw Spice Bar box and it’s been such an easy and affordable way to create more variety in my meals. Whether you’re giving this to someone who loves to cook or a kitchen newbie, it’s a great way to encourage your loved ones to start cooking and experimenting in the kitchen.
2. PlanetBox Lunchbox – ranges from $35 – 65
I’ve had my PlanetBox lunchbox for a couple of months now and love, love, love it!
Here’s why:
- I love that I can pack a variety of foods and they have their own compartments- but they’re all in one lunchbox! Before this, I would use several glass containers to pack my lunch and had to make sure I grabbed all of then different components before I ran out the door.
- All of the PlanetBox lunch boxes are made of stainless steel so they’re built to last (they even come with a 5-year warranty!) so you don’t have to worry about toxic materials or BPA.
- They’re easy to clean and also dishwasher safe.
I don’t personally have kids, but I have to say that these lunch boxes would make a great gift for a child or family. I used to teach nutritional classes for parents and facilitate hands-on cooking activities with children ages 3 – 10 all around Seattle. One of the biggest complaints I have heard from children and from their parents about “picky eating” habits is that kids don’t like to have different components of their food touching. If you are struggling with this battle with your own kids or just want to encourage a loved one to eat healthier, I would highly recommend this lunchbox!
3. Barn2Door – price varies
Barn2Door is a website where you can buy directly from sustainable food producers. This means you can purchase directly from farmers, ranchers, fishers, gardeners, and urban farmers who meet Barn2Door’s quality standards! How cool is that?!
I like to think of them as the “Easy for farms” because their platform allows anyone who grows clean, sustainable food to have an online store, showcase what they have for sale, sell directly to customers, and manage communications and sales. I love that Barn2Door is connecting farmers to the community and benefitting all of us in the process!
Barn2Door has a lot of great produce options for those here locally, but if you’re looking for a unique gift for someone far away, check out some of Barn2Door’s pantry items that can be shipped directly to the recipient! If you know someone who enjoys good coffee, I highly recommend ordering from Big Island Coffee Roasters (their Maui “Mokka” coffee is my favorite). Barn2Door’s farms also have a great selection of maple syrup, firewood honey, and wild smoked salmon.
4. Kombucha Starter Kit – $30 – 60
I love kombucha and drink it often enough that it’s worth making my own. Surprisingly, it really isn’t that hard!
There are only a few things needed to start making kombucha and it makes a wonderful holiday gift. To make your own kombucha kit for gifting, be sure to include:
If you’d rather purchase a preassembled kit this Kombucha Starter Kit from The Kombucha Shop has everything needed and also comes with pH strips and a helpful tutorial!
5. Sun Basket – $11.49/meal
I’ve been an avid Sun Basket fan since I began subscribing to their meal delivery service over the summer. Sun Basket is a weekly delivery of fresh, pre-measured ingredients and recipes to make 3 meals. All ingredients come from West Coast farms and are non-GMO, pesticide-free, hormone-free and certified organic whenever possible.
Sun Basket has a variety of options, including Vegetarian, Paleo, and Gluten-Free. Delivery is FREE to your home or office and Sun Basket currently delivers to CA, OR, WA, NV, CO, ID, AZ and UT. You can skip a week or cancel at any time and the boxes are packed to stay fresh for 8 hours after delivery.
I LOVE that Sun Basket helps busy individuals and families get farm-fresh food on the table while saving time and saving money. And, Sun Basket meals are extremely nutrient-dense and use fresh, local organic produce, high-quality protein and good fats, with minimal added sugar. Sun Basket is a great way to treat yourself or someone you love.
6. Coffee Grinder for Spices – $15 – 30
Want to know the handiest kitchen tool I’ve discovered this year? An electric coffee/spice grinder! Obviously it’s great for grinding coffee, but I love using it for grinding spices! Most models are pretty affordable (this one is currently under $20) and they make a great compact gift for any coffee lover or home chef!
7. Bamboo Utensils – $10 – 20
I know that when you think of “holiday gifts,” bamboo utensils probably don’t come to mind… BUT, these are so handy! I have a great collection of bamboo utensils and wooden spoons that I couldn’t do without in my kitchen and they’ve lasted me years. If you’re looking for an affordable gift for a college grad or new home chef, be sure to get them a set of these.
Wishing you and yours a happy holiday season!
Have a great suggestion for a holiday gift? Leave it in the comments below!
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