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Folks think a special occasion gives them the green light to eat and drink whatever they want, and that when getting a gift for such an occasion, they should give similarly indulgent food. But not everyone wants a bounty of "sinful" treats. Nowadays, more and more folks are being mindful about what they put in their bodies, and gifts of that nature (or, better put, items from nature) are greatly appreciated.
Show that special someone how much you care by sharing thoughtful food gifts that are as carefully selected as the dietary choices they make.
Cheers with no fears
Know someone who loves the booze but not the buzz? They’re not alone: Non-alcoholic imbibing has grown exponentially, according to a Nielsen survey. Splash some cash on the gift of excessive drinking without the annoying threat of a hangover with Mocktails Uniquely Crafted Sampler Pack. These alcohol-free yet colorful and creative concoctions allow them to take part in the social aspects of drinking without any of the drawbacks. Plus, if they're watching their weight, these are typically lower in calories than alcoholic drinks. They’re the best gift you can give — bar none!
Enjoy the fruit of your labors
Give the gift that keeps on giving...vitamins and nutrients! Send a cornucopia of smart and sweet flavors from Harry & David’s legendary Fruit-of-the-Month Club collections. The array of fruit in the myriad clubs include a taste of juicy Florida citrus, pears from Oregon, and exotic and sweet fruits picked from soil-rich fields all over the globe, from Chile to New Zealand. There's also an organic option that is carefully harvested and packed in accordance with the USDA National Organic Program.
Guilt-free cookies
Are they deserving of a treat but don’t want the baggage they bring to their body? A Sugar Free Cookie Sampler is a sweet solution to their calorie challenges. They’ll savor every bite of an assortment of chocolate chip, snickerdoodle, lemon, buttercream frosted, buttercream, chocolate-frosted, and cinnamon oatmeal treats. And they’ll enjoy these even more with the knowledge they’re as sinfully sensible as they are delicious.
Go swim with the fishes
Reel in a gift fit for royalty with wild caught king salmon. Also known as Chinook, these king salmon fillets — besides being good for you, with all the omega-3s and other nutrients — are MSC-certified sustainable seafood. What does that mean? Well, the Marine Stewardship Council protects the oceans and ensures that wild seafood is available for consumption. This salmon is just that.
Fuel them with flower power
You’ll rake in a bountiful harvest of appreciation when you send The Chef’s Garden® Petite Greens with Edible Flowers Box and Cookbook. Each box is crammed with freshly harvested seasonal greens from the family-owned, regenerative farm on Lake Erie in Huron, Ohio, which has supplied premium produce to top restaurants around the world for decades. Seasonal picks are based on the time of year you place your order. And, at 640 pages, the cookbook is not just your be-all and end-all resource for recipes — it also doubles as a dumbbell.
Board-certified vegan delicacies
A plant-based diet is nothing new. What do you think cavemen were gathering in between hunting? Renegade Foods, a renowned California-based artisanal vegan food producer, is taking plants to a whole new level, artfully creating mouthwatering, plant-based charcuterie like soppressata, salami, and chorizo that look and taste as good or better than the real thing. Combined with premium herb-infused vegan cheese and traditional mini toasts, the texture-defying Classic Vegan Charcuterie Meat and Cheese Assortment will delight vegans and meat eaters alike with its deceptively authentic deliciousness — without the cholesterol.
Brighten anyone's day with dark chocolate
Vital Choice has a well-earned reputation for selling the highest-quality wild caught fish (see gift No. 4), and its new line of premium dark chocolate bars is merely a continuation of that excellence. They're made with zero added dairy, soy, gluten, or emulsifiers, resulting in a bar that satisfies even the most sensitive of stomachs. Dark chocolate is shown to have certain antioxidants that may help lower cholesterol and improve blood flow, which protects against heart disease.
The chocolate bars are also good for your conscience. Each is handcrafted with direct-trade cacao beans from small equatorial plantations in South America — ensuring the farmers that produce them are compensated fairly. Now that's a thoughtful gift!
Why not nuts?
Your friends will go crazy for the "Nut’n But Love For You” Gift Crate. The nutty by nature collection of fresh-roasted jumbo cashews, pistachios, and premium pecans is a good source of protein, and its heart-healthy fats help lower bad cholesterol. Which is good.
AUTHOR
Mike Hammer is a veteran journalist and editor whose byline has appeared in a broad landscape of top media outlets including Rolling Stone, USA Today, Maxim, Spin.com, Adweek and the New York Daily News.